Prambanan is one of the reasons most people visit Yogyakarta in Java. It’s a 9th century Hindu temple complex, dedicated to the three headed God, or the Trimurti, representing the Creator God (Brahma), the Preserver God (Vishnu) and the Destroyer God (Shiva). Not even the crowds can take away the scale, beauty and magnitude of the temples. Intricate reliefs are carved into every inch of stone, with each temple containing a different God. People come from miles around to witness the sunset here, to watch the 150ft towers turn from dark grey stone to the richest golds, reds and burnt oranges. It really is an unforgettable sight.
That evening, we sat beneath Prambanan Temple to watch the Ramayana ballet, a traditional Javanese ballet that tells the Hindu story of Rama and Sita. Listening to the Gamelan music while the dancers performed in their glittering, brightly coloured costumes, with the temple lit up in the background gave me the chills. It seemed as though every carving came alive. It was the perfect way to appreciate and experience this place, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.