Borobudur Temple

Every person must have a favorite place. It’s same with me. I have one favorite place in Java. It’s Borobudur.

Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the ninth century measuring 123 x 123 meters. It was completed centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The Borobudur Temple was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. It is located at Magelang, 90-km southeast of Semarang, or 42-km northwest of Yogyakarta.

Borobudur temple is the one of the best-preserved ancient monument in Indonesia that are most frequently visited by over a million domestic as well as foreign visitors. It also had been acclaimed by the world as a cultural heritage main kind. The architectural style has no equal throughout the world. The whole structure of Borobudur reflect the hard-work, perseverance and high dedication of thousands people who were sweating on their attempt to make their way up to hill dragging tons of rock in the scorching heat of the tropical climate. The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.

Borobudur stands majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. It is built of gray stone. It rises to seven terraces, each smaller than the one below it. The top is the Great Stupa, standing 40 meters above the ground. The walls of the Borobudur are overstated by beautiful bas-reliefs.
Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building symbolizing the ten stages of the Mahayana Buddhist cosmic system.









Based on: http://www.yogyes.com/en/yogyakarta-tourism-object/candi/borobudur/

The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizes human beings that are still bound by lust. The upper four stories are called Rupadhatu symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but are still bound to appearance and shape. On this terrace, Buddha effigies are placed in open space; while the other upper three terraces where Buddha effigies are confined in domes with wholes are called Arupadhatu, symbolizing human beings that have been free from lust, appearance and shape. The top part that is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.

In order to understand the sequence of the stories on the relief panels, you have to walk clockwise from the entrance of the temple. The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana. Besides, there are relief panels describing the condition of the society by that time; for example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of navigation in Bergotta (Semarang).





P. S. To reach Borobudur, you have the option of going by motorcycle, taxi or public bus. Public transportation is available from the bus terminal. From that point you can hire becak (pedicab) or horse carts, or walk the rest of the way to the temple.