Indonesia Staycation 2019 : The Magnificient of Borobudur Temple in Yogyakarta
In the previous year, I travelled alot out of my country. Meanwhile in my own country Indonesia, has alot of beautiful places. And I think this is the time to exploring it.
Yogyakarta, city which I choose to travelled, has alot of historical places that I already knew and learned when I was in school. There are two popular temple from dozens temple in Yogyakarta, but Borobudur and Prambanan Temple are the most tourist destination to visited. Also the famous one.
BOROBUDUR
Little History
Temple that was built in between 8th and 9th century is the largest buddhist temple in Indonesia. The temple was built during governed by syailendra dynasty who actively promoted Mahayana Buddhism in the territory. As for it's origin, the Borobudur Temple is still filled with mystery and causes many questions about who it's original founder was.
I don't want to say about the history of this temple too much since I know nothing. I just remember a little part from history subject that I learned from school.
Borobudur Temple located in Central Java Island, was buried and covered for centuries with volcanic due to volcanic eruptions which then over time the land is overgrown with trees and shrubs so that people didn't know that the hills around their environment are graves of giant temples. Because at that time Borobudur Temple resembled a hill in general. Also It is still not known why Borobudur was abandoned and not treated.
Borobudur Temple was later rediscovered, precisely in 1814 , by the British government in Java led by Thomas Stamford Raffles who indeed had an interest in Javanese history and culture. Raffles was considered very meritorious for the rediscovery of the Borobudur Temple
And then a few years later, Hindia Belanda (the name before become Indonesia) government took a step to rebuilt the Temple and it took 4 years until the Temple renovated again by UNESCO. In 1991, UNESCO established the Borobudur Temple into the World Heritage Site.
Borobudur temple was being part of 7 wonders of the world. I don't know this issue was right or might be wrong because I heard and learned about that when I was in school. Thats why I had debate with nick, my new friend who I met and stayed in the same hotel like me also accompanied me visited Borobudur Temple, as I know Borobudur "was" part of seven wonders of the world such as pyramid in egypt.
Sorry Nick if you read this 😜
Architecture
Borobudur made up of five large square terraces, with three circular platforms or levels on top of them, and then a magnificient stupa at the very top. It took 75 years to built until complete from stones, erected block by block without cement or adhesive, and used lock like puzzle system to lock one block from another block.
There are three levels that exist in this building of this temple, also represent the three of realms of Buddhist cosmology.
- Kamadhatu, (the level of lust) or the world of desires is embodied in the pytamidal base of five concentric squares terraces.
- Rupadhatu, (tangible) or the world of forms, is represented by the circular platforms above the base.
- Arupadhatu, (intangible) or the formless world, was manifested in the monumental stupa of Buddha on the top of the temple.
You can see the magnificient of the temple from the distance. Even the temple was buried with volcano twice due to earthquake. And so sad because I just know the fact about some head of the statue was stolen by people and used it as something spiritual.
Exploring Borobudur Temple
Open everyday :
Open 6 am
Closed 5 pm
Domestic Ticket Price
Adult : Rp 50.000
Kid (3 - 10 yrs) : Rp 35.000
Non domestic ticket price : 25 usd / Rp 350.000
Nick was shocked about the price because it's too expensive comparing with domestic price. When the staff told us about the price, that there is tax for foreigner included.
Please take note that getting a tour guide here is not conpulsory. You have the freedom to explore the entire temple including the park surrounding it at your own pace and time.
There are 4 ways to reach the temple because the park around the temple is quite big and large.
1. Shuttle (golf car) which goes around the entire park. You can hop on and off at certain checkpoints. The car filled about 2 or 3 people.
Rp 25.000 + drink
2. Metro car which only shuttle from train stop in the beginning and in front of temple. And the train filled about 10 people.
Rp 10.000
3. Horse-train, I dont know about the price. But if you want to enjoy around Borobudur in different way, try this train which driven by horse.
4. Walking. FREE
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Horse train
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Metro car
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1. Borobudur Temple
There are over 500 statues of the Buddha spread accross the site from 3 levels, and the walls of the pyramid are covered in relief (carvings) that made with purpose like stories, connected wall by wall, about the life and teachings Buddha.
Also there are two side of the stories between bad such as karma, robbery, murder, torture, and humiliation, and good side such as tell of the cause and effect of good deeds, describe the behaviour of the Javanese society of that day from religion to livelyhood to social structure, fashion, and even the various types of plants and animals.
If you guys wants to know about the each story of the relief, you can read here because I have no idea about the story.
Fyi, the reliefs on the wall reading from left to right. I did wrong and late to know this. But it doesn't matter since I know nothing about the story from reliefs.
First Level, the level of lust, Kamadhatu
This level is a picture of highly populated world still dominated by karma or lust.
