Borobudur, Indonesia’s most famous temples has been described as a ”hill crowned withRows of cones”. What appears to be cones are stuppas and domes arranged in seven rows or level, topped by the great stuppa in the center. Viewed from the air, the temple complex appears as a Huge ’’Mandala’’ the symbol for the complexities of the cosmos.
Borobudur has five square terraces with passages and carved stone relieves winding their way around and up the seven levels. Each level depicts a certain stage of life and describes the story of Buddha’s life on his way to the enlightenment or ”Nirvana”. More than 500 statues of Buddha adorn the temple . Many of the final levels , are encased in the lattice work, bell-shaped stuppas. These levels inspire serenity and peace, regardless, of the visitor’s beliefs. The views of volcano Mt Merapi , distant banana plantations shrouded by morning mist, and expansive lands is captivating. Sunrise is the best time to experience Borobudur. Climbing the edifice in the day time heat can be sweltering.
The The grounds close at 5 pm. Borobudur is estimated to have been built around 800 AD. It was neglected and given over to decay with the fail of the Mataram Kingdom about 919 AD. Buried by volcanic ash , jungle and time, it was rediscovered in the 18th century. It was Sir Stamford Raffles who first made restoration attempts. Large scale restoration began in the early 1900s to safeguard the temple. It was not until a Belgian expert came to Indonesia at the government’s request in 1956 that UNESCO took an interest in the monument. Preparatory work for restoration began in 1963 and UNESCO gave full support to Indonesia’s plea for assistance in 1968.
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