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Why
Borobudur is special
It is the world's largest Buddhist stupa. It's ten stories high
and measures over 120 meters (400 feet) per side.
Built, abandoned and reclaimed
Borobudur in Indonesia was built around the 8th century and,
centuries later, was abandoned. Eventually, accumulated dirt and
volcanic ash half buried Borobudur and wild vegetation covered
the rest.
A British colonial officer came upon the semi-hidden Borobudur
in 1814. A minor restoration was made in the early 1900s.
However, it was never repaired to a respectable degree until
1984, the year UNESCO finished its decade-long project.
Borobudur was literally taken apart and reassembled stone block
by stone block.
Captivating design
Borobudur has nine concentric terraces. The six bottom ones are
square, the three top ones are round.
The square terraces are trimmed with over 1000 Buddhist relief
panels. They depict Buddhism scenes and are the greatest
treasure of Borobudur. The round terraces are garnished with
over 70 bell shaped stupas (see photo). Originally, each housed
a statue of Buddha (and some still do).
Prayer ritual
Buddhist pilgrims have a praying ritual. The worshippers walk
clockwise around Borobudur, one terrace at a time, starting at
the bottom. Reaching the top of the monument is symbolic of
attaining Nirvana.
What leading travel books say about Borobudur
Borobudur is the greatest ancient monument in the Southern
Hemisphere.
Indonesia
Globetrotter Guides
Borobudur was conceived as a Buddhist vision of the cosmos in
stone.
Indonesia
Lonely Planet
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