Shiva
The Destroyer
47 m
The shape of the courtyard
Three towers, three mounts
Prambanan’s inner courtyard is not six separate buildings. It is three facing pairs — each god opposite the animal that carries him, across a narrow stone yard. Once you see the pairing, the whole compound reads.
-
Nandi
the bull
The tallest candi and the centre of the row. Its inner chamber holds the four-armed Shiva Mahadeva; three further chambers hold Durga (the "Slender Virgin" of local legend), Ganesha and Agastya.
-
Brahma
The Creator
33 m
Hamsa
the goose
Stands to the south of Shiva. Its balustrade carries the closing half of the Ramayana relief, continuing the sequence that begins on the Shiva temple.
-
Vishnu
The Preserver
33 m
Garuda
the eagle
Stands to the north. Its reliefs break from the Ramayana entirely and tell the Krishnayana — the story of Krishna — instead.
How to read the walls
The Ramayana, carved clockwise
The inner balustrades of the Shiva and Brahma temples carry the Ramayana as a continuous relief. It is meant to be read while walking clockwise — pradakshina — keeping the temple on your right, starting at the eastern stair of the Shiva candi. Follow it in that order and the panels run as a narrative; walk it the other way and the story runs backwards. The Vishnu temple carries the Krishnayana instead.
Walk it in this order
-
Start at the eastern stair of the Shiva temple
The Ramayana relief begins here, on the inner face of the balustrade. Face the wall with the temple on your right.
-
Keep the temple on your right
Walk clockwise. This is pradakshina, the direction of circumambulation — and it is also simply the order the panels were carved in.
-
Follow Rama, Sita and Hanuman round the Shiva candi
The abduction of Sita, the alliance with the monkey army and the search all play out across the panels of the first temple.
-
Cross to the Brahma temple to finish the story
The relief does not end where the Shiva balustrade does. It continues on Brahma, to the south, and concludes there.
-
Then read Vishnu separately
The northern temple is not part of the Ramayana at all. Its panels tell the Krishnayana, and are best read as their own sequence.
Prambanan at a glance
UNESCO 1991World Heritage Site, inscription 642
240 templesWithin the Prambanan compound
47 metresHeight of the central Shiva tower
9th centuryBuilt under the Mataram Kingdom
Prambanan opening hours
- Temple compound
- Daily 06:30–17:00 WIB, last entry 16:30
- Inner temple courtyard (Zone 1)
- Closed every Monday for maintenance — the outer park, Sewu and the museum stay open
- Nyepi (Balinese day of silence)
- Closed for 24 hours — 19 March in 2026
- Ramayana Ballet
- Evening performances on selected nights, ticketed separately from temple entry
Ceremonial days, full-moon Hindu rituals and state functions can restrict access to specific enclosures at short notice. Check the operator’s channels on the morning of your visit if your date falls near one of these.
Book your entry
Prambanan Temple entry tickets
Pick your date for the three towers and their courtyard below — GetYourGuide handles the booking, shows what's actually open on that date, and converts the total into your own currency before you pay.
See Prambanan tickets & prices ↗- Valid all day
- English and Indonesian
Top-rated Prambanan and Yogyakarta experiences
In-depth Prambanan guides
A month-by-month calendar for the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia — season by se
When to visit Prambanan Temple
Read more → Two world-heritage temples, fifty kilometres apart, built for very different reasons — herPrambanan vs Borobudur
Read more → Bus, car, ride-share or driver — a practical look at the seventeen-kilometre journey fromGetting to Prambanan from Yogyakarta
Read more → There is no enforced religious dress code here — but the stone, the sun and the open sky sWhat to wear at Prambanan Temple
Read more → A walking route through the Trimurti, the Vahana shrines, the perwara ruins, and the lesseWhat to see at Prambanan
Read more → The temple complex is a daytime architectural visit. The Ramayana Ballet is an evening opePrambanan Ramayana Ballet vs Temple Visit — Two Different Experiences
Read more → The three main shrines and what's inside each: the central Shiva temple's four chambers, tPrambanan Hindu Iconography — Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu
Read more → 60-90 minutes before sunset, the temple complex catches warm western light. After sunset tPrambanan Sunset Photography — The Lit Temple at Twilight
Read more → Borobudur sunrise (very early start), Prambanan late morning, evening back in Yogyakarta.Prambanan + Borobudur in One Day — Realistic Day Plan
Read more → The temple was buried by volcanic ash for centuries, rediscovered in 1733, partly restoredPrambanan Conservation — From 1733 Rediscovery to 2006 Earthquake
Read more →Good to know
Prambanan questions
What are Prambanan's opening hours?
Prambanan Temple is open daily from 06:30 to 17:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). Last entry is at 16:30. The compound is busiest between 09:00 and 14:00 — late afternoon offers the best light and the thinnest crowds.
How do I get to Prambanan from Yogyakarta?
Prambanan is 17 kilometres east of central Yogyakarta — approximately 30 minutes by private car or Grab. The Trans Jogja Line 1A bus from Malioboro takes 45–60 minutes (IDR 3,600). You can also add a private return transfer when booking your tickets.
What should I wear?
Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered. Free sarongs are provided at the entrance if you arrive in shorts or sleeveless tops. The complex is large and exposed to sun, so comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen are recommended.
Is Prambanan a Hindu or Buddhist temple?
Hindu. Prambanan is dedicated to the Trimurti — Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. It was built in the 9th century by the Hindu Sanjaya dynasty, around the same period that the nearby Buddhist monument of Borobudur was constructed by the rival Sailendra dynasty.
How long should I allow for a visit?
2–3 hours is ideal for the Lara Jonggrang central group. This gives you time to explore all three main towers, study the Ramayana reliefs, and walk through the surrounding archaeological park without feeling rushed. Add another 1–2 hours if you also want to see the outer Sewu, Bubrah and Lumbung temples.
Can I visit both Prambanan and Borobudur in one day?
Yes, many international visitors do this independently. The two UNESCO sites are about 40 kilometres apart (roughly 90 minutes by car), and most travellers in Yogyakarta hire a private driver to cover both in a single day. Combined Borobudur–Prambanan day trips that include transport between the two are also widely available and often work out simpler than arranging a driver yourself.
How does the booking process work?
Choose your option and date, then complete the booking on GetYourGuide, our booking partner. Your confirmation and official ticket are issued to your phone and email straight away, with everything you need for your visit.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation terms are set by GetYourGuide and the operator, and are shown in full on the booking screen before you pay. Most tickets booked through our partner can be cancelled free of charge — check the window shown on the option you select.
Is payment secure?
Yes. All payments are processed by Stripe, the global payment processor used by millions of businesses. Your card details are never stored on our servers and the connection is SSL-encrypted.
Does my name need to match my passport?
No strict name-match is enforced. Your ticket is issued under the booking name and carries its own QR code, and the same name across several tickets is completely fine. Staff scan each ticket's QR at entry. Carrying your passport is sensible general practice for foreign-visitor entry, but there is no enforced passport name-check at the gate.