I was mesmerized with all of these especially the carvings, called reliefs. They made it with hands, yeah as you know in Purbakala time there is no fancy tools to built this building. I touched one by one also I've seen it closely because I couldn't believe these things is exist. Also I randomly took pictures of them without knowing the story.
Second Level, Rupadhatu
Rupadhatu is a symbol of nature where worldly passions and desires have been freed from human beings and are no longer bound by karma but are still bound by physical forms or forms in the sense that humans are still limited to the world of existence or the real world
I was shocked there are alot of stupas lost their head. They were stolen from the stupid people and used it as something spiritual.
So now some head of stupas that keep in museums in case they will steal again. But seeing them without head it's disturbing me.
Third Level, Arupadhatu
This level is the highest level also symbolic of nature that is free from lust, wordly problems, and also not bound by karma. Arupadhatu is the opposite of Kamadhatu.
Arupadhatu is also called the nature of the gods and symbolizes the purity of the Buddha where true happiness resides.
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Nick and his fans 😂
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There was alot of people come to me and nick just want to take photo with Nick. At the first I was okay with that and then I feels like they disturbing me with their questions "is he your boyfriend" or "can I photo with your boyfriend"
Hahaha I slowly left nick with her fans.
Fyi, foreigner in Indonesia is like an artist. I think because they have different face like Indonesian. No wonder alot of Indonesians (really) wants to take photo with them which sometimes it's become annoying and embarrasing.
I stayed in this level to enjoyed the view from Merapi mountain which erupted twice and still active with volcano inside. Merapi mountain also made this temple buried with volcano twice.
The view was amazing. And one of my bucket list finally accomplished, reach to the top of Borobudur temple. It's really hard because the weather was about 40 hot degrees and almost killed me. Meanwhile Nick enjoy the weather and said "it's the weather of heaven"
That was the time when I had to reached down and say goodbye to this very beautiful place i've ever visited.
2. Borobudur Museum
Not only Borobudur temple, there alot of place still in Borobudur area that you can visit and free entering. Including museums, and if I'm not mistaken there are 3 museums but I only got one, Borobudur museum.
In this museum there are alot of stupas and reliefs that not match with others. They look like common stone with no carving or relief. Not only that, in this museum you will know how Borobudur temple look like when it found for the first time.
Unfortunately I couldn't entering this place further since I don't have time. But I heard there is stupa that never been shown in the temple and you just can see in this place.
3. Borobudur Art Market
Every tourism place in Indonesia comes with market, no exception Borobudur. After we done with all of this place, we will directed to way out and passing by art market.
Like art market in Indonesia, Borobudur art market also sell signature stuff such as t-shirt with yogyakarta or borobudur picture on it, scarf, pants, bag, and craft made by wood with Yogyakarta signature on it.
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| Gudeg food |
But you have to be careful guys, because almost all of seller increase their price. There is no tag price in every stuff. Especially for foreigner. So you have to ask them first about the price and bargain it to the lowest price until you got a deal.
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I found old guy sell cotton candy. We have talked and he told me how survived with only sell cotton candy and it's so hard. Btw his name mr. Soleh. Bless you 🤗
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Tips for Visiting Borobudur Temple :
Here are some travel tips for visiting Borobudur to help you make the most of your visit.
1. Arrive early, since Borobudur is the famous place in Yogyakarta, this place will crowded so fast if you don't come early. I came in 10 am and the place already full with others travellers.
2. Avoid the weekend, the crowds here are the biggest on the weekends. Try to visit during weekdays because rarely people come in weekdays. And again, I chose weekend when visited there. My bad...
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| See ? |
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| See ? |
3. Dress comfortably, also dress appropriately because some people from buddhist believe this place is a sacral place for praying. For feet it's better use shoes instead of flip-flop because you will have no idea about the weather there. I was there when the weather almost reach 40 hot degrees.
4. Bring water and snack, Borobudur is quite large so it's better bring your own drink before you thirsty. The staff also allow visitors bring snack, not food with big portion then ended up making this place dirty and messy.
Fyi, the price of the mineral water in Borobudur area is pretty expensive. I bought tea and the price was about 1.5 usd or Rp 20.000
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| Meanwhile in the minimarket outside is about Rp 6.000 😠|
5. Stay nearby, the location of Borobudur not in central Yogyakarta, it's about 90 minutes drive from there. If you want to get here early and beat the crowds, it will be better to stay closer.
******
I think this is my hardest writing because I have to be careful in telling some history about this place and do some simple research about that.
Not only Borobudur, I will write some historical place in Yogyakarta that I've visited. See you in the next writing.
If there is anything that you can ask, reach me in social media instagram.
Thank you
Xoxo, Yunda
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