Borobudur: The World�s Largest Buddhist Monument

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Borobudur: The World�s Largest Buddhist Monument

22 Maret 2025 22:47:41 / / Hits : 2549 / Posted by Administrator

Borobudur: The World’s Largest Buddhist Monument

This majestic Buddhist monument draws pilgrims from across Southeast Asia to a remote hilltop in Central Java, surrounded by lush green vegetation and encircled by volcanoes—one of which remains active to this day.

A Marvel of Ancient Engineering

Around 1,200 years ago, builders transported two million stones from nearby rivers, meticulously assembling them without the use of mortar to construct a 95-foot (29-meter) stepped pyramid.

The structure is adorned with over 500 Buddha statues, while its lower terraces feature nearly 3,000 intricate relief carvings, replacing views of the outside world with depictions of Buddha’s life and teachings. Together, they form the largest collection of Buddhist sculptures in the world.

A Pilgrimage to Enlightenment

Climbing Borobudur is a spiritual journey in itself, designed to be experienced both physically and symbolically according to Mahayana Buddhist teachings.

As devotees ascend from one level to the next, they are guided by stories and wisdom carved into the reliefs, transitioning from one state of symbolic consciousness to a higher level of enlightenment.

A Legacy of the Sailendra Dynasty

Borobudur was constructed between the 8th and 9th centuries during the golden age of the Sailendra dynasty, which ruled Java and Sumatra. This ruling clan, believed to have originated from South India or Indochina, played a key role in establishing Java as a center of Buddhist scholarship and devotion.

For centuries, the grand site attracted pilgrims—evidenced by Chinese coins and ceramics found at the site, indicating that this tradition lasted well into the 15th century. (In fact, the pilgrimage has been revived today.)

A Mysterious Abandonment

However, by the 1500s, Borobudur was mysteriously abandoned. As Java’s political and cultural centers shifted eastward, and Islam arrived in the 13th and 14th centuries, the monument fell into obscurity. Volcanic eruptions buried the site in ash, and Java’s dense vegetation took root, further hiding this grand relic of the past.

Rediscovery and Restoration

In the early 19th century, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the British Governor of Java, heard whispers of the lost monument and initiated its excavation.

While this revealed Borobudur’s treasures, it also exposed them to the elements. Villagers repurposed stones for building materials, and collectors looted Buddha heads and artifacts, scattering them across museums and private collections worldwide.

Fortunately, Borobudur’s decline was halted through stricter regulations and one of the most ambitious international conservation efforts ever attempted.

In 1968, the “Save Borobudur” campaign, spearheaded by Indonesia and UNESCO, began restoring the site.

Workers dismantled the monument’s lower terraces, carefully cleaning and preserving the priceless relief panels. A vast drainage system was installed to prevent further erosion. Over the course of eight years, one million stones were meticulously removed and then reassembled.

A Timeless Treasure

Thanks to these efforts, Borobudur stands today as it did 1,200 years ago—a priceless and unparalleled treasure, unmatched by any other site in Southeast Asia.

Borobudur sunrise, Jomblang Vertical Cave, Ramayana Ballet Prambanan

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