The Borobudur Temple is a site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and located in the heart of Java Island in Indonésie. This magnificent monument is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary beauty and distinctive architecture. During your journey to Indonésie, take time to visit this remarkable site—it will undoubtedly leave you spellbound.

History

The Borobudur Temple (or Candi Borobudur in Indonesian) is the world's largest Buddhist monument. Located approximately 40 km northwest of the cultural city of Yogyakarta, this architectural marvel was built between the late 8th and early 9th centuries by Smaragunta, a ruler of the Sailendra dynasty who governed Java from the 6th to 10th centuries. A century after its completion, around 950 CE, it was abandoned like most monuments in central Java. At the same time, the eruption of Merapi along with the surrounding jungle obscured the temple, causing it to fade from memory for centuries.

It was not until the 19th century that Candi Borobudur was rediscovered by the island's governor-general, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. An enthusiast of Javanese history, he was informed of a great monument buried in the jungle near the village of Bumisegoro. In the early 20th century, a Dutch administrator named Hartmann recognized the temple's value and undertook its reconstruction. Initial restoration efforts encountered technical challenges and disappointing results. Furthermore, the earthquake triggered by Merapi's eruption in the early 1960s delayed restoration work, which was eventually halted due to financial constraints.

It was not until 1973, under UNESCO's supervision, that restoration could resume. After 10 years of monumental effort, the Borobudur site reopened to the public.

Today

Today, the Borobudur temple stands majestically in the valley, restored to its former splendor. It is Indonésie's most visited monument, welcoming millions of visitors from around the globe each year. A visit at certain times of day—sunrise and sunset—offers visitors a truly spectacular experience. Towering over the region with its 1,600,000 blocks of volcanic stone, this majestic temple is also the perfect vantage point to contemplate the Merapi volcano in the distance, still active today.

The Candi Borobudur is not only a sanctuary dedicated to Buddha but also a Buddhist pilgrimage site. Each year during the full moon in May or June, Indonesian Buddhists celebrate Vesak (Waisak)—a commemoration of Buddha's birth, death, and the moment when Siddhartha Gautama attained the highest wisdom to become Shakyamuni Buddha. In Indonésie, Vesak is an official public holiday, and the ceremony centers on a pilgrimage procession departing from Mendut, passing through Pawon, and concluding at Borobudur.

Borobudur Temple is easily accessible from the city of Yogyakarta.

• By Bus:

To reach Borobudur from Yogyakarta's main bus station, head to the Jombor bus terminal (buses 2B/2A, 3,000 rupiah), then board a bus to Borobudur. The journey costs approximately 20,000 rupiah one-way.

• By Taxi:

A taxi from Yogyakarta to Borobudur costs around 200,000 rupiah and takes approximately 40 minutes.

Practical Information

Park opening hours: 6 AM to 5 PM.