In Central Java, two massive temples rise as witness to the greatness of two empires – one Buddhist and one Hindu. Borobudur, the main temple site of the Buddhist Sailendra Dynasty (760-830) sprawls horizontally, in deference to its stupa-mound inspiration. Prambanan, built by the Late Sanjaya (830-1016) Hindu empire that displaced the Sailendras, on the other hand, soars vertically, resembling the Hindu architecture of South Indian dynasties. We have created this Approach Guide to help travelers understand these two world-class sites, as well as Java’s broader architectural tradition.

Use our travel guide ebook to gain a deeper appreciation of the history, symbolism, art, and architecture of Java’s Borobudur and Prambanan temples.

We have created this Approach Guides eBook to help visitors understand these two world-class sites, as well as Java’s broader architectural tradition.

This Approach Guide offers an overview of Javanese temple architecture from its origins in the fifth century until 1527. In doing so, it traverses a vast landscape that spans many Buddhist and Hindu Empires, including the Early Sanjaya / Mataram (732-760), Sailendra (760-830), Late Sanjaya (830-1016), Singosari (1222-92), and Majapahit (1292-1527).

As each empire advanced its own architectural style, Java is left with an extremely rich and varied temple legacy. This guidebook charts this legacy by exploring what makes each empire’s temples unique. For each empire, it provides a brief historical background, insight into its religious worldview, a framework for appreciating the defining features its art and architecture, and our picks for its best, most well-preserved temple sites.

Finally, this Approach Guide concludes with a comprehensive discussion of the two most iconic structures in Javanese architecture, Borobudur and Prambanan. Profiles include high-resolution images and floorplans that highlight salient features with color highlights to ease identification.

This guide is relevant for travel to the following locations: Java, Indonesia.

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