Built on an island off Indonesia’s western coast, the majestic Borobodur Temple is one of the most impressive religious monuments in the entire world. Surrounded by beautiful scenery of central java’s natural beauty, you can only find here. The temple stands majestically atop a hill overlooking lush green fields and faraway mountains. It was built between AD 780 and 840 under the rule of the Siyalendras (Gupta Empire). Its design reflects India’s influence on the region at the time. There are enough native scenes and elements included to make Borobudu unique for Indonesians.
Covering an approximate area of 2500 square meters (m²), Kedut Valley is located in the south of central Java province. It’s an amazing piece of art, covered with 2,672 reliefs and originally 504 Buddhas, surrounded by beautiful gardens. The architecture and stonewall of this temple has no equivalent anywhere else. It was built without any concrete or mortar. It’s built from a series of large interlocking pieces which don’t need any glue to hold them together. It’s no surprise why Borobudur has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site.
Even though the temple was neglected for hundreds of years, its strength remains intact. Rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles during his expedition to Sumatra. During the 1970s, Indonesia and UNESCO collaborated to restore Borobudor back to its original glory. It took 8 years for the restoration project to be completed, which makes Borobudur one Indonesian’s most valued treasure. That’s one of the reasons why you may see some limitations at Borobudur if you go there for the first time. The local people really care about keeping the beautiful temples they’ve built for hundreds of years.
The main hall has statues carved into its walls depicting scenes from the lives of Buddha. It has been claimed by commentators that this is the largest collection of Buddhist artworks ever assembled, unmatched for its artistic quality.
It’s best if you walk around the entire site when visiting Borobudur Temple. If you want to take a stroll through Green Park, you might start at its main entrance. Vendors often give out free gifts when you visit their stores. There are also lots of Indonesian traditional souvenirs including batik, traditional clothing from Indonesia, and other interesting small displays. It’s not prohibited by law for tourists to purchase traditional souvenirs at Borobudur Temple but we recommend buying something instead of just taking pictures.
When you reach the top of this majestic structure, you’ll be amazed by the intricate details carved into its walls. When visiting this historical site, be sure to dress appropriately, avoid any kinds of vandalism, keep an appropriate attitude towards everything that happens during your visit, respect the religious activities that you might see when you’re there, and don’t pose too much for photos. You might need to borrow a sarong if you’re wearing short pants when visiting Bali.
If you’re visiting the site, be sure to take note of its history and significance, which are recorded on its many sculptures. There are guides available for people who want to know more about this monument; they’re written in several languages, but don’t worry if you don’t understand them because you won’t be expected to read any of them. You’ll be able to see the entire structure up close from every angle, starting with its construction during the Siyalendre Dynasty and explaining each detail of the building. These carvings depict important historical events from ancient times. They’re filled with interesting tales and legends.
How to Get There
It takes about 1 hour by car from Jakarta to Borobudur. One easy way to go there is by taking one of our tours or hiring a driver for hire. As you travel through Indonesia, you can experience the refreshing breeze of Magelang City with its streets lined by large shade trees. It’s hard not to be impressed by Borobudur when standing next to its impressive surroundings. During these months, when there isn’t too much rain, visiting the beach is best done at night. It would probably be best if you visited at daytime rather than nighttime so you could see the temple clearly.