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11
Reasons to visit
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- Borobudur
is the largest non-monastic
Buddhist temple in the world
built in the 8th century AD
with over 2 million blocks
of stone.
- Borobudur & Prambanan
temple compounds have been
inscribed in the UNESCO world
heritage sites in 1991.
- It has been ranked as the
34th wonder among Hillman’s
100 world wonders.
- Borobudur was featured
in the popular BBC serial
“Around the world in
80 treasures and is ranked
as one of the must visit destination.
- Borobudur stupa is not
only the highest symbol of
Buddhism but is also a replica
of the universe; It symbolizes
the micro-cosmos which is
divided into three levels,
the first level in which man’s
world of desire is influenced
by negative impulses, the
middle level, a world in which
man has control over his negative
impulses and uses his positive
impulses, the highest level,
in which the world of man
is no longer bound by physical
and worldly desire.
- Prambanan temple is the
largest Hindu temple compound
dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia.
- The 5 km walk within the
massive structure of Borobudur
has no less than 1212 decorative
panels, 1212 decorative murals,
432 reliefs of Buddha plus
the 72 Buddha statues.
- The Prambanan temple is
a symbol of cosmic harmony.
The temple is designed in
such a way that every human
being feels united with all
the creatures and the Creator.
- Mendut Temple is believed
to be older than the Borobudur
temple. There are stories
for children on its walls
, better known as “Jataka
Tales”.
- Solo is the textile and
antique shopping capital.
The origin of Batik textile
is from Solo.
- Sukuh Temple is probably
the only temple in Asia which
is Mayan in architecture.
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Great
to know
- The name “Borobudur”
is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit
words “Vihara Buddha Uhr”
(Buddhist Monastary on the Hill).
- Mendut temple is believed to face Benares,
India where Lord Gautama Buddha taught
his first five disciples.
- Borobudur is composed of 55000 meters
of a lava rock, erected on a hill in the
form of a stepped pyramid of 6 rectangular
storeys, three circular terraces and a
central stupa forming the summit. The
whole structure is in the form of a lotus,
the sacred flower of Buddha.
- In the top most storey of the 72 stupas
with a statue of Buddha inside, touching
the middle finger of the Buddha sitting
in the bell shaped stupa is believed to
fulfill your wishes.
- The lack of geometric end points at
the upper circular terraces of Borobudur
temple conveys the idea that Enlightment
has neither a fixed beginning or end.
The pinnacle of nirvana is represented
by the stupa at the summit. It stands
empty to denote final freedom.
- In total, Borobudur represents the
ten levels of a Bodhisattva's life which
he or she must develop to become a Buddha
or an awakened one.
- It is a devotional practice to circumbulate
around the galleries and terraces always
turning to the left and keeping the edifice
to the right while chanting or meditating.
- Mendut temple and the Pawon temple
form an integral part of the Borobudur
complex.
- At the Prambanan temple the central
courtyard of this Hindu religious foundation
features three tall shrines dedicated
to Brahma (south), Shiva (centre) and
Vishnu (north), respectively.
- At Prambanan temple, the narrative
reliefs portray episodes from two of Lord
Vishnu's incarnations in human form. The
bas-reliefs pertaining to the Hindu deity
Vishnu's incarnation as Lord Krishna appear
on the interior-facing walls of the balustrade
that surrounds the Vishnu. shrine, while
episodes from Vishnu's incarnation as
Rama encircle the main shrines at Prambanan
that are dedicated to Shiva and Brahma.
- Borobudur is the 2nd most visited tourist
destination in Indonesia after Bali.
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