Indonesia, the world’s largest island nation, is a stunning mosaic of culture, myth, and sacred stone. Long before the rise of Islam, Indonesia was a thriving hub of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms that left behind some of the most awe-inspiring temple complexes in Southeast Asia. From the 5th to the 15th century CE, Indian religions flourished across Java, Sumatra, and Bali, carried by trade routes and embraced by powerful local dynasties.
In East Java, the Singhasari and Majapahit empires (13th–15th centuries) left behind graceful temples like Panataran, showcasing syncretic blends of Shaivism and local beliefs.
On the island of Sumatra, the Srivijaya Empire fostered both Buddhist and Hindu art. On other islands of Indonesia, a syncretic expression of Hindu and Buddhist culture created temples, monuments and arts as recorded in Chinese texts by its merchants. However, little remains of the former glory above ground. Artwork, sculpture and inscribed stones now reside in museums of Indonesia, with some of the best preserved in the national museum of Jakarta.
Bali remains the last bastion of Hindu tradition in Indonesia, with vibrant temple life and centuries-old architecture still alive. Mahabharata, Ramayana, statues of Ganesha, Vishnu, Devi, Shiva, pools named after Indian rivers form the tirtha (pilgrimage) route in Bali.