South East Asian Trips

One of the greatest Buddhist monuments in Southeast Asia, Borobudur was built in the 8th century and stands on top of a hill surrounded by volcanoes and overlooking green fields. It is an immense multi-tiered structure with the Great Stupa (bell-shaped monument) at the top standing 128ft (40m) above the ground, surrounded by numerous smaller stupas, some still containing Buddha statues inside. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a major tourist attraction in Java.

The Borobudur Temple, Central Java is considered among the finest temples in Indonesia. This ancient Buddhist stupa and temple complex is located in Central Java. The Borobudur Temple, Central Java is visited by hordes of tourists from the world over throughout the year.

The Borobudur Temple, Central Java is the largest Buddhist monument in the world. This grand temple was built in the 8th and 9th centuries during the rule of the Sailendra kingdom of Borobudur. It took nearly 75 years to complete the construction of the temple. About 1,600,000 blocks of volcanic stone was used to build this nine-terraced temple. The Borobudur Temple houses 1,500 delicately carved reliefs, stretching across a length of five kilometers.

Situated at Borobudur District, South of Magelang, Central Java, the Borobudur Temple is considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the complex of the temple is one of the greatest monuments in the world. According to Bernet Kempers' Borobudur Temple is very unique in her own way. Nieuwenkamp (an artist) said that Borobudur was like "a big lotus flower bud ready to bloom" which was "floating" on a lake. Nieuwenkamp's mind's eye was supported by N. Rangkuti (1987) supported the mind's eye of Nieuwenkamp and said that from the air Borobudur Temple looks floating.

Between the end of the seventh and beginning of the eighth century A.D, Sanmaratungga was constructed Borobudur Temple and in 1814, Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles was revealed the ruined and buried Borobudur Temple. From 1905 to 1910, the temple was under the restoration and the last restoration was done in 1973 to 1983.

The structure of Borobudur Temple includes 55,000 square meters area, which is constructed on a hill and the shape of this temple is like a stepped-pyramid of six rectangular storeys, three circular terraces and a central stupa forming the summit. The whole structure of this temple is looks like a lotus, which is the sacred flower of Buddha. The overall height of the temple was 42 meters, but after restoration only 34.5 meters of temple was revealed that had the dimension of 123 x 123 meters (15,129 square meters). The Borobudur Temple comprises10 floors and the first floor to the sixth floor were square form; the seventh to the tenth floor were round form.

Considered as the highest symbol of Buddhism, Borobodur stupa is a replica of the universe. Borobudur Temple symbolises the micro-cosmos and divided into three levels. The first level marks the man's world of desire that is influenced by negative impulses; the middle level marks the world where man has control of his negative impulses and uses his positive impulses; the highest level marks the world of man that is no longer bounded by physical and worldly ancient desire. Therefore, we can say that Borobodur Temple represents the ten levels of a Bodhisattva's life.

Presently a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Borobudur Temple in Central Java comprises a single colossal structure, which can be divided into the following layers - Platform - Positioned at the base of the temple, the platform was probably added to hide reliefs depicting earthly desires.

Square terraces - Four square terraces form the bulk of the temple. These terraces are connected by steep staircases. Either side of each terrace is adorned with reliefs in two layers, depicting the story of the life of Lord Buddha and his enlightenment. Start viewing the reliefs from the east gate and go around clockwise.

Circular terraces - The final four circular terraces in the temple have several hundred domes placed upon them. These domes are home to half-hidden Buddha statues.

Central stupa - Perched at the peak of the structure, the central stupa houses two chambers. These chambers inside the stupa are empty, perhaps as a representation of nirvana.

Postures of Buddha's statue - You will come across 6 different postures of Buddha's statue at the Borobudur Temple, Central Java. The postures include ‘contact with earth', ‘giving and helping', ‘meditation', ‘no fear', ‘teach and learn", and ‘turn of wills'.

Thus, visit to the Borobudur Temple, Central Java is a must during a trip to Indonesia. The temple remains open to the public from 6 am to 5 pm.