Borobudur or Borobudur Temple , located near Magelang , Indonesia is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.
The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage .
Borobudur Temple has 10 levels consisting of six levels of a square, three levels of circular hoop and a main stupa as a peak. There are 72 stupas in addition to the main stupa , in each stupa being a statue of Buddha. Ten levels of Buddhist philosophy which describes the ten levels of Bodhisattva which must pass to reach the perfection of the Buddha in nirvana. This perfection symbolized by the main stupa at the top level.
The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness).
Borobudur is Indonesia’s single most visited tourist attraction. Every year at the full moon in May or June , Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak , as the day of birth, death and the moment when Siddhartha Gautama obtain the highest wisdom to become the Buddha Shakyamuni. At that time, Borobudur is believed to be a gathering place of supernatural power and Buddha makes his appearance on top of a mountain.
The main reason why a lot of visitors rushed to this place is to see the giant and the symmetric sculpture of the Buddha that is sitting on the small hill. Tourist should also experience the Borobudur sunrise view which is absolutely incredible. The only hotel located in the complex of Borobudur temple is Hotel Manohara . Alternatively tourists can also can purchase Borobudur Sunrise tour packages offered by several tour agencies.