Culture Ministry Accelerates Restoration of Prambanan and Sewu Temples

RRI.CO.ID, Sleman - Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the restoration and revitalization of the Prambanan and Sewu Temple complexes. The effort aims to preserve the monumental cultural heritage sites dating back to the ninth century while developing them as cultural centers and living heritage sites that benefit local communities.

The Prambanan Temple complex holds significant historical, diplomatic, and cultural value, particularly after it was visited by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2026. However, the physical restoration of the World Heritage site still faces major challenges, particularly involving the smaller temples surrounding the three main temples dedicated to Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu.

According to archaeological records, the Prambanan Temple complex contains 224 smaller temples. As of September 8, 2026, only six of them had been successfully restored since Indonesia’s independence, while the remaining 218 are still in ruins or have yet to be reconstructed.

The six restored temples, which stand up to 14 meters high, are now being used as technical prototypes and benchmarks for the next stages of reconstruction. One of the biggest challenges is the availability of original stone materials, as some of the temple stones are believed to have been dispersed in the past for various purposes.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, said only around 10 to 30 percent of the original stone material remains at some temple sites, with the surviving stones ranging from intact pieces to broken and weathered materials. “We are discussing how to carry out a major restoration of Prambanan Temple, which will certainly involve many experts so that we can fully restore the temple,” Fadli said in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on September 8, 2026.

To address the complexity of the restoration, the Ministry of Culture is preparing a comprehensive study involving experts in conservation, archaeology, and structural engineering. The large-scale restoration also opens opportunities for international cooperation, including a commitment from the Indian government to support the restoration of one quadrant, or one-quarter, of the smaller temple area.

The remaining three-quarters of the smaller temple area will be restored independently by Indonesian experts in accordance with UNESCO restoration principles. The Ministry of Culture hopes the restoration will not only revive the architectural grandeur of the ancient monuments but also strengthen cultural, historical, and religious tourism for domestic and international visitors.

Fadli Zon expressed hope that the revitalization of Prambanan and Sewu temples would attract more tourists while generating sustainable economic and social benefits for local communities. “Hopefully, this will attract more cultural tourists, historical tourists, and religious tourists from various countries, both international and domestic,” he added.