Borobudur
Location
About
The world's largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur in Java was built by the Sailendra dynasty between approximately 750 and 850 CE. The monument consists of nine stacked platforms (six square, three circular) topped by a central dome stupa. The 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues tell the complete Mahayana Buddhist cosmological story. Walking the circumambulatory path from the base to the summit symbolizes the journey from desire to nirvana.
Significance
Borobudur is a three-dimensional mandala and pilgrimage path in stone — a model of the Buddhist cosmos that one literally traverses in the act of pilgrimage. Its 2,672 narrative reliefs, if laid end to end, would stretch for 5 km and constitute the most extensive Buddhist narrative art in the world. The monument's perfect synthesis of Javanese craftsmanship and Mahayana Buddhist cosmological vision makes it a supreme world monument.
History & Historical Arc
The Sailendra dynasty built Borobudur during the Buddhist period in Java (8th-9th centuries CE). After the shift of powe…
Archaeological Notes
UNESCO's restoration involved dismantling and cleaning approximately 1,300,000 stones, installing a drainage system, and…
Key Features & Structures
- 72 stupas with seated Buddhas
- 2,672 narrative relief panels
Visitor Information
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Open daily; sunrise visit most popular. 40 km from Yogyakarta.
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Raffles, History of Java (1817)
- UNESCO Borobudur Conservation Records