Footsteps - Jotaro's Travels: Sites : Borobudur

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Sites : Borobudur - Jogjakarta, Indonesia

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Footsteps - Jotaro's Travels

BOROBUDUR

A UNESCO Heritage Site, Jogjakarta, Indonesia - 12th May,2013

Many get the impression that Borobodur is a Buddhist temple. With so many stupas and statues of Buddha, one can easily get that misconception - I did too when I visited the place! (... see Jogjakarta 2013 : Day 2- A Day Of Temples)

But then, there are no temples or shrines at the Borobodur itself or within the lushly landscaped grounds. Borobodur is a monument to Buddha and to Buddhism.

Upon arrival, we walked through corridors line with stalls selling handicrafts & souvenirs. Some of these are pretty good, but do bargain down a fair bit to get a good price.

Foreigners are required to register at the International Visitors Center; there is a separate entrance for locals. The entry charge for foreigners is USD20 while for locals it is USD10 for locals or those holding Indonesian work permits. There are discounts for students.

Borobodur being a sacred place, we would have to be properly attired to enter the place. But no worries, at the center they provide sarongs for one to wear. They even have pretty hostesses to help us put the sarongs on.

And while at it, we helped ourselves to the tea & coffee that is provided free.

There are many signage around the grounds, it will be good to pay heed to them to enhance one's visiting experience. Also good to engaging one of the local guides would be helpful.

The walk from the center to the Borobodur itself is about 1 km, it is a relaxing walk along a shady, landscaped boulevard.

At the foot, looking up, the tiers of stupas with a large main stupa right at the top is inspiring.

Time to look at the signboards again. This one gave instructions of tour directions - there are many visitors to the place, so going in the right directions would avoid a congestion.

Signage giving a brief account of Borobodur.

Blow up of the sign, showing the different tiers of Borobodur.

The first two levels, called the Kamadhatu (the Sphere of Desire), signifies the greed of man and how he is affected by temptation.

Rupadhatu, the next four levels, is the Sphere of Form; where man is not tempted by greed and has gone beyond his materialistic need.

The four upper levels is the Arupadhatu (the Sphere of Formlessness), where men have left their earthly desires behind.

Well informed, it's time to step up.

"Naga" dragon heads step stringer.

Carved stone frog head at the foot of a step stringer.

Up at the first two levels are many wall relief carvings, most showing people enjoying their materialistic life and desiring for more. Yes, this is the Sphere of Desire.

Close up of a wall relief stone carving showing the Desire of Man.

But at many niches are statues of the Buddha are they there to remind us to forgo our material world and seek enlightenment?

More wall relief carvings in volcanic stone, at this levels we did not see the stupas, they are at the higher levels.

Interestingly, Borobodur is constructed just by stacking stones on top of each other as can be seen in the above photo. The stones are so precisely carved that when stacked up, even a sheet of paper can hardly be inserted in the joints between them.

Even the stupas are constructed by this stacking method, with carved bull-nose stones fitting very well against each other. This is truly a amazing architectural feat.

Construction of a stairway shows how finely the stones are carved and stacked together.

Drainage of the different levels are through spouts concealed in the mouths of these carved stone "Naga" dragon heads.

Proceeding up to the next two levels, the stone relief carvings depicts more of scenes where man welcomes spirituality and starts denying materialism :