Borobudur Buddhist Temple

Have you ever heard about Borobudur Buddhist Temple in Indonesia? It's a unique 9th century temple which built as a single large stupa. A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, and used as a place of worship. Measuring in 123×123 m (403.5 × 403.5 ft), Borobudur temple is the largest Buddhist structure in the world.

Architecture

Borobudur Buddhist Temple has 2672 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building, represents the ten levels of a Bodhisattva's life which he or she must develop to become a Buddha or an awakened one.

The height before being renovated was 42 meters and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as supporting base. The three upper terraces feature 72 small stupas surrounding one large central stupa. Each stupa is bell-shaped and pierced by numerous decorative openings. Statues of the Buddha sit inside the pierced enclosures.

You can see the 72 stupas in Borobudur's upper platform

As a single large stupa, when viewed from above, Borobudur temple takes the form of a giant tantric Buddhist mandala, simultaneously representing the Buddhist cosmology and the nature of mind. The base form also can be viewed as a Lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha.

Borobudur was finished in the time of King Samaratungga's reign. He is one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years from the time the construction was begun.

Location

Situated in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia, Borobudur is considered as one of the world's ancient wonder heritages. If you think that Bali is the only interesting place to visit in Indonesia, then you might consider it again. With over 2.5 million visitors annually (which 20% of them are international tourists), Borobudur is the single most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia.

This temple is also located near Jogjakarta, about 40 km (25 mi) northwest from the city. Jogjakarta is renowned as a center of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. Many tourists come to Jogjakarta for its strong Javanese culture and tradition.

The surrounding area of Borobudur and Jogjakarta also filled with other Buddhist and Hindu temples, including the Prambanan temples compound. So, this enormous stupa, Borobudur Buddhist Temple, is a perfect spot for your travel destination.

Posted in: Java