Candi Prambanan or Candi Rara Jonggrang is the largest Hindu temple area in Indonesia. This 9th-century temple ground is a World Heritage Site that has a 47-meter tower as its focal point. Candi Prambanan used to have 240 temples, but only 16 of these remain standing as of this writing. Like the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia, Prambanan is a representation of Mount Meru, the holy home of Hindu gods headed by Shiva.
Prambanan is two hours away by car from Borobudur. I slept 90% of the travel time because the heat was enervating. The inadequate breakfast of toast with very thin strawberry jam and tea made me lethargic. The breakfast cost IDR 15,000 (US $1.15). We arrived in Prambanan at 1015am and we were given an hour and a half to explore the temple ground.
Prambanan temples as seen from the left side. The foreground shows the stones from the temples that no longer exist.
Two markers found in Prambanan. The one on the left was signed by Prof. Dr. Boediono on October 19, 2014 while the one on the right was signed by Soharto on April 27, 1991.
Some of the remains of the temples that got destroyed over time. They were located near the markers.
Virg and I rested under the shade of a tree as we took photos of the temples. A group of girls approached us to converse in English. They asked me about my impression of Indonesia and its people and the places I have visited, specifically Prambanan. They recorded the conversation with a phone camera so they proof that they did talk to someone. Another group of girls related to Virg the legend of Prambanan. Virg told me the story or what she gathered from the girls as we walked around the temples. Bless her heart. 🙂
Indonesian girls who are learning English. The beautiful girl on my right was the one who interviewed me.
My love affair with Prambanan temples continues with this shot. By around 11am, the heat was unbearable so much so that application of topical sunblock seemed pointless.
These photos show a Pervara temple. Pervara temples are individual small shrines that surround the main temples.
One of the main temples found in the inner area of Candi Prambanan complex. It is accompanied by the meticulously-designed details found on its facade.
The smallness of human beings compared to the immensity of work produced by our fellow human beings.
Image of a Hindu god (Brahma or Vishnu?) inside one of the main temples. The chamber where this is located has no opening except for the door. The ceiling of this chamber is very high.
Nakuha mo rin ung signature na pose ko .. ung pa-cute na nakahalumbaba.. hahaha.. 🙂 Next time gawin mo ung nakatalikod tapos biglang lingon and stare at the camera.. Alam yan ni heir apparent Juvy un trademark na pose ko… hahahaha… Can you go around Prambanan compound by bike?
Hahaha. Sige try ko ang Emee Pose next time. 😉 I am not sure if one can ride a bike around Prambanan, but I did not see anybody riding anything within the compound. All the vehicles were parked near the gates of the park and we had to walk to for 5 minutes to get to the outer shrines. Winnie, one of the staff of The Wayang Place, drives tourists to and from Prambanan and Borobudur and other places, on her motorbike. My understanding was, she parks her motorbike somewhere and the tourist walks around or sometimes, she accompanies them and acts as a tour guide.