TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have officially launched a bilateral partnership to conserve and restore Prambanan Temple, marking a new chapter in cultural cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement was inaugurated during the two leaders' visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yogyakarta on Wednesday, July 8, as part of Modi's three-day state visit to Indonesia.
Speaking to reporters at the temple complex, Prabowo thanked Modi for visiting Indonesia and described culture as a powerful foundation for strengthening bilateral ties.
"Culture is a bridge that can unite nations, strengthen mutual understanding, and build trust to face the future together," Prabowo said, as quoted from a live broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Wednesday.
The Indonesian president also welcomed the launch of the joint conservation initiative.
"On this joyful occasion, I welcome the agreement on the conservation and restoration of the Prambanan Temple complex between the Government of Indonesia and the Government of India," he said.
Follow-Up to 2025 Bilateral Commitment
Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Shri Sandeep Chakravorty previously said the restoration project is a follow-up to the 2025 Indonesia–India Joint Statement, in which both countries agreed to cooperate on preserving the historic temple complex.
Since the agreement was announced, the Indian government has been working with Indonesia's Ministry of Culture, the Indonesian Heritage Agency, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to prepare the restoration project.
Chakravorty noted that the ASI is internationally recognized for restoring ancient monuments and temple complexes. The agency has previously participated in the restoration of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and is currently involved in similar conservation projects in Laos and Vietnam.
He said an ASI team had already completed an on-site assessment of Prambanan and prepared a project report, which is currently under review.
"We believe that when the two leaders meet, they will announce the commencement of the temple restoration work," Chakravorty said on Friday, July 3.
He added that the project could further enhance Yogyakarta's appeal as a cultural tourism destination and attract more international visitors, particularly from India. The initiative, he said, also supports Indonesia's broader efforts to develop heritage-based tourism.
Restoration to Focus on Perwara Temples
Culture Minister Fadli Zon said the partnership will focus on restoring the perwara, the smaller temples surrounding Prambanan's three main shrines.
"India is particularly interested in Prambanan because it is one of the world's largest Hindu temple complexes, with three main temples and around 200 perwara temples," Fadli said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 7.
According to Fadli, Indonesia has completed the restoration of all three main temples, but only six of the roughly 200 perwara temples have been restored so far.
He said the government has yet to determine the value of the restoration partnership, as further assessments of the remaining structures are still required. Fadli expressed hope that collaboration with Indian conservation experts would help accelerate the revitalization process.
Leaders Receive Ceremonial Welcome in Yogyakarta
Earlier on Wednesday, Prabowo and Modi arrived in Yogyakarta aboard a state helicopter, landing at Adisutjipto Airport at around 11:15 a.m. local time, Tempo observed.
The two leaders departed the airport through the Adisutjipto Air Force Base VIP terminal at around 11:30 a.m., where they were welcomed by hundreds of students dressed in traditional Javanese attire.
Modi traveled in a black presidential sedan, while Prabowo followed in a Maung tactical vehicle. The Indonesian president stood through the roof of the vehicle to greet the students lining the route.
Modi's visit to Indonesia is part of an official state trip and follows President Prabowo's visit to India last year, underscoring both countries' commitment to expanding cooperation in culture, heritage preservation, and other strategic sectors.
Pribadi Wicaksono contributed to the writing of this article.
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