TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta will be entirely closed during Nyepi Day (Day of Silence) on March 19, 2026, which is a day before Eid al-Fitr. The closure of the Hindu temple area on the border of Yogyakarta-Central Java is a form of respect for the sanctity of Catur Brata Penyepian.
“On March 19, we will stop all visits to Prambanan Temple from 06:00 AM until the following day (March 20),” said the manager of Prambanan Temple, who is also the Commercial Director of InJourney Destination Management (IDM), Gistang Panutur, on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
This comprehensive closure includes the sterilization of the entire temple area and a total power outage to ensure a silent atmosphere, which is the core of the Hindu religious rite.
Prior to the silent day, Prambanan Temple will first become the center of national worship through the Tawur Agung Kesanga ceremony on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Around 35,000 Hindu devotees from various regions are expected to attend this event, making Prambanan a spiritual center of activity before the observance of Nyepi.
Gistang stated that this closure policy is part of the standard management of culturally based heritage destinations that value local values. He emphasized that service quality includes respecting the site’s spiritual function.
He said the integration of spiritual values and tourism operations is the key to creating a meaningful journey.
With this temporary closure, they ensure that the harmony between mass tourism activities and the sanctity of traditions remains the main identity of Prambanan Temple as a living cultural destination. “The increase in the number of tourists must be accompanied by an improvement in service standards to ensure the sustainability of the tourism ecosystem,” said Gistang.
The management estimates an increase of more than 356,000 tourists during the Eid holiday, both at Prambanan Temple, Borobudur Temple, Ratu Boko Temple, and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII). Visits are projected to increase by 3-5 percent compared to last year.
The projections include an estimated 83,000 visitors to Borobudur Temple, 129,000 to Prambanan Temple, 7,300 to Ratu Boko, and 137,000 to TMII.
Meanwhile, the audience for cultural performances at the Pentas Theater from March 21 to 28, 2026, is projected to total 4,600. The occupancy rate at The Manohara Hotel Yogyakarta is expected to reach around 900 rooms during the busy Eid period from March 19 to 27, 2026.
Read: Bali Airport and Toll Roads to Close for 24 Hours During Nyepi
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