Borobudur is a ninth century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely, Kamadhatu (the world of desire); Rupadhatu (the world of forms); and Arupadhatu (the world of formless). During the journey, the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. It was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Raffles, the British ruler of Java. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage, where once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vaicsak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

Apart from the story of Buddhist cosmology carved in stone, Borobudur has many statues of various Buddhas. The cross-legged statues are seated in a lotus position and distributed on the five square platforms (the Rupadhatu level) as well as on the top platform (the Arupadhatu level).

The Buddha statues are in niches at the Rupadhatu level, arranged in rows on the outer sides of the balustrades, the number of statues decreasing as platforms progressively diminish to the upper level. The first balustrades have 104 niches, the second 104, the third 88, the fourth 72 and the fifth 64. In total, there are 432 Buddha statues at the Rupadhatu level. At the Arupadhatu level (or the three circular platforms), Buddha statues are placed inside perforated stupas. The first circular platform has 32 stupas, the second 24 and the third 16, that add up to 72 stupas. Of the original 504 Buddha statues, over 300 are damaged (mostly headless) and 43 are missing (since the monument's discovery, heads have been stolen as collector's items, mostly by Western museums).

At glance, all the Buddha statues appear similar, but there is a subtle difference between them in the mudras or the position of the hands. There are five groups of mudra: North, East, South, West and Zenith, which represent the five cardinal compass according to Mahayana. The first four balustrades have the first four mudras: North, East, South and West, of which the Buddha statues that face one compass direction have the corresponding mudra. Buddha statues at the fifth balustrades and inside the 72 stupas on the top platform have the same mudra: Zenith. Each mudra represent one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas; each has its own symbolism. They are Abhaya mudra for Amoghasiddhi (north), Vara mudra for Ratnasambhava (south), Dhyana mudra for Amitabha (west), Bhumisparsa mudra for Aksobhya (east) and Dharmachakra mudra for Vairochana (zenith).

THE MOST WANTED TOUR PACKAGE TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF THE BOROBUDUR TEMPLE IS BOROBUDUR SUNRISE TOUR,TOUR PACKAGE WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY THE BEAUTY TEMPLE IN ALL TIME FROM AFTERNOON AND IN THE SUNRISE TIME, WITH TOUR ITINERARY AS FOLLOWED:

BOROBUDUR SUNRISE TOUR

Day 1. Arrival In Yogyakarta
Upon arrival in Yogyakarta/Jogja, meet and greet by your guide and direct transfer to Manohara Hotel Check in MANOHARA HOTEL in the complex of Borobudur temple. From hotel you can walk around the temple to enjoy the sunset time.

Day 2. Borobudur Sunrise Tour Yogyakarta/Jogja City Tour Prambanan tour
Early in the morning, climbing up the Borobudur temple for welcoming the beautiful sunrise. Then, exploring the story of Buddha Gautama story on the relief (on walk). Back to your hotel for breakfast. After take a rest and breakfast, check out time and than drive to Yogyakarta/Jogja to explore the city with visit Kraton Yogyakarta, Batik Home Industry and Silversmith Industry with their processing and collection. Drive to local restaurant for having Indonesian Lunch. After that, drive to Prambanan Temples the most beautiful Hindu temple in Indonesia, Than terminated the tour to Adisucipto Yogyakarta/Jogja Airport for flight home.

For better arranged with the best placed accommodation please contact YOGYA TOURS Indonesia to assist you enjoy the beauty of BOROBUDUR TEMPLE

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