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780c. 780–830 · Borobudur, Magelang

Building of Borobudur

Bell-shaped perforated stone stupas on the upper terraces of Borobudur
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Under the Sailendra kings of Central Java, builders stacked nine stone terraces into a vast Buddhist monument, lined with 2,672 relief panels and originally 504 Buddha statues. Pilgrims climbed it as a path towards enlightenment. Abandoned after Java turned to Islam, it was brought to European attention in 1814 and restored with UNESCO's help between 1975 and 1982.

Sites

  1. Site 1: Borobudur TempleStepped stone mandala with relief galleries and bell-shaped stupas on top.Map ↗
  2. Site 2: Mendut TempleSmaller temple on the same axis, with three original seated Buddhas inside.Map ↗

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