From Angkor to Prambanan: How India revived shared civilisational heritage under PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday jointly inaugurated the India-backed conservation and restoration project at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, marking a major milestone in India-Indonesia cultural cooperation and civilisational diplomacy.

Accompanied by President Prabowo, PM Modi also offered prayers at the nearly 1,000-year-old Hindu temple complex on the Indonesian island of Java.

The restoration project follows the exchange of a Letter of Intent between the two countries during bilateral talks in Jakarta on Tuesday. During the talks, the two leaders welcomed the conservation and restoration work that will be undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Describing Prambanan as “a timeless symbol of the shared cultural heritage of India and Indonesia,” Modi highlighted the deep civilisational links that have connected the two countries for more than a millennium.

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The conservation project is the latest addition to India's growing heritage diplomacy efforts under the Modi government, which has supported the restoration and preservation of temples, monuments and cultural sites across Asia since 2014.

Reviving the legacy of Vietnam’s My Son Sanctuary

One of India's earliest major heritage conservation initiatives under the Modi government was the restoration of the UNESCO-listed My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam.

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2014, India undertook conservation work at the ancient Shaivite temple complex, once the religious centre of the Champa Kingdom and one of Southeast Asia's most important Hindu archaeological sites.

Restoring Sri Lanka’s ancient Thiruketheeswaram Temple

In 2015, India signed an MoU to provide grant assistance worth LKR 326 million for the restoration of the historic Thiruketheeswaram Temple in Sri Lanka.

The temple, one of the island nation's five ancient Pancha Ishwarams dedicated to Lord Shiva, was restored as part of India's broader effort to preserve shared cultural and religious heritage in the region.

Supporting Nepal’s post-quake heritage reconstruction

Following the devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal, India launched restoration and conservation work at 28 cultural heritage sites under its US$50 million reconstruction assistance programme.

The initiative included the restoration of prominent sites such as the Seto Machhindranath Temple and the Budhanilkantha Temple Dharamshala, helping preserve Nepal's rich architectural and spiritual heritage.

Preserving Myanmar’s historic Bagan monuments

India expanded its conservation footprint in Myanmar in 2017 by signing an MoU to restore monuments damaged by an earthquake in the UNESCO-listed Bagan Archaeological Zone.

Through the ASI, India undertook restoration work on 12 historic pagodas and completed conservation of the iconic Ananda Temple, one of Myanmar's most revered Buddhist monuments.

Redeveloping Bahrain’s Shreenathji Temple

During his historic visit to Bahrain in 2019, PM Modi inaugurated the US$4.2 million redevelopment project of the 200-year-old Shreenathji Temple in Manama.

The project helped preserve one of the Gulf region's oldest Hindu temples and highlighted India's commitment to safeguarding the cultural heritage of the Indian diaspora abroad.

Rebuilding historic temples in Bangladesh

India deepened its cultural partnership with Bangladesh through the restoration of several important Hindu religious sites. In 2020, New Delhi financed the reconstruction of the nearly 300-year-old Joy Kali Mata Temple in Natore and supported restoration work at the Anandomoyee Kali Mata Mandir and the Ramakrishna Temple.

The following year, India announced assistance for the reconstruction of the historic Ramna Kali Temple, which had been destroyed during Pakistan's Operation Searchlight in 1971. The temple's inauguration in 2021 marked the revival of a major Hindu shrine and reinforced longstanding civilisational ties between the two countries.

Conserving Cambodia’s Angkor heritage

From 2022 onwards, India continued restoration and conservation efforts at Cambodia's Angkor heritage complex. The work included conservation projects at Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear, reaffirming India's role in preserving one of the world's most significant centres of Hindu and Buddhist civilisation.

Restoring Laos’ Ancient Vat Phou Temple

In 2024, India undertook restoration work at the UNESCO-listed Vat Phou Temple in Laos. The nearly 1,000-year-old Shiva temple is regarded as one of Southeast Asia's oldest surviving symbols of Sanatan civilisation, and the project further strengthened India's cultural engagement with the region.

Prambanan: The latest chapter in India’s cultural diplomacy

The newly launched restoration initiative at Indonesia's Prambanan Temple complex represents the latest chapter in India's heritage conservation efforts across Asia. Widely regarded as one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in the world, Prambanan stands as a powerful symbol of the centuries-old cultural links between India and Southeast Asia.

The project also reflects India's broader Act East policy, under which New Delhi has increasingly partnered with countries across South and Southeast Asia to preserve monuments that embody the region's shared civilisational heritage.

With inputs from agencies