After a short stint at shopping, we continued our drive to the 9th Century Hindu Temple Complex of Prambanan. Along with Borobudur, these two temples make up the Cultural heart of Java. As we arrived the sun was beginning to set and so we hastily went around the complex.
Originally the area comprised of over 200 temples of various sizes, but many have been destroyed by time. In the main compound that we visited, there were 5 main temples devoted to the various Hindu Gods – Brahma, Vishnu, Nandi, Garuda and the central one to Shiva.
As we explored the area it was apparent just how much damage the 2006 earthquake had caused to the compound. To enter the main Shiva temple, we had to wear hard hats and were limited to a certain number of people inside at any one time.
Ironically, the architecture style of the temple was so old it was completely new to me, and very different to the layout and overall look of Hindu temples nowadays. Unsurprisingly it did remind me of the Angkor Wat in terms of structure and construction method.
I must admit that, as much as I loved Borobudur, there was something about Prambanan that made me to instantly prefer it. As the sun further sank down towards the horizon, the tips of the temples were highlighted giving it an ethereal feel. As we were walking away, I turned to look back and caught the sight of the temple peaks rising up over the tree line, glowing in a soft orange hue. It made me think what it must have been like back when they were newly built and actually used. Like any ancient wonder, the sense of awe we feel when we can reflect on the countless centuries of its existence is nothing compared to the initial wonder and amazement felt by the first users who lived and worshiped near these temples…
