Borobudur
Indonesia
Borobudur in Indonesia
Photo: Thrillseekr/Flickr
Photo: Thrillseekr/Flickr
The true origins of this impressive Buddhist monument, located in central Java, are somewhat disputed. According to the UNESCO World
Heritage website, the Borobudur
temple was founded by a
Saliendra dynasty king sometime between 750 and 842 A.D. Still, you
don't need a definitive history lesson to fully appreciate its grandeur.
Just
feast your eyes on its intricately sculpted gray-stone relief panels
(slats of stone carved with artwork to depict the life of Buddha) and
the
perfectly symmetrical stupas (mound-shaped structures containing
Buddhist relics). They're even more precious due to their resilience:
Borobudur is
still gorgeous despite nearby bombings and volcanic eruptions. Try to
visit in May; that's when the air is supposedly the cleanest in Java.
And plan
your trek at sunrise or sunset to witness how the light catches the
stupas' perforations.
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