Borobudur Temple
Buddhist Temples | admin | February 23, 2010 at 7:15 amBorobudur is a ninth century Mahayana Buddhist monument located in Borobudur district south of Magelang in the Central Java province of Indonesia. Borobudur is the biggest tourist attraction in Indonesia. Borobudur is said to be built by architect Gunadharma around 800 AD (during the reign of the Sailendra dynasty).
Architecture:
The non-monastic Buddhist temple clearly has an architectural influence of the Guptas of India. It comprises six square platforms capped by three circular platforms and is adorned with 2,672 relief panels and over 500 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the middle of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 seated statues of Buddha inside perforated stupa. Borobudur is famous for Buddhist pilgrimage. The temple is built above a bedrock hill, about 265 metres above the sea level.
Divine pilgrimage:
Here, the pilgrims begin their divine journey from the base of the monument and follows a path that goes around the monument and ascends to the top through three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely, Kamadhatu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). Indonesian Buddhists celebrate Vesak festival at Borobudur temple.
History:
Borobudur was abandoned after the Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java declined and Islam took centre stage. Sir Stamford Raffles, the British ruler of Java in 1814, had popularized Borobudur to the outer world (the name Borobudur was learnt from his book on Javan history) and subsequently, efforts to preserve the brilliant architectural marvel were undertaken. The largest restoration of Borobudur was undertaken between 1975-82 by the Indonesian government and soon after, the monument found its place in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The only Javanese manuscript that mentions about the monument is Nagarakretagama.
Other attractions:
- Waisak Festival in May (to mark Lord Buddha’s birthday)
- Candi Mendut Buddhist temple
- Pawon Temple: east of Borobudur
- Elephant Safari organized by Manohar Hotel located near Borobudur Temple. The safari can take either Nglipoh Village route, Pawon Templeroute or Borobudur Temple Park route
- Samudra Raksha: Ship museum
- Dieng Plateau: an active volcanic area that features mysterious lakes and relics of Hindu temples from the Sanjaya dynasty of the 7th century
Reaching Borobudur:
By air:
Borobudur is accessible from Yogyakarta which is served by Adisucipto (or Adisutjipto) International Airport. Solo’s Adisumarmo International Airport is another entry point. Buses and taxis are available from airport.
Bus:
Buses regularly operate from Yogyakarta’s Giliwangan bus terminal to Borobudur. From the bus terminus, the temple is just 1 and half kilomtres away.
Best time to visit:
May to October is the best time to visit Borobudur.
Accommodation:
- Manohar Hotel
- Pondok Tinggal
- Rajasa Hotel
- Ning Tidar Hotel
- Saraswati Borobudur
- Amanjiwo (luxury)
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Borobudur was abandoned following the 14th-century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam.
Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, then the British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians.
Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations.