Kewu Plain

[2] Apart from the Prambanan Roro Jonggrang complex, Kewu Plain along with the valley and hills around it is the location of some of the earliest Hindu-Buddhist temples in Indonesia.

The discoveries of archaeological sites scattered only a few miles away suggested that this area was once an important religious, political, and urban center of central Java.

[3] In 2012, the Balai Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala Jawa Tengah (BP3, or the Central Java Heritage Preservation Authority) suggested that the area in and around Prambanan should be treated as a sanctuary.

This was meant to protect this archaeologically rich area from modern-day visual obstructions and the encroachments of hotels, restaurants, and any tourism-related buildings and businesses.

[4] For centuries Prambanan Plain, overshadowed by the Merapi volcano, was known for its rich and fertile volcanic soil perfect for intensive rice cultivation.