Description of the attraction
Borobudur is a temple complex dedicated to Mahayana, one of the two main directions in Buddhism. Mahayana, translated from Sanskrit, the ancient literary language of India, means "great chariot" and is a set of teachings for Buddhists who seek to achieve Awakening for the benefit of all living beings.
Borobudur Temple was built in the 9th century and is located in the city of Magelang, Central Java province. The construction of this monument is rather unusual - the temple is multi-tiered, consists of 6 square platforms, on which there are three round platforms decorated with relief panels (more than 2500). In addition, this monument is decorated with Buddha statues (504 statues). The main dome is located in the center of the upper platform, surrounded by the dome of 72 Buddha statues, each of which is located inside a bell-shaped stupa.
Borobudur Temple is considered the largest Buddhist temple in the world and also one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. This temple is a place of worship for Buddha Shakyamuni, a spiritual teacher and legendary founder of Buddhism, and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. The pilgrimage begins from the base of the monument, it and subsequent levels are bypassed clockwise: the first 4 platforms are the world of desires, the next 5 are the world of forms, and the rest of the platforms, together with a large dome at the top, are the world of amorphousness. All these levels are the levels of Buddhist cosmology - ideas about the universe, rebirth, development.
Borobudur Temple is believed to have gained worldwide fame in 1814 when Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, Lieutenant Governor of Java Island, discovered a hill with many carved stones. The process of restoration and cleaning of the monument was started. The most extensive restoration work was carried out in 1975-1982 under the auspices of the Indonesian government and UNESCO, and after that the temple was included in the list of World Heritage Sites.
