Ramayana Ballet, a Magnificent Epic Revived

The Ramayana Ballet has now become a major tourist attraction in Yogyakarta. This performance is a visualization of the popular Hindu epic, the Ramayana, adapted to Javanese culture.

You can watch the Ramayana Ballet performance at the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan Complex. Your trip to Yogyakarta would be a complete miss if you didn't see this lavish performance set against the majestic backdrop of Prambanan Temple . Learn more about the Ramayana Ballet in the review below.

History of the Ramayana Ballet

The Ramayana Ballet is an art form that combines dance and drama, accompanied by gamelan music. This art form serves as a way to preserve Javanese culture, specifically the Hindu epic Ramayana, depicted in the reliefs of the Shiva Temple at Prambanan.

Did you know that the Ramayana Ballet has been performed since 1961? Yes , not just today; this magnificent performance has become a cultural tradition that has been passed down through generations.

The Ramayana Ballet was first performed on July 26, 1961, on the Prambanan Temple open-air stage, conceived by retired Lieutenant General GPH Djati Kusumo. The dance was choreographed by Soerjohamidjojo and Soeharso, and involved 865 people, including costume designers, gamelan musicians, and dancers.

Since that first captivating performance, the show has been performed regularly during the dry season, from May to October. However, because the open-air stage used for the first performance was still within the Prambanan Temple complex, a new stage was built on the southwest side of the temple.

Interestingly, the Ramayana Ballet is the oldest performance in Southeast Asia still performed today. This long-standing performance has endured across generations since its inception over six decades ago.

The story featured in the Ramayana Ballet

The Ramayana Ballet depicts the epic Ramayana, as depicted in the reliefs of the Shiva Temple. The performance begins with the story of Rama's archery competition to win Shinta, the daughter of King Mantili. 

At the end of the competition, Rama, from the Ayodhya Kingdom, was victorious and married Shinta. After their marriage, Rama and Shinta, along with Rama's brother, Laksmana, wandered into the Dandaka Forest.

While in the forest, a conflict ensues, with Shinta kidnapped by Rahwana and taken to the Alengka Kingdom. While searching for Shinta, Rama encounters Anoman and enlists the help of an army of monkeys to attack the giants guarding the Alengka Kingdom. The story ends with Rahwana's death by Rama's arrow, thus reuniting Rama and Shinta. 

The dance continues, depicting the conflict when Rama doubts Shinta's purity. This drives Shinta to prove her innocence by setting herself on fire. Ultimately, Shinta survives the fire and convinces Rama that she still maintains her purity. The Ramayana Ballet performance concludes with the reunion of Rama and Shinta.

Ramayana Ballet Location

The Ramayana Ballet, organized by InJourney Destination, is performed on an open-air stage on the west side of Prambanan Temple. Although not located within the temple complex, the stage clearly showcases the magnificent setting of Prambanan Temple.

The Ramayana Ballet is performed on two separate stages: the outdoor open-air stage and the indoor Trimurti stage. Three stories are presented: Ramayana, The Legend of Roro Jonggrang, and Shinta Obong.

The Ramayana story is performed outdoors during the dry season and indoors during the rainy season. Meanwhile, The Legend of Roro Jonggrang is exclusively performed indoors at Trimurti every Friday.

If you want to witness the magical story of Shinta's self-immolation to prove her purity in the Shinta Obong performance, this dance is performed in a special area called the Prambanan Riverfront Amphitheater.

Also read: What to Do on Vacation at Prambanan Temple? Here's a List of Activities

Tips for Watching the Ramayana Ballet

Given the huge popularity of the Ramayana Ballet, many tourists miss out on tickets if they buy them at the last minute. You certainly don't want that to happen, right ? Here are some tips you can use to secure tickets, enjoy a comfortable viewing, and ultimately have a more enjoyable experience. Here are the tips in full:

1. View and Confirm Available Schedules

The first thing you need to do is check the schedule to make sure there's a show at your desired time. You can find the Calendar of Events on Ramayana Prambanan's Instagram account or on the official InJourney Destination website.

