Experience the magic of Prambanan Temple at sunset and watch the Ramayana Ballet with Prambanan as a backdrop. Learn about the history of the temple and its intricate carvings.
Begin your evening by entering the Prambanan Temple in the late afternoon, the best time to visit. As the harsh tropical sun softens, the light turns warm and golden, making the dark grey andesite stones of the temples glow with a reddish-orange hue.
Walk around the main compound, see the detailed bas-reliefs that tell the ancient Indian epic of Ramayana, and hear the legendary local folklore of Roro Jonggrang, a beautiful princess who was cursed into a statue and became the 1000th temple after she asked a prince to build 1000 temples in one night to avoid his marriage proposal.
As sunset approaches, head to the best viewpoint in the temple park. Watch as the sky changes from blue to yellow to deep orange and purple, and the silhouette of the tall, sharp, spiky temples against the colorful sky is simply magical.
When the sun has set and darkness falls, the magic continues just a few hundred meters from the temples, on an open-air stage with Prambanan Temple itself as a stunning, illuminated backdrop.
Watch the Ramayana Ballet (Sendratari Ramayana), Java's most famous and longest-running traditional performance, performed since 1961. It is not a normal ballet. It is a spectacular combination of Javanese classical dance, gamelan orchestra, drama, and shadow play, telling the epic story of Prince Rama and Princess Sita.
For 2 hours, more than 100 professional dancers and musicians perform without any dialogue, only through graceful movement and music. See the love story of Rama and Sita, the abduction of Sita by the evil giant king Rahwana, the heroic rescue by Hanoman, the white monkey god, who burns Alengka Kingdom with his flaming tail, the great battle between Rama and Rahwana, the fire dance, the monkey troops dance, and the final happy reunion.
Admire the extraordinarily beautiful costumes, with glittering gold crowns, batik, and hand-painted masks. Listen to the hypnotic live gamelan music. And enjoy the unbeatable setting: on a moonlit night, with the towering Prambanan temples glowing behind the stage, you will feel like you are transported back to ancient Java.
