Yogja 2 - Part 1 Borobudur

29/4 This morning I am picked up by Great Tours for our transportation today to Borobudur, Kaliurang and Prambanan. It costs me RP 85k for the day transport.

Visiting Borobudur is one of my wishes and I am so glad I can check it off today!

It takes about 1.5 hours to get to Borobudur which is in the north of Yogja. The weather is fine at Borobudur, hot and humid actually. I pay the RP 130k entrance fee and we are received at the dedicated Foreign Tourist Entry. I am sure as "turis" we pay a higher rate than the locals. We are treated well by the staff and are given water and hot drinks at the Entry.

My first impression is that the Unesco world heritage site is well run but not as green and serene as it should be, compared to Angkor Wat in Seam Reap. The site has less trees and canopy and more man made spaces around the Borobudur which kind of makes it "less real". Today being a Sunday there are a lot of local visitors from families to students.

Walking towards the Borobudur from the east direction.

 The East Entrance of Borobudur.

First impression of Borobudur from the ground level.

 

Lion statues which function as guards of the temple.

Some info on the BOROBUDUR:

It is the largest Buddhist Temple in the world. Its location is 269m (884 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by several mountains.

It was discovered by Sir Stanford Raffles in 1862.

Cornelius was commissioned to uncover its extent in 1814.

Theodore Van Erp was tasked to restore the Temple between 1907 and 1911.

The Indonesian Government undertook a full restoration of the Borobudur during 1973 to 1983.

Boro means temple or shrine. Budur means above the hill. BOROBUDUR is the temple above the hill.

It was build as a stepped pyramid. It has 2 building styles - the upper part has the shape of a main stupa and is based on 3 round kernels (Indian style architecture); the lower part is stepped pyramid shaped as quadrilateral with angles (Javanese style architecture). As a whole it resembles a stupa. STUPA literally means "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics.

Some technical data: 

Temple height from ground to the top is 35.29m (116 ft)

No of Kaben stupa and ornaments is 1464. 

No of story relief panels is 1460.

No of decorative relief panels is 1212.

I take time to capture in pics some of the reliefs.

The number of relief panels is so enormous no visitor is able to see everything. That's one of the problems with us playing tourist. We just try to absorb as much as we can and experience the atmosphere of the site.

Later on in the Museum I learn of a series of 4 pics which show how the reliefs are made by the craftsmen.

To pay close attention to the relief in sequential order one needs to enter Borobudur from the Eastern Gate and turn left on each level and leave the temple on the right side. 

In order words to appreciate the temple I walk around each level (because it is a stepped pyramid) and turn left and walk clockwise 3 times before climbing the next level and do the same sequence. This is called "PRADAKSINA".

It is important for me to note that there is no spaces inside the Borobudur temple. No covered spaces. We can merely see and admire the Borobudur by walking around it.

On the ground level (The Rupadhatu Level) and arrangement of reliefs that tells the life of Buddha Gautama. From birth to his growing up to his living as a hermit to his enlightenment.

This is the 2nd level

There are 504 Buddha statutes in the temple.

On the next 3 levels we find 72 holed stupa or domes and inside each there is a Buddha statute. These domes are so amazing in their layouts and concepts. I am so blessed I can see them in person. I spend quite some minutes admiring them, the surrounding mountains and trees and enjoy the presence of such great architecture. I imagine in the hay days of 10th Century the Borobudur would be such grand monument for Buddhism.

How great was the architect and builder of the Borobudur and these domes?! There are 74 of the domes and each has a Buddha statute inside it. What is the significance? Why hole up the statutes?

 

 The surrounding mountains as seen from the Temple combined with Borobudur (Temple on the hill) is so breath taking. One has to see it in person to appreciate its greatness and serenity.

This is the only statute I can find which is not domed. What is the significance? I have so many questions ....

 

Playing tourists - I take these pics to illustrate that people of all races and religions come to visit Borobudur to admire its grandeur and monument; and to have a good time .....

Indonesian kids love to take photos with "turis" (tourists)

 I am an observant photographer

 These kids love to play tourists too

Today I am so happy I get to see another UNESCO world heritage site - The Borobudur. It is indeed a fantastic site to experience, feel and enjoy. I am so privilege I get to see it .... the history, the facts, the influence religion has on kingdoms and the dedication of man to his religious beief. This is an amazing, amazing feeling!