2. Buy Tickets Well in Advance

Once you've confirmed the schedule is available, secure your tickets well in advance. You can purchase tickets online through the official InJourney Destination website on the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan Ticket Order page . Simply select your desired date and check out! That way, your tickets are safe and you won't have to worry about running out on the big day.

3. Come Early

On the day of the show, it's recommended that you arrive 15–30 minutes early. This will help avoid the risk of being late, which will certainly cost you money by not being able to fully enjoy the performance.

Not to mention, there are several procedures that must be carried out before entering the performance area, such as exchanging physical tickets, checking tickets, and finding the seats written on the tickets. 

Don't worry, even if you arrive much earlier, you can watch videos about tourist attractions and activities managed by InJourney Destination Indonesia, such as Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple, and Ratu Boko Palace.

4. Adhere to the Dos and Don'ts

To ensure a comfortable viewing experience, both for you and others, be sure to adhere to the established rules. Some of the rules you should adhere to include:

• No Smoking.
• Throw garbage in its place.
• It is forbidden to speak too loudly.
• Sit according to your seat number.
• Take photos and videos without flash.
• Pay close attention to the performance.

5. Wearing Prambanan Traditional Clothing

For a more exciting and meaningful experience, and to deepen your understanding of Javanese culture, you can watch the Ramayana Ballet while wearing Prambanan textiles. InJourney Destination presents textiles with motifs inspired by temple reliefs, earth tones, and mythological stories.

More than just fabric, Wastra Prambanan is an experience that upholds traditional values ​​while remaining stylish . Furthermore, this look will certainly enhance the photos you post on social media. Are you ready for the new experience of watching a Ramayana Ballet performance while wearing Wastra?

Ramayana Ballet Performance Schedule

There are three performances in the Ramayana Ballet, each scheduled on a different schedule. To avoid confusion, here's the complete information:

1. Ramayana Ballet

The Ramayana Ballet is performed every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30 PM WIB. During the rainy season (January, February, March, April, November, and December), the performance is held at Trimurti Indoor. During the dry season (May, June, July, August, September, and October), it is performed at the Open Air Outdoor venue. 

Weekday ticket prices:

Weekend/special show/holiday ticket prices:

2. The Legend of Roro Jonggrang

The Legend of Roro Jonggrang is a performance depicting the love story of Roro Jonggrang and Bandung Bondowoso. It takes place every Friday at 7:30 PM WIB. Don't miss this combination of dance and drama without dialogue, telling a romantic and tragic tale popular for generations.

Ticket prices for The Legend of Roro Jonggrang:

3. Shinta Obong

Shinta Obong is a special performance that uses real fire elements to bring to life the story of Dewi Shinta's perseverance in proving her purity to Rama. Due to Rama's doubts about her purity, Shinta willingly immolated herself in the flames. However, she emerged from the flames intact, proving her purity.

This show is held every Friday at 5:30 PM WIB at Prambanan Riverfront Amphitheater with ticket prices:

• Adults: Rp. 330.000
• Children (maximum 10 years): Rp. 225.000

4. Padhang Bulan Special Show

Every full moon, you can also watch the special Prambanan Ramayana performance, "Padhang Bulan." The next time you attend, you can attend the Padhang Bulan performance on July 29, 2026, at 9:30 PM WIB. Not only will you witness the art, but you'll also see the offering procession and enjoy traditional snacks.

Padhang Bulan ticket prices:

Secure Ramayana Ballet Tickets Online! 

You can get information about Ramayana Ballet reservations through Instagram @ramayanaprambanan or by contacting WhatsApp 085803525354. Want a more convenient way? You can buy tickets now through the Prambanan Ballet Ramayana Official Tickets page on the InJourney Destination website.

Come on , experience firsthand the living legend wrapped in culture and the magnificent backdrop of Prambanan Temple!

Also read: Revealing the Myths of Prambanan Temple: Is It True That Couples Can Break Up?