Why India Is Restoring Indonesia's Ancient Prambanan Temple And What It Means For Asia

India and Indonesia have launched one of the most significant cultural heritage collaborations in recent years with the restoration of the iconic Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will assist Indonesia in restoring the 9th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The project goes beyond simple conservation and reflects centuries-old civilisational ties between India and Southeast Asia. #India #Indonesia #Prambanan #PrambananTemple #ASI #UNESCO #WorldHeritage #NarendraModi #ActEastPolicy #HinduTemple #CulturalDiplomacy #Yogyakarta #HeritageConservation #AncientHistory #Archaeology #SoutheastAsia #Civilisation #History #TempleRestoration #Geopolitics Indonesia's Culture Minister Fadli Zon has stressed that Prambanan must be preserved alongside the neighbouring Sewu and Plaosan temple complexes as part of one interconnected cultural landscape. Experts from the ASI will use the internationally recognised anastylosis technique, rebuilding the monument using its original stones wherever possible. Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are also expected to play a role in identifying and matching thousands of scattered stone blocks, making this one of the most technologically advanced heritage restoration efforts in the region. The initiative also showcases India's growing cultural diplomacy under its Act East Policy. India has previously restored globally significant heritage sites including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Mỹ Sơn in Vietnam, Bagan in Myanmar and Vat Phou in Laos. The Prambanan project further strengthens India's role as a trusted partner in preserving world heritage while deepening strategic and cultural ties with Indonesia. In this video, we explain why this restoration matters not only for archaeology but also for diplomacy, history and Asia's shared civilisational identity. India Today Global is the international arm of India's most trusted media organization — delivering factual, up-to-date news, analysis, and insights from India and around the world. From politics and business to culture and global affairs, we cover it all. Built for the digital-first English news audience and the Indian diaspora worldwide, we are the channel that connects India to the world and the world to India. 🎙️ Statecraft - Executive Editor Geeta Mohan cuts the noise, decodes the truth, and dissects the forces shaping global power, from geopolitical shifts to military strategies and economic levers. 🌐 Namaste World - Your daily wrap of the biggest stories from around the globe. Concise, sharp, essential. 🔍 Point of View - We hold people accountable. The questions others won't ask, asked here. 🗺️ Zoom In - Wars, conflicts, and tensions simplified with maps and context that actually make sense. 🤝 Diplomatic Diaries - Ambassadors have a public face. We show you the other one. No stone unturned. No question unasked. 🔔 Subscribe - because the world doesn't wait, and neither should you. Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/ITGGlobal Follow us on Instagram:   / indiatodayglobal   Follow us on Facebook:   / indiatodayglobal   Follow us on Website: https://www.indiatoday.in/global Watch our marquee shows: EXCLUSIVE: President Putin Says "We Will Take Donbas by Force" in His Most Shocking Interview    • EXCLUSIVE: President Putin Says "We Will T...   Trump Demanded Seven Countries Send Warships to Hormuz. Every Single One Refused | Statecraft Ep 307    • Trump Went to War With Iran, Begged for a ...   Afghanistan Claims Pakistan Bombed Kabul Hospital Killing 400, 250 injured | Namaste World EP 81    • Afghanistan Claims Pakistan Bombed Kabul H...   From B-52 to B-21 Raider: The Evolution of America’s War Machine | Zoom In With Sandeep Unnithan    • From B-52 to B-21 Raider: The Evolution of...   US Iran War: Military Bases in the Gulf, For Israel or the Arab World? | West Asia War | POV Ep 5    • US Iran War: Military Bases in the Gulf, F...   Inside Australian Envoy’s Delhi Residence | Diplomatic Diaries Exclusive    • Inside Australian Envoy’s Delhi Residence ...