About Borobudur Temple
Borobudur Temple is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple located in Borobudur, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, about 40 km northwest of Yogyakarta. It is the world's largest Buddhist temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monument is a massive stepped pyramid with nine stacked platforms, a central dome, 72 perforated stupas and more than 2,600 relief panels depicting Buddhist teachings and daily life in ancient Java.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a large stepped stone pyramid set in a park landscape surrounded by villages and Menoreh Hills. The structure has six square lower terraces and three circular upper terraces topped by a central dome. Visitors walk through corridors lined with detailed stone reliefs and Buddha statues, climb steep stairs to upper levels, and view 72 bell-shaped perforated stupas each containing a Buddha statue. The ground-level park includes museums, gardens, and open areas. Temple structure access is by timed guided sessions with limited quota.
Key highlights
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World's largest Buddhist temple built as a three-dimensional mandala with nine stacked platforms
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More than 2,600 narrative relief panels and over 500 Buddha statues
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72 perforated bell-shaped stupas surrounding the central dome on upper circular terraces
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UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1991 as Borobudur Temple Compounds
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Panoramic views of Menoreh Hills, agricultural fields and surrounding villages from upper levels
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On-site Karmawibhangga and Samudraraksa Museums displaying artifacts and maritime history
History of Borobudur Temple
Built in the 8th and 9th centuries during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty of the Mataram Kingdom in Central Java. The monument was constructed as a Mahayana Buddhist shrine without using cement, with interlocking stones. It was abandoned around the 14th century, buried under volcanic ash, and rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. Major restoration was carried out between 1975 and 1982 with UNESCO assistance.
Culture & Context
The largest Mahayana Buddhist monument in the world and an important pilgrimage site, especially during Vesak (Waisak) celebrations. It represents Buddhist cosmology with its mandala design symbolizing the path to enlightenment. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, it is a national cultural heritage site of Indonesia and a center for Buddhist education and cultural tourism.