RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian government and a team of experts from India are exploring a pilot project to restore several ancillary temples in the Prambanan Temple complex as part of efforts to accelerate conservation.

The project was discussed during a meeting between Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and the restoration team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the Ministry of Culture office in Jakarta on Monday, March 16, 2026.

The ASI, India’s foremost archaeological institution, established in 1861, manages thousands of historical monuments, including World Heritage Sites. It has also provided technical support for restoration projects in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia.

ASI’s ADG Conservation and World Heritage, Janhwij Sharma, explained that initial field visits to the Prambanan area showed several ancillary temples requiring further conservation and restoration.

The team proposed using the anastylosis method, a reconstruction technique that reuses original stones found at the site, with new stones added only in limited cases for structural reinforcement.

The restoration process faces challenges due to the large number of scattered architectural stone elements, making it difficult to identify which stones belong to each temple. The initial phase will therefore focus on comprehensive documentation of temple structures and available stone components.

To ensure the most effective approach, the ASI team suggested piloting the project on one or two ancillary temples before expanding restoration to other structures in the complex.

Minister Fadli Zon welcomed ASI’s contributions, noting that preservation efforts in Prambanan must be viewed within the broader cultural landscape, which includes Sewu and Plaosan Temples. These sites reflect the historical acculturation of Hindu and Buddhist traditions in Central Java.

“The Prambanan complex does not stand alone but is part of a larger cultural landscape along with Sewu and Plaosan temples. Therefore, our conservation efforts are not only about restoring the temple buildings, but also about maintaining the entire cultural ecosystem in the area,” he said, as quoted on the ministry’s official website.

Minister Fadli added that Indonesia is open to international cooperation to strengthen the conservation of cultural heritage sites, particularly in Prambanan. He said the government would also utilize technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, to help identify and reconstruct stone components.

He emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening international collaboration in preserving world cultural heritage and hopes that cooperation with ASI will be formalized through technical documentation and official mechanisms.

The meeting marked the first step toward strategic collaboration between Indonesia and India to preserve world heritage sites in the Prambanan area and strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.

Prambanan, located near Yogyakarta, is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Built in the 9th century, it has suffered damage from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and centuries of stone loss, leaving many temples incomplete. The challenge of identifying and reassembling scattered stones has made restoration complex, requiring international expertise and advanced documentation methods. ***