A BRIEF HISTORY
At the time in which these monuments were built, Indian pilgrims had spread Buddhist and Hindu teachings spread across Java, Indonesia. The proud ruling dynasties of Central Java built a seemingly endless number of structures, of all scales.
Buddhist and Hindu religions lived harmoniously side by side across Java, and as families of different religions married, even mixed religion temples were built.
The adaption of Indian religion and customs with the local artistry and traditions bred its own unique style; “Hindu-Java Art” .
Around 920 the power shifted from Central Java to West Java and the monuments including Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko became neglected, exposed to ash from volcanic eruptions, and the ravages of the local vegetation.
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Prambanan is a huge 9th-10th century Hindu temple compound (the largest in Indonesia) that consists of 224 temples. It was abandoned soon after its construction and crumbled due to time and the effects of a major 16th century earthquake.
Prambanan was restored starting in 1918 and continuing for many years afterwards, and now consists of a combination of restored temples and ruined temple foundations. The Java earthquake of 2006 damaged the compound and resulted in the closure of some temples.
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