The Attraction: Prambanan is part of the larger Yogyakarta experience. The temple compound itself is fairly large. It is a beautiful set of Hindu temples - eight larger ones and eight smaller ones have been restored. Numerous smaller ruined structures are on the grounds. A dramatic presentation of the Hindu Ramayana epic occurs periodically at the temple complex, complete with a light show. If you visit Prambanan, chances are good that you will also see nearby Borobudur - a Buddhist temple complex from the same era. Probably you will also make it out to one of the area's volcano craters.
The Size: The temple complex covers several square miles, but most tourists only visit the central compound where the eight main shrines are located. Even within that are the Trisakti (or "three sacred places" dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma) receives most of the attention. Prambanan is easily the largest Hindu temple compound in Indonesia and one of the largest Hindu in Southeast Asia. In addition to the eight main shrines there are over 250 smaller individual temples.
Location: Prambanan is about 10 miles east of Yogyakarta. The name "Prambanan" is actually the name of the local political district, Prambanan District. Indonesians call the temple complex Loro Jongrang temple, which translates to "Temple of the Slender Virgin."
History: Prambanan was built around 850 AD, but it is not clear by whom. The kingdom of Mataram and the Sanjaya dynasty were both powerful forces in the region at the time. Less than 100 years after it's completion Prambanan was abandoned. The seat of Javanese political power moved from this Central Java region to East Java - most likely because a volcano became active. Prambanan was rediscovered by C.A. Lons in 1733. Renovation of the complex started in 1918 and work on the central shrines was finished around 1953. Some 240 or so temples have seen some degree of restoration at the site.
The Ramayana: The Ramayana is a Hindu epic that dates to about 500 BC. While the text has religious significance to Hindus, it also affects the cultures of a large area where India exercised influence in the First Millennium AD, much as Homer's Greek epic, The Odyssey, still effects European culture. The story is about a prince, Rama, whose wife is kidnapped by a demon. The monkey king, Hanuman, brings his army to help Rama rescue Sita. Bas-reliefs along the sides of the Prambanan illustrate the Ramayana. The story is also acted out in dance/drama at the full moon at the temple.
Admission: It will cost you 10,000 Rupiah to get into Prambanan. That's about $1.10 US. You should expect a crowd, but occasionally the place has very few people in it.