Modi, Prabowo Visit 1,000-Year-Old Prambanan Hindu Shrine, PM Heads to Australia for Next Leg of Tour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday visited the Prambanan Temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yogyakarta , and jointly inaugurated an India-backed conservation and restoration project for the nearly 1,000-year-old Hindu shrine , marking a major milestone in bilateral cultural cooperation.

Modi offered prayers at the temple, dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti- Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma , alongside President Prabowo . Enthusiastic crowds waving the flags of both countries lined the streets as the leaders arrived at the sprawling temple complex, which covers nearly 40 hectares and originally comprised around 240 temples . Sharing the visit on X, Modi posted a photo with Prabowo aboard the aircraft en route to the site, followed by an aerial video describing the Prambanan Temple as " majestic ."

The restoration initiative follows a Letter of Intent exchanged between the two countries on Tuesday. Under the agreement, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will collaborate with Indonesian authorities to restore several smaller temples within the complex, reinforcing India's Act East policy and expanding cultural ties with Southeast Asia.

The temple visit marked the final engagement of Modi's three-day state visit to Indonesia , the opening leg of his six-day, three-nation tour that also includes Australia and New Zealand.

Earlier during the visit, President Prabowo conferred upon Modi Indonesia's highest civilian honour , the 'Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia' , which the Prime Minister dedicated to the people of India. He also addressed the Indonesian Parliament and interacted with the Indian diaspora at a community event in Jakarta, attended by Prabowo.

The two countries also concluded 20 agreements and outcome documents covering defence, maritime security, critical minerals, steel supply chains, and cooperation on the BrahMos missile system. They further announced that IIM Bangalore will establish a global campus in Indonesia, strengthening educational collaboration.

Following the conclusion of the Indonesia visit, Modi departed for Melbourne for the second leg of his tour. In Australia , he is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese , call on Governor-General Sam Mostyn, and address the India-Australia CEOs Forum, before travelling to New Zealand on July 10.