Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto jointly inaugurated the UNESCO World Heritage Prambanan Temple restoration project in Yogyakarta on Wednesday, 8 July, marking a landmark moment in the deepening civilisational partnership between India and Indonesia. Modi offered prayers at the ancient temple complex and interacted with officials on site, while large crowds lining the roads waved national flags of both countries to welcome the two leaders.

The Restoration Project

On Tuesday, 7 July, India and Indonesia formalised the conservation initiative through a Letter of Intent exchanged after bilateral talks between Modi and President Prabowo. The India-backed project covers conservation and restoration work across the Prambanan Temple complex, a UNESCO-designated site. The agreement is part of a broader effort by both sides to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance shared interests in a peaceful Indo-Pacific.

About Prambanan: A Monument to Shared Heritage

Built in the 10th century, the Prambanan Temple complex is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia, originally comprising 240 temples. The complex is dedicated primarily to Lord Shiva and features towering shrines to the Hindu trinity — Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma — along with sanctuaries for their divine vehicles. Its stone walls carry intricate reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayana and other Hindu epics, reflecting centuries of cultural exchange between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

At the centre of the complex stands the 47-metre (154-foot) Shiva temple, the tallest structure at Prambanan and widely regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of ancient Hindu architecture. Modi had earlier shared an aerial video of the complex on X, describing it simply as 'The majestic Prambanan Temple.'

What Modi Said on Civilisational Ties

Addressing the depth of the India-Indonesia relationship on Tuesday, Modi said the two nations share far more than geography. 'India and Indonesia do not just share the sea; we also share our history. Our relationship is rooted in the legacy of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata... We are linked through magnificent monuments such as Borobudur and Prambanan. We are connected through Garuda, Indonesia's national emblem. We are connected through the joy and celebrations of the Bali Jatra festival,' he said.

Bilateral Agreements and Strategic Scope

The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of several bilateral documents spanning maritime safety and security, space cooperation, defence, steel supply chains, rare earths, health, agriculture, and science and technology. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the agreements would 'strengthen bilateral cooperation across key sectors and contribute to further deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.'

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the leaders 'reviewed the full spectrum of the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership encompassing trade and investment, defence and security, maritime cooperation, energy, healthcare and pharma, space, critical minerals and rare earths, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.'

Modi's Three-Day Indonesia Visit

The Prambanan inauguration came on the final leg of Modi's three-day visit to Indonesia, during which he held bilateral talks with President Prabowo, addressed the Indonesian Parliament, and attended an event for the Indian community. The visit signals India's intent to anchor its Act East Policy in deeper cultural and strategic partnerships with ASEAN's largest economy. With the restoration project now formally launched, attention turns to the implementation timeline and the scale of India's technical and financial contribution to the conservation effort.