Perwara Temple is being restored, Plaosan set to become a new tourism magnet.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon inaugurated Perwara Temple Row II No. 19 at the Plaosan Temple Site in Klaten Regency, Central Java, which had just completed restoration, on Thursday, October 23, 2025. The temple restoration was carried out by the Regional Cultural Heritage Preservation Office (BPCB) Region X.

“If we look at this, it is an extraordinary achievement, especially since this temple was built in the 9th century. The process likely started in the 8th century, making it a symbol of harmony, tolerance, and the advancement of the archipelago's civilization at that time,” said Fadli Zon.

For many, Plaosan Temple is not merely a pile of moss-covered stones carved thousands of years ago. It is a living historical trace, telling the story of the meeting of two great civilizations, Hindu and Buddhist, which in their time merged in harmony and produced architectural beauty.

Preserving Heritage Across the Ages

The restoration of the Perwara Temple or Companion Temple is part of the Ministry of Culture's long-term efforts to preserve this 9th-century AD cultural heritage. 

This project was undertaken by BPCB Region X, involving a team of archaeology and conservation experts to ensure every stone, every carving, and every layer was placed according to its original position.

The Ministry stated that programs like this are a continuation of the preservation tradition that began during the Dutch colonial era and continues today, with the spirit of safeguarding the nation's ancestral heritage.

Restoring this temple, measuring 4.89 meters x 4.89 meters with a height of 7.26 meters, required extraordinary precision. Consisting of 36 layers of andesite stone, the reconstruction was fully funded by the 2024 and 2025 State Budget (APBN), totaling Rp1.475 billion.

From Restoration to Development

Not only inaugurating the temple, Fadli Zon also marked the commencement of the first phase of landscape development for the Plaosan Temple Site. 

This step is expected to improve accessibility and comfort for visitors without diminishing the spiritual and historical values inherent in this area.

The development of the Plaosan area will carry the concept of “Harmony in Diversity”, an idea reflecting the diversity in history, religion, and art inherent in this site.

Through the arrangement of the entrance, parking area, and cultural tourism facilities, the government aims to make Plaosan a destination that is not only visually beautiful but also revives the values of togetherness and tolerance that have been the spirit of the archipelago for centuries.

A Symbol of Harmony in the Modern Age

Amidst the fast currents of modernization, efforts to restore and revive ancient temples like Plaosan are not just about preserving inanimate objects.

This is a way to connect the past with the present, so that the modern generation still has a firm historical foundation. (Antara)