"Borobudur Temple" or Candi Borobudur.
Saturday, May 17, 2008The highlight of our tour to Jogja is to visit Unesco World Heritage Site, Borobudur Temple and Parambanan.(The most beautiful and largest Hindu Temple in South East Asia.). There are many more smaller temples around Jogja.
On the 2nd day, we visited one of the greatest monument build in 750AD which is 300years before Cambodia's Angkor Wat.
Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years from the time the construction was begun. The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.
On the 2nd day, we visited one of the greatest monument build in 750AD which is 300years before Cambodia's Angkor Wat.
Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years from the time the construction was begun. The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.
Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building. The height before being renovated was 42 meters and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as supporting base. The first six terraces are in square form, two upper terraces are in circular form, and on top of them is the terrace where Buddha statue is located facing westward. Each terrace symbolizes the stage of human life. In line with of Buddha Mahayana, anyone who intends to reach the level of Buddha's must go through each of those life stages.
According to the guide, one part of this mountain resemble a human face. Can you see it? Look for the nose first!!
Still cant see it? Here it is?
View of a volcano from top of Borobudur. Beautiful.
Scenic and Serene.
Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the sculptors were. In order to understand the sequence of the stories on the relief panels, you have to walk clockwise from the entrance of the temple. The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana.
All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha's teachings. For the reason, this temple functions as educating medium for those who want to learn Buddhism.
This is the best spot to take a complete picture of Borobudur.
I found this Youtube video which is very nice an dhave a good commentary of Borobudur posted by Amusienk
Just before you enter and exit, you will be surrounded by many locals selling all kind s of handicrafts and souvenirs. They will quote you very high prices and you must bargain to get the best prices. You can get up to 80-90% discount when they are desperate to sell while you are about to leave the place.
Normally the prices here are higher than stalls at the town or at smaller tourists attractions area.
Normally the prices here are higher than stalls at the town or at smaller tourists attractions area.
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