The Ramayana, originating in India, has traveled far and deep into Southeast Asia shaping art, performance, literature, architecture, and identity. Over centuries, trade, pilgrimage, and diplomacy helped carry the epic to the Malay Archipelago, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and beyond. These regions developed unique local versions reflecting their cultural fabric: Ramakien in Thailand, Reamker in Cambodia, Hikayat Seri Rama in Malaysia, Phra Lak Phra Lam in Laos, Kakawin Ramayana in Java, and more.

In architecture, Southeast Asia bears these influences vividly. Temples like Angkor Wat and Prambanan feature intricate Ramayana bas-reliefs the epic etched in stone.

Performance traditions bring the stories alive: Thailand’s khon dance, Bali’s Ramayana Ballet, Cambodia’s classical dance-drama, and Indonesia’s wayang kulit shadow puppetry all vividly portray Ramayana episodes.

Today, these traditions continue to serve as living threads connecting present-day Southeast Asia to ancient Indian epics, values, and artistic sensibilities. Through adaptation and reinterpretation, the Ramayana remains a vivid cultural bridge, fostering shared heritage across borders.