The World Best Culture Heritage “Borobudur”
BOROBUDUR temple was built at 8 th century AD during the golden age of buddhist kingdom at Java, Indonesia call Mataram buddhist with the Saylendra dinasty who ruled at central Java from Mahayana budhism. It takes two kings periode to build the greatest buddhist temple with special form and unique stupa. Special form because this temple is no room inside and consist of 9 levels than crowned with main stupa at the top.Unique stupa because has 72 stupas with Buddha statue inside and biggest stupa as main stupa at the top.
This temple was a sacred place for buddhist for 150 years. It was damaged in 1006 by the eruption of Merapi, which was the biggest in history, as well as an earthquake. These natural disasters caused significant damage to the area, burying the city and the temple in ash. The temple was ruined and covered with jungle for the next 800 years. It was rediscovered by STAMFORD RAFFLES when he was in Java in 1814. During excavations, he noticed the name ” para budhara,” which means great buddha and it was subsequently named Borobudur or temple on the hill or high place ( Professor Dr Soekmono ). From 1907 to 1911, Theodore Van ERP started to restore the temple. But 60 years later the temple walls from the first to the sixth level were in peril due to rain and therefore dangerous to visit. The Indonesian government with the help of UNESCO restored the temple at 1973 - 1983 with the main project to give foundation at 2nd level to 6th level, giving new drainage inside, move down the stone wall, cleaning and put again in same place.
How to visit ?
We visit started from first level at the east gate but this level is covered with the additional stone, and we have to turn left side to see the un-covered relief ( 4 reliefs are open at the south east ). Actually it has 120 reliefs to present “KAMADATHU” which means the world of disire with the story law of karma or cause and effect. After that, back to main entrance to visit 2nd level. Second to sixth levels it call “RUPADATHU” which means world of form with 1340 story reliefs started Lalitavistara( the life of Siddhartha Gautama, buddha ) , Jataka and Avadana ( the reincarnation of bodhisatva to be buddha as animals or human being ). At this level we may go around 4 time to see all the relief because it has four line, started from east and ends in east as well .Then climb to 3rd level, two time around ( has 2 lines relief ), 4th level two around, 5th level two around then in 6th level which means transitional from the word of form to the world without form or Nirvana. At 7th level has 32 stupas, 8th level has 24 stupas, 9th level has 16 stupas ,10th level is one main stupa. From 6th level to 8th level we only need one around at each level then at 9th level 3 times around.
What’s the best time to visit ?
Now the visitor are posible to see at sun rise time via Manohara hotel or we can enjoy at morning and before sunset or contact: nurudininfo@yahoo.com