Snapshot Sunday—Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the World
Asia is full of ancient temples and structures. There’s the grand Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the thousands of temples and pagodas spread in the Bagan plains in Burma, the rich Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, and numerous other beautiful and impressive works of art throughout Asia that remain standing through centuries.
Some of the 72 stupas (L) and Buddha (R) in the circular terrace of Borobudur.
An hour from the city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, however, stands the biggest Buddhist temple in the world, Candi Borobodur (candi means “temple,” equivalent to the wat in Cambodia). It is a single structure built in 750 AD with over 500 statues of Buddha and around 1,500 bas relief panels showing his life and teachings.
Proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, Borobudur’s name means either “a mountain having terraces” or “monastery on a high place.” It was built with ten terraces symbolizing the life stages. To reach enlightenment, one must go through each stage until the top level (where Buddha sits) is reached.
One aspect of Borobudur, the biggest Buddhist temple.
How to go to Borobudur Temple: There are many travel agencies in Yogyakarta arranging trip packages not only to Borobudur, but also to nearby Candi Prambanan. It is recommended to hire a vehicle, as there is no public transport going to the temple. Locals pay Rp 17,500 while foreign tourists have to pay USD$19 each. A bottle of water or a cup of coffee is included in the rate. Best time to see it is at sunrise.
Aleah Taboclaon is a freelance writer and editor. She likes running (completed one marathon, training for the next!), diving (PADI open water diver), and traveling with her Kindle. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. You can also email her; she would love to hear from you! Share and Enjoy
Thanks for this, Aleah! I’m currently plotting another backpacking trip, and this gave me an idea of where to go.
Reiza recently posted..EBOLA Scare: Better Safe than Sorry
I’m a sucker for world exclusive things, and this one looks fascinating!! Once I’m done with OZ, it’s on my list for sure!!
Red Nomad OZ recently posted..I was a Cane Toad Race Virgin! Kununurra, Western Australia
@ Reiza: Don’t forget to visit Prambanan Temple as well when you’re there
@ Red: There’s lots of wonderful places like this in Asia!
Aleah recently posted..Snapshot Sunday—Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the World
Hi Aleah, just stumbled in your blog via Lakwatsero.me. Found your blog pretty interesting. Love this post on Borobodur. It inspire me to visit it soon.
Marisol@TravelingSolemates recently posted..Photo Pick: Waves of Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy
Yay! I’ve always wondered what this place was since I was a kid.
The Wander Dude recently posted..Coron Down Under
@ Marisol: Love your blog too! It makes me long to go back to Europe, esp to Santorini
Thanks for dropping by my blog!
@ The Wander Dude: Well, it’s better if you go visit it
Aleah recently posted..Snapshot Sunday—Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the World
hi Aleah! i’ve just updated my account in CS and i saw your profile. I haven’t attended any CS gathering yet but i’m planning to travel to macau & hongkong this coming october. this will be my very 1st ever out of the country and i’ll be travelling solo. backpackers like you inspires me to travel and learn different culture and meet different people from different walks of life. Thank you for sharing your travel experiences with us. hope to meet up with you in one of the CS gatherings someday.
If you like temple, you must come to Arjuna temple in Dieng Plateu. It really beautiful.
I live in Jakarta, call me if you want to go there. Salam dari Indonesia
ipungmbuh recently posted..Kebhinekaan Kopi Indonesia dalam Film Dokumenter
@ Lavender_Tulip: Can you believe I’ve never been to Macau or HK?
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, and yes, hope to see you in CS meet-ups too!
@ Ipungmbuh: I haven’t been to that temple yet, would try to visit it when I go back to Indonesia. And yes, hopefully I can see you in Jakarta too!
Aleah recently posted..Snapshot Sunday—Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the World
Great photos
Muza-chan recently posted..A Japanese Song per Day: Complex – 1990
I haven’t heard of this place and will have to put it on my ever-growing list. If we go, I think I’ll just tell my kids we’re going to the biggest Candi in the world. That should intrigue them. LOL
Michele @ Malaysian Meanders recently posted..R&R in Phuket, Thailand
@ Muza-chan: Thanks!
Yup, I’m sure your children would really love to see this ‘candi’! 
@ Michele: You live in Penang, right? At least you’re in the same time zone
Aleah recently posted..Snapshot Sunday—Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the World
Wow! Another one for my ever-growing bucket list. Beautiful photos.
Jackie Smith recently posted..TP Thursday: The Joy of Travel
Even though I’m not particularly religious, I do visit and enjoy quite a few churches and other religious buildings during my travels. I’ve never made it to a Buddhist Temple but his one seems amazing! My list just got bigger too.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista recently posted..Photographic Europe: More of my Favorites!
@ Jackie Smith: Thanks
@ Debbie: That’s us travelers; our bucket list is never done!
Aleah recently posted..Snapshot Sunday—Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the World
Nice writeup, Aleah. I’ll be adding Borobudur to my list.
InsideJourneys recently posted..Jamaica50 The Colors of Independence
Wow! I’ve been to Angkor Wat and loved the art there, I would have to spend DAYS at this one!!
Vera Marie Badertscher recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday: TX Road Trip
Wow! A place I need to add to the travel list. It looks amazing.
thetravelgal recently posted..Photo Thursday: A Junk Yard with Attitude
By far the best I have seen on photos and i wanted to go there in the future.
Hope to see you on the road Aleah
Wends of Journeys and Travels recently posted..Hong Kong’s Clock Tower sentry of the past in the present
What an amazing site. Your bottom photo really gives you the scale of things.
Leigh recently posted..Float Plane Ride: Anahim Lake to Laidman Lake Lodge
Beautiful! It still amazes me to see these SE Asian mega temples. I can imagine how splendid they look in person. I really need to go explore SE Asia more. I saw this temple on the TV show Amazing Race and my mouth dropped. I think they had to count the number of Buddhas.
We are often in Bali but don’t seem to travel any further in Indonesia. One day we must do so and Borobudur is certainly one place I would like to see. the history of it must be fascinating
I thought Borobudur was amazing. However, what is it with all the people harassing English speaking tourists to give them an English lesson? I don’t mean to sound harsh, but it really was weird, and aggravating. I like talking to locals, but this was way beyond that.
Nancie recently posted..In Celebration of World Elephant Day–Thailand’s Elephant Nature Park
the biggest temple is really splendid. thanks for information and the photos are really great
bursa kuruigneleme recently posted..Bursa Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon
Yong USD 19 round trip na yon?
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