Prambanan Temple, sitting on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java. This temple holds a ton of beauty, pulling tourists back in for another visit. The stunning stupas and reliefs there also encourage visitors to capture them in photos or videos.

But sometimes, the photos we snap don’t meet our expectations. No worries, though, because the Prambanan Temple area has some cool spots for taking pictures of this 8th-century marvel to make it look even more awesome.

Yogyakarta Tours rounded up 5 photo spots at Prambanan Temple, including Riyadi Spot, Nandi Temple Spot, Bu Ani Spot, Perwara Temple Ruins Spot, and Syiwa Mandala Spot. Just find these spots and wait for some fantastic results.

5 Photography Spots to Take Photos At Prambanan!

Now that you know the top spots to capture stunning shots at Prambanan, let’s dive into the five photography spots that will elevate your photo game and leave you with unforgettable memories of this magnificent temple. Get ready to explore Prambanan through the lens!

1. Spot Riyadi

The go-to spot for tourists snapping pics of Prambanan Temple is the Riyadi Spot. It’s situated in Dawangsari Hamlet, Sambirejo Village, Prambanan District, Sleman.

If you’re coming from Yogyakarta, it’s about 20 kilometers away, taking roughly an hour to get there. The Riyadi Spot gives you a shot of Prambanan Temple’s beauty from a distance of 2,200 meters, perched at around 200 meters above sea level.

You get a clear view facing north, and of course, Prambanan Temple is part of that view. Even though 2.2 kilometers might sound far, you can still soak in the beauty and grandeur of Prambanan Temple from here.

If you’re using a camera on your phone, Prambanan might look tiny, but if you bring a professional camera with a zoom or telephoto lens, you’ll get much better results.

It’s recommended to snap pics of Prambanan at this spot at night for the best outcome. The temple’s illumination will make the beauty and grandeur of the structure shine even brighter.

2. Spot Bu Ani

Before you step into the temple courtyard through the main road, take a turn south and look for the mahogany tree like the one in the picture above. You can snap a pic of the whole main temple with the mahogany tree framing it. If your shot angle is spot on, you’ll get a cool photo.

Why’s it called Bu Ani Spot? Well, it got popular when it was visited by Ibu Ani Yudhoyono, who happens to be into photography as a hobby.

3. Spot Nandi Temple

The second spot that gives you some awesome pics of Prambanan Temple is Nandi Temple. This one’s a companion temple right in front of the three main Prambanan temples.

As you enter the temple, you’ll spot a small gate directly facing those three temples. Snap a pic from behind that gate, focusing on the three main temples.

Use the gate for framing, and you’ll end up with a beautiful and stunning photo. Just a heads up, bring a wide lens to make sure those three temples are crystal clear.

4. Spot Perwara Temple Wreckage

The fourth Instagrammable spot that could be your go-to alternative for snapping Prambanan Temple is the Ruins of the Perwara Temple.

Once you’re inside the main temple, you’ll come across these stone ruins. Many photographers use these ruins as a backdrop for their shots.

You can give it a shot too, using them as a foreground to capture the main temple. These ruins are called the Perwara Temple ruins, which means companion. Interestingly, they look neatly arranged.

You can find the best part on the northeast side. The ideal time to shoot in this area is in the evening when the sunset starts to roll in.

5. Syiwa Mandala Spot

The final spot that I’d recommend for snapping pics of Prambanan Temple is the Syiwa Mandala Spot. This spot is at its prime in the late afternoon when the sun is about to set.

Even though Prambanan Temple’s operational hours are wrapping up, I suggest you stick around near the main temple’s exit. Why? Because that’s where you’ll get the best photo spot, right on the expansive field of Syiwa Mandala.

You can still use this field even after the operational hours are done. The serene twilight atmosphere and the darkening sky make it a photo experience that’s hard to forget. This spot is located on the north side of the main courtyard of Prambanan Temple.

History of Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Temple is the biggest Hindu temple in Indonesia. We still don’t know for sure when and by whom it was built, but there’s a strong belief that it was constructed around the mid-9th century by King Balitung Maha Sambu from the Sanjaya Dynasty.

This assumption is based on the content of the Syiwagrha Inscription found near Prambanan, currently kept at the National Museum in Jakarta.

The construction of this Hindu temple kingdom began with Rakai Pikatan, as a counterpart to the Buddhist Borobudur and the nearby Sewu Temple.

Some old historians suggest that the construction of this magnificent Hindu temple was a way to signify the return of the Sanjaya family’s influence over Java. It’s linked to the theory of twin dynasties with different beliefs competing against each other: the Sanjaya dynasty, followers of Hinduism, and the Sailendra dynasty, followers of Buddhism.

Certainly, the construction of this temple marks the resurgence of support for the Shaiva sect of Hinduism by the royal family, after the Sailendra dynasty had previously leaned more towards Mahayana Buddhism. It signifies a shift in the kingdom of Medang’s religious focus, from Mahayana Buddhism to the worship of Shiva.

How to Get There?

The closest towns to Prambanan are Yogyakarta (17 km southwest) and Klaten (3 km north). Prambanan Temple is easy to reach as it’s right on the Solo – Yogya highway. From Yogyakarta, you can hop on the Transjogja public transport that stops at the Prambanan market stop. All intercity buses heading to Solo can also drop you off right in front of Prambanan Temple.

Solo and Yogyakarta have international airports. Currently, the Yogyakarta International Airport serves international flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, the Adi Soemarmo Solo Airport handles international flights from Kuala Lumpur.

Ticket Fees

For local tourists:

Ages 10 and above: Rp 50,000
Ages 3 to 10: Rp 25,000

For a group of at least 20 people:

Prambanan Ticket: Rp 25,000.00

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