Borobudur, the Greatest Temple

Borobudur (Wikipedia)

There is no doubt that Borobudur is still the major object of interest in Central Java and Yogyakarta areas. Being a great Buddhist temple makes Borobudur unstoppable in inviting curiosity and applause from people around the world. Borobudur is factually situated on Central Java, however, it becomes the major tourist attraction for Yogyakarta.

Borobudur temple is atop of a hill in Boro village of Magelang Regency. Its easier to reach the temple from 40-kilometer-away Yogyakarta than from any other major cities. Similar to Solo, Semarang is around 100 km away from Borobudur.

Borobudur was built by Mahayana Buddhist follower when Syailandra Dynasty ruled the area around 800. Borobudur is now still the largest  single Buddhist temple in the world. Its base is a 123 x 123 meter square with 1460 reliefs and 72 stupas atop of it. After several renovations, the total height of the temple was decreased into only 34,5 meters from previously 42 meters.

As many other religious buildings, Borobudur takes a pyramidal shape as its basic form. Divided into 10 levels, the first 6 levels are horizontally square while the next four are round. According to Buddhist, every level of the temple represents each sequence of human life and death with a stupa on top representing the complete isolation from the world.

The lowest 2 levels are Kamadhatu, representing human that bound to desire. Their surfaced are carved with relief telling the worldly life. The next 4 levels are Rupadhatu, representing human that is able to control his desire but still trapped in physical, rotten body. These levels are decorated with open stupas.

The next three levels are Arupadhatu, representing human that is able to get away from his own worldly desire and body. This part of the temple is filled with incompletely closed stupas. The peak of the temple is Arupa, representing the nirvana. Arupa is the largest and the only fully closed stupa on the temple.

Borobudur is one of UNESCO-sponsored international heritage situated in Indonesia. Tourism in this temple is organized by PT. Taman Wisata Candi (TWC), the organized that also develops tourism in Prambanan and Ratu Boko temples.

After admiring the temple, visitors can walk their way into traditional villages not far from the temple complex. An alternative for enjoying the pleasant atmosphere of traditional villages is by riding horse chart. If you want to stay, there are some villages where you can easily find yourself a nice room in a home stay.

Candirejo is one of villages developed as tourism village near Borobudur temple. It has a handful of homestays. To maintain its traditional atmosphere, the villagers agreed to limit the use of electronical devices. Tourism information center is already available on its Co-operation office.

Some traditional art performances are scheduled annually. Wanurejo Cultural Fest and Aksobya dance performance were held on the streets and open space around the temple. Some activities during the fest were cultural parade, exhibition, and cultural night.

To add more attraction on Borobudur temple complex, Borobudur gallery of unique and art will soon be built to replace Indonesian Record Museum (MURI) building that was closed last January. This gallery will be on the slope of Dagi Hill around 100 meters to the west of the temple, but still within the complex.

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