A Thousand Relief

Borobudur Temple

Borobudur, or Barabudur is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, not far from the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indonesia. It is the world's largest Buddhist temple, an ancient site widely considered to be one of the world’s seven wonders. The temple consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa.

The temple sits majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region, yet there are enough indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian.

Together with Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Myanmar, Borobudur ranks as one of the great cultural icons of Southeast Asia. Looming above a patchwork of bottle-green paddy fields and slivers of tropical forest, this colossal Buddhist monument has survived volcanic eruptions, terrorist attack and the 2006 earthquake. The last caused considerable damage, but thankfully this most enigmatic of temples has remained undiminished in scale and beauty. 

It covers an enormous area, measuring 123 x 123 meters. The monument is a marvel of design, decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The architecture and stonework of this temple has no equal. And it was built without using any kind of cement or mortar! The structure is like a set of massive interlocking Lego blocks held together without any glue.


The temple has remained strong even through ten centuries of neglect. It was rediscovered in 1815, buried under volcanic ash. In the 1970’s the Indonesian Government and UNESCO worked together to restore Borobudur to its former majesty The restoration took eight years to complete and today Borobudur is one of Indonesia and the world’s most valuable treasures.

Borobudur Temple in The Present

At this time, Borobudur temple becomes one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. Each year there are about 3.5 million foreign and local tourists who visit and enjoy this building.
In 1991, UNESCO designated the Borobudur Temple as a world heritage building. And also Borobudur temple had become one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
For Buddhists in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, the Borobudur Temple has an important role.
This temple is often used as a venue for some religious vigils. At the feast of Vesak, Buddhists often use this temple as the center of celebration. And on that holy day, this temple is very hemp and filled with visitors who not only come from Indonesia but also from Southeast Asia.