Indonesia popular destinations | Borrobudur Temple | The Largest Buddhist temple of the world

Borobudur is a Buddhist temple located at Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The location of the temple is approximately 100 km southwest of Semarang, 86 km to the west of Surakarta, and 40 km northwest of Yogyakarta. Stupa shaped temple was founded by the Mahayana Buddhists around the year 800 AD during the reign of the Sailendra dynasty. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple or shrine in the world, and one of the largest Buddhist monument in the world.

This monument consists of six square terraces on which there are three circular courtyard, the walls are decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues are original. Borobudur has the most complete collection of Buddhist reliefs in the world. The main stupa in the middle teletak once crowned this building, surrounded by three rows of circular 72 perforated stupas in which there is a statue of Buddha sitting cross-legged in the lotus position perfectly with mudra (hand gesture) Dharmachakra mudra (turning the wheel of dharma).

This monument is a model of the universe and was built as a shrine to honor Buddha also functions as a place of pilgrimage to lead mankind to switch from natural lust to enlightenment and wisdom according to the teachings of Buddha. The pilgrims enter through the east side start the ritual in the temple grounds with walking this sacred building circling clockwise, while continuing to ascend to the next steps through the three levels of the realm in Buddhist cosmology. These three levels it is Kamadhatu (the realm of lust), Rupadhatu (the realm of intangibles), and Arupadhatu (the realm of the intangible). In this journey the pilgrim goes through a series of hallways and staircases with no less than 1,460 witnessed the beautiful relief panels carved on the walls and balustrades.

According to historical evidence, Borobudur was abandoned in the 14th century as the weakening of the influence of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms in Java as well as begin the influence of Islam. The world began to realize the existence of this building since it was discovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was then serving as the British Governor General of Java. Since then Borobudur has suffered a series of rescue and restoration efforts. The restoration project was held in the period 1975 to 1982 for the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and UNESCO, and the historical sites included in the list of World Heritage Sites.

Borobudur is still used as a place of religious pilgrimage .Annual Buddhists who come from all over Indonesia and abroad gather at Borobudur to celebrate Vesak Trisuci. In the world of tourism, attractions Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited by tourists.

Floating above the landscape of Central Java like a series of concentric circles that forms a giant mandala, there is Borobudur Temple, the Reviews largest Buddhist monument in the world. Even though there is no written record of who built the first temple, it is Believed that Borobudur Temple was built between AD 780 and 840 when the Sailendra dynasty ruled the region. The building was abandoned for Centuries and buried beneath layers of volcanic ash from Mount Merapi with only local people Knew of its existence.

In 1814, the British ruler of Java, Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles, appointed a team led by Cornelius to Investigate a hill, which, According to many local inhabitants, was the site of an ancient monument. The discovery got the Borobudur Temple worldwide attention, but it was not until 1835 that the entire area of the temple has been cleared. Unfortunately, the Dutch colonial government Gave away eight containers full of Borobudur statues as presents for the King Chulalongkorn of Siam during his visit to Indonesia in 1896. The relics are still on display in the National Museum of Bangkok.

Entry ticket in borrobudur tample:

A. General (Ages 6 Th. Move Up per person) Domestic Traveler / Archipelago

Borobudur: Rp. 30. 000, -

B. Children (Age Under 6 Th.) & Company Student / Student

Borobudur: Rp. 12. 500, -

C. Admission prices Borobudur Foreign Tourists / Abroad

Borobudur: USD 20

Architect

Borobudur is a masterpiece of Buddhist art Indonesia, for example crowning achievement of harmony the architecture and aesthetics of art Buddha in Java. The building is inspired by the idea of dharma of India, among others stupa and mandala, but it is believed also the continuation of local elements; punden megalithic structures or pyramid were found from the prehistoric period in Indonesia. As a blend of native Indonesian ancestor worship and struggles achieved Nirvana in Buddhism.

In the temple walls at every level - except on the terraces Arupadhatu - carved panels of bas-reliefs made with very careful and delicate. Relief and decorative patterns Borobudur naturalist style with ideal proportions and refined aesthetic taste. These reliefs are very beautiful, even considered as the most elegant and graceful in the art of the Buddhist world. Borobudur reliefs also discipline Indian art, such as a variety of gestures that have a particular meaning or aesthetic value. Reliefs noble human form like a hermit, the king and the duchess, atapun angel beings who attain the degree of sanctity is like a god, such as tare and Boddhisatwa, often depicted with the body position tribhanga. The position of the body is called "curve of three" that is curved or bent slightly at the neck, hips, and ankles with just body weight resting on one leg, while the other foot is curved to rest. This lithe body positions imply elegance, eg Surasundari angel figure standing with posture tribhanga clutching long-stemmed lotus.

Borobudur reliefs showing lots of pictures; like a good human figure nobles, commoners, or ascetic, a variety of plants and animals, as well as displays of traditional vernacular building forms the archipelago. Borobudur is like an book which record various aspects of the life of the ancient Javanese society. Many archaeologists researching past life in ancient Java and the archipelago of the 8th century and the 9th with examining and refer carved reliefs of Borobudur. Form of stilt houses, barns, castles and temples, the form of jewelry, clothing and weapons, a variety of plants and wildlife, as well as transportation, to be observed by the researchers. One of them is the famous relief depicting Borobudur Ship. Bercadik wooden ship typical of the archipelago shows ancient maritime culture. Replica ark made by relief Borobudur stored in Samudra Raksa Museum located in the north of Borobudur.

These reliefs read in accordance clockwise or referred mapradaksina in ancient Javanese language that comes from the east is Sanskertadaksina meaning. These reliefs variety of story content, among other reliefs Jataka stories. Reading of the stories always the starting relief, and ends on the east side of the gate at every level, starting on the left and right ends of the gate. So obviously that the east is the ladder up the real (primary) and to the top of the temple, it means that the temple facing east while the other sides of similar right.