Modi Bets on Prambanan Revival to Spark Surge in Indian Tourism to Indonesia

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he expects visitor numbers from India to Indonesia's Prambanan Temple to rise sharply once an ambitious joint conservation project is completed, underscoring New Delhi's growing use of cultural diplomacy to deepen strategic ties across Southeast Asia.

Speaking during a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site alongside Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday, Modi said the restoration would strengthen Prambanan's appeal as both a cultural landmark and a spiritual destination for millions of Hindus.

The restoration extends well beyond heritage preservation. It reflects the rapid expansion of Indonesia-India relations into culture, tourism, digital infrastructure, defense, and critical minerals. For Indonesia, stronger tourism flows from India—the world's fastest-growing major outbound travel market—could provide a meaningful boost to its visitor economy while reinforcing its position as a regional cultural destination.

The initiative also illustrates how both governments are increasingly using shared civilizational heritage as a strategic asset to support broader economic and geopolitical cooperation.

Modi Sees Stronger Tourism After Restoration

"I am confident that once this joint restoration effort is completed, the number of tourists and pilgrims from India will increase significantly in the years ahead," Modi said during the inauguration ceremony for the Indonesia-India conservation partnership at Prambanan Temple on Wednesday.

The temple complex, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, houses revered Hindu statues of Shiva, Durga, and Ganesha and has served as a place of worship for centuries.

"This temple enshrines the sacred idols of Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, and Lord Ganesha. For centuries, devotees have come here with faith and devotion," Modi said.

He added that Hindu temples around the world remain enduring symbols of India's cultural legacy and said visiting Prambanan—the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and one of Southeast Asia's most significant—was among the most profound moments of his state visit.

"This has been one of the most sacred, extraordinary, and deeply spiritual moments of my life," Modi said. "It is even more special because I have had the opportunity to visit this sacred temple complex with my friend, President Prabowo."

Modi said he also prayed for closer friendship between Indonesia and India and for greater prosperity for both nations.

A Decade-Long Conservation Program

Earlier Wednesday, Prabowo and Modi officially launched the Indonesia-India Collaborative Cultural Heritage Conservation for Prambanan Temple, unveiling a commemorative plaque marking the start of the long-term initiative.

The conservation program will run from 2026 through 2036 and focus on restoring more than 200 perwara temples—the smaller shrines surrounding Prambanan's main temple complex.

The project will employ advanced conservation technologies, including LiDAR surveying, artificial intelligence-based digital reconstruction, anastylosis—a restoration method that reconstructs monuments using original architectural elements—and comprehensive digital documentation.

Officials said the partnership aims to strengthen physical conservation of the site while improving scientific documentation, site management, knowledge transfer, and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Prabowo Highlights a Shared Civilization

Addressing the ceremony, Prabowo said Prambanan represents more than Indonesia's historical legacy.

"Prambanan Temple is not only a symbol of Indonesia's glorious history and culture, but also a powerful reminder of the civilizational ties that have connected Indonesia and India for more than 1,000 years," he said.

He added that bilateral relations extend beyond politics, economics, and defense, drawing strength from shared traditions in culture, scholarship, and mutual respect.

Prabowo said the Ramayana reliefs carved into the temple walls stand as enduring evidence of the two nations' intertwined histories.

Modi Pledges Completion Before 2029

During the visit, Modi also committed to completing the restoration before 2029 after Prabowo asked him to help accelerate the project.

"Today, my friend President Prabowo asked me to promise that we will complete this work before 2029 and that I will return to Indonesia to inaugurate the restored temple complex," Modi said.

He publicly reaffirmed that commitment, expressing confidence that both countries would meet the target and celebrate the project's completion together in a major ceremony.

The restoration agreement is one of the most visible outcomes of Modi's state visit to Indonesia, highlighting how shared cultural heritage is emerging as an increasingly important pillar of the Indonesia-India comprehensive strategic partnership.