India and Indonesia have launched a joint conservation project at the Prambanan Temple complex, expanding their strategic partnership into the preservation of shared cultural heritage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto unveiled a plaque marking the start of the Archaeological Survey of India-supported restoration initiative during their visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site in Yogyakarta on Wednesday.
The project places one of Southeast Asia’s most important Hindu monuments at the centre of a wider diplomatic effort to reconnect the two countries through architecture, religion and centuries-old maritime exchanges. Modi also offered prayers at the complex and was briefed by officials involved in its conservation.
Built during the ninth century, Prambanan is Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple complex and one of the region’s finest surviving examples of classical Javanese architecture. Its principal shrines are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, while relief panels depict episodes from the Ramayana and other traditions that travelled across Asia through trade, scholarship and religious contact.
The central Shiva temple rises to about 47 metres and dominates a compound that originally contained 240 structures. The wider UNESCO-designated property includes the Prambanan, Sewu, Lumbung and Bubrah temple groups, reflecting the coexistence of Hindu and Buddhist traditions in ancient Java.
The conservation initiative follows an understanding reached during Prabowo’s state visit to New Delhi in January 2025, when the two leaders agreed to explore assistance for restoring temples within the Prambanan compound. The project has now moved from diplomatic commitment to implementation, although detailed timelines, financial terms and the individual structures selected for restoration have not been publicly specified.
Archaeological Survey of India specialists are expected to work with Indonesian conservation authorities, combining technical expertise with local knowledge of the volcanic stone, climate and seismic conditions surrounding the monument. Their involvement is likely to include structural assessment, documentation, stone conservation and the careful reconstruction of damaged sections using original architectural elements wherever possible.
Such work at Prambanan is particularly complex. The temples have endured centuries of neglect, volcanic activity and earthquakes. A powerful earthquake near Yogyakarta in 2006 damaged parts of the compound, dislodged carved stones and forced temporary restrictions on visitors. Restoration teams must also distinguish original material from later additions while maintaining the authenticity required of a World Heritage property.
Reconstruction at the site began under Dutch colonial authorities in the early 20th century. The main Shiva temple was completed in 1953, followed by work on the Brahma and Vishnu temples and several smaller shrines. Large areas nevertheless remain unrestored because many original stones are missing or were reused elsewhere.
India’s participation draws on its conservation work across Southeast Asia, where the Archaeological Survey of India has contributed to projects involving monuments shaped by cultural exchanges with the subcontinent. Its teams have worked at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm in Cambodia, the Vat Phou complex in Laos, the Ananda Temple in Myanmar and the My Son sanctuary in Vietnam. The agency has also undertaken extensive documentation of Indonesia’s Borobudur Temple complex.
The Prambanan programme forms part of a broader diplomatic strategy that uses archaeology, religion, language and historical memory to strengthen international relationships. Heritage projects carry fewer political risks than security agreements and can create goodwill among governments, scholars, religious communities and tourists.
The initiative also complements the expansion of ties between New Delhi and Jakarta in defence, critical minerals, agriculture, steel production, maritime security and education. During Modi’s July 6-8 state visit, the two sides announced several agreements and reaffirmed their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2018.
Indonesia occupies a central position in India’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Both countries are large democracies, maritime powers and members of the Group of Twenty. Their historical connections extend from ancient sea routes to the spread of Sanskrit vocabulary, epics, artistic traditions and temple-building techniques across the Indonesian archipelago.
Prambanan remains an active cultural space rather than merely an archaeological attraction. Hindu ceremonies are held at the complex, while performances of the Ramayana draw visitors from around the world. Conservation work must therefore balance religious access, tourism, structural safety and protection of the monument’s carved surfaces.
