Yogyakarta’s Borobudur: A Millennium of Ancient Heritage in Solo, Indonesia — Five Must-Visit Historic Sites in Indonesia’s Ancient Cities

Comprising over ten thousand islands, Indonesia’s cultural diversity gives each city a unique character, and undoubtedly, the brightest star among them is Yogyakarta, located in the central-southern part of Java Island.

Relief carvings at Borobudur. (Photo / MOOK, the same below)

Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Borobudur and Prambanan — are situated on the outskirts of Yogyakarta, drawing global attention to the city. As more visitors come, they discover that this ancient millennium-old capital is equally captivating.

Borobudur.

Borobudur: Measuring reverence for the divine step by step
Located 40 kilometers northwest of Yogyakarta, Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world today. Built in the 9th century, the temple’s layout is inspired by the image of Mount Meru — the supreme cosmic mountain in Buddhist and Hindu cosmology. The structure consists of nine levels, stacked upward to a central stupa reaching 35 meters at the top.

Borobudur.

The main structure of the temple is a solid stone construction that progresses from six square levels at the bottom to three circular levels above, symbolizing the Buddhist cosmology of a square earth and round heaven. The next levels, from two to six, represent the realm of form (Kamadhatu), while the upper seven to nine levels, representing the formless realm (Arupadhatu), consist of about 72 bell-shaped stupas encircling the topmost central stupa, which symbolizes the nirvana of the Buddha.

One of the Buddha statues at Borobudur.

From the top of the temple, the view opens up to a vast plain of trees. The top is dotted with niches and Buddha statues, set against a backdrop of expansive blue skies and green land — every angle offers a surprising photo opportunity. Additionally, the sunrise at Borobudur is breathtaking, once selected by CNN as one of the 27 lifetime must-see wonders.

Borobudur.

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