English (UK) 
Français (France) 
Nederlands (nl-NL) "Discover the majestic Prambanan Temple and scenic vistas of Java, Indonesia in less than 9 minutes! Our video takes you on a journey through rice paddies and enchanting villages, away from the bustle of the city. From the comfort of your seat, explore the secrets of Indonesian Hinduism and its millennial history, while learning fascinating details about the restoration of the Prambanan temple. Don't miss this dive into a world of history, beauty and culture. The page contains explanations details to further enrich your viewing. Embark now on this spellbinding journey through time and space!"
This film was made on the basis of photos and videos taken during the trip Indonesia • Sumatra, Java and Bali (EN)
A click on this icon above displays the list of chapters of this film about Java in Indonesia. A click on a dot goes directly to a chapter.
Reading the text below will help you better understand the historical context of the sites shown in this video.
Chapters:
00:50 • train trip
05:20 • Prambanan temple
Train journey
The 400 kilometers between Bandung and Yogyakarta can be tiring, unless you travel in a relatively comfortable train, crossing rice fields, small villages and other pleasant landscapes, far from traffic jams and other hassles of the road in Indonesia. Some images of these enchanting landscapes in this film, give a little idea of the countryside in Java Island, Indonesia.
Hinduism in Indonesia
Trade between the Indonesian archipelago and India was very intense from the beginning of our era and the influence of the Hindu religion was great at the time. While the Hindu influence in Indonesia is not due to trade, therefore to mercantile castes, but rather to Brahmin scholars invited by local courts, Arab merchants gradually introduced Islam in Indonesia from of Sumatra from the 8th century. While for more than 1000 years the vast majority of the population was Hindu, the appeal of the new religion was increasingly evident to the people of the archipelago, the vast majority of whom were from the lower castes. A conversion to Islam allowed them to escape their social condition, fixed forever in the caste system that characterizes the Hindu religion.
Even when they became Muslims, Indonesians continued to keep their Hindu rituals to remain in communion with their ancestors.
Only the island of Bali continues to be of Hindu religion today, even if there too the cult of ancestors has interfered in Hindu religious practices (see Bali).
the temple of Prambanan
As the princes and ruling classes were slow to embrace Islam, seeing the caste system to be much more favorable, Hindu constructions continued to thrive on Java. A few kilometers from Yogyakarta is one of the most remarkable Hindu temple complexes in Indonesia. The site dedicated to Shiva, the destroyer and reconstructor has 240 temples. Built around 850 AD, the site soon fell into disuse and was finally abandoned, following the shift of power to the west. Some historians suggest that the construction of this great Hindu temple was a response to that of the largest Buddhist complex in the world, built at the same time, the temple of Borobudur.
It wasn't until the 19th century that it was rediscovered, lost in the jungle and covered with earth. The complex had suffered greatly from the frequent earthquakes that characterize this region of the globe.
The archaeological interest of this complex led from the middle of the 19th century to the reconstruction and restoration of this exceptional site. The restoration of the central temple was completed in 1953, and that of the annexed temples is still in progress. The frequency of earthquakes in the region does not argue in favor of rapid reconstruction. The architects responsible for this restoration try to adopt the principles of construction applied in regions with high soil activity, which makes the work much more complex.
Music:
- YouTube video library - Argonne - Zachariah Hickman
- YouTube video library - Double Drift, (© Double Drift by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100254
Artist: http://incompetech.com/)
- YouTube video library - Gamela - E's Jammy Jams
Disclaimer: Despite its appropriateness, copyright issues prevent the use of indonesian traditional music in "Indonesia • Java • By train from Bandung to Yogyakarta and Prambanan Temple ", hence the use of royalty-free music. Despite our careful selection, some might regret this decision, which is necessary to avoid potential lawsuits. Although difficult, this decision is the only viable solution.
What's the weather like in Prambanan?
Links to related pages
• Monuments •
Prambanan • Java, Prambanan temple - Masterpiece of Hindu Architecture
about the place, Prambanan:
Prambanan is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Triurti (trinity of Hindu gods: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the keeper and Shiva, the transformer) built during the 9th century. The temple complex is located on the outskirts of Yogyakarta and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Spoken comments in the film:
Ce complexe de temples hindous dont la construction date du IXème siècle est situé à quelques kilomètres de Yogyakarta et est le plus grand du genre en Indonésie. L'ensemble compte 240 temples dont la plupart sont encore en ruine suite à une série de tremblements de terre.
Un grand projet de reconstruction du complexe est en cours et prendra encore des années avant d'être terminé. Cette reconstruction tient compte des normes sismiques dans la mesure du possible.
