The BOROBUDUR Temple

Borobudur is 26 miles (42 km) northweat of Yogyakarta, the principal city of this part of central Java. Regular bus travel service from Yogyakarta to Muntilan and Borobudur. Yogyakarta itself can be reached by air or train from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, which is in western Java. Borobudur becomes an icon for the city of Yogyakarta while in fact it is located in Central Java region.

Borobudur becomes the icon of Yogyakarta and is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in the world and it is listed as The World Wonder Heritage. The monument is the biggest Buddhist temple of the world and it had been acclaimed by the world as a cultural heritage mankind that are the most frequently visited by over a million domestic as well as by foreign visitors up to now. The architectural style has no equal throughout the world.

The inspired structure representing the micro cosmos which have very often given risen to question e.g. when, in what way, during how long time and by whom the sanctuary had been built.

The right answer up to now remain a mystery since no written documents had been found so far. Based on the brief inscription most scholars notified that Borobudur was built around the 8th century when Samaratungga - King of Çailendra Dynasty ruled Central Java. The meaning of Borobudur remains vague. It is a compound of words Bara and Budur. Bara from Sanskrit has a meaning of complex of the temples or monasteries. While Budur reminds us the Balinese word Beduhur, which means above. Accordingly, Borobudur means monastery on the hill.

Borobudur has full of philosophical ornaments in which it is completely symbolizing the unity in diversity of path that can be followed to reach the ultimate aim of life. The reliefs engrave on the wall of the temple tell about the beautiful learning of life. In other words, Borobudur is the soul of art, culture and philosophy.

By turning left following the pilgrims' path to the summit which is 3 miles walk, is a symbolic journey through the three spheres of Mahayana Buddhism: Kamadhatu - lower sphere of daily world Rupadhatu - the world of form Arupadathu - the higher sphere i.e. the world of formless : abstract state of heavenly perfection The 1460 relief carving in stone slabs that cover the balustrade illustrating life of Buddha's teaching. The total statues of Buddha are 504. On the upper, open terraces are more than 70 stupas, containing the sitting statues of Buddha.

The form of Borobudur resembles a gigantic stupa, believed to be a structure to assist meditation. On the top, underneath the great stupa, alone under the sky, surrounded by the green plains far below, the sensation is one total release and serenity ..