Prambanan
Declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Prambanan is the largest complex of temples in Southeast Asia which represents the highest expression of Hindu religion in the island of Java. Built in the Ninth century, it was severely damaged by the 2006 earthquake. In fact, while walking among the ruins, you can still see piles of stone and workers restoring the site. There are three temples that stand out the most, those dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; the latter is about 47m tall and is decorated with bas-reliefs telling the story of Ramayana. It is located about 17km from Yogyakarta and you should take a couple of hours to visit the complex.
In the evening, you can see some classical show performances like the Ramayana ballet. The setting with temples in the background is truly magic and costumes are splendid, so we recommend spending an evening here.
BoroDuBur
The majestic Buddhist monastery of Borobudur is part of the centuries-old temples that enrich a dreamlike landscape. Entirely built in stone and recently restored by UNESCO, it is formed by various terraces or bases, decorated with bas-reliefs that illustrate Buddha’s life. The name Borobudur means “monastery on the hill” or, according to other sources, “terraced mountain”.
The structure consists of 9 levels, 6 main square levels plus 3 upper levels of circular form which symbolize, according to the Buddhist belief, the various levels of life a man must reach before attaining Nirvana. On the upper platform you will find 72 small bell-shaped stupas.
Dieng Plateau
Many people would only dedicate a couple of hours of their time to visit this area. We decided to spend a whole day there. The Dieng Plateau is a verdant hill full of temples, geysers and cultivated fields, whose particularity is the terraced cultivation that gives the landscape a unique appearance. We rented a motorbike from the guy who had helped us find a place to sleep (it wasn’t even his own bike, but his friend’s), and it was very fun day. To get lost in the wonderful countryside, stop every now and then observe in complete solitude the landscapes populated by farmers was a priceless experience.
