Located on the island of Java, the majestic Borobudur temple is the world's largest Buddhist monument, an ancient site widely regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world. The temple stands majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple design in Gupta architecture reflects Indian influence in the region, but there are enough original scenes and elements combined to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian.
It covers a very large area, measuring 123 x 123 meters. This monument is a marvel of design, decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The architecture and stonework of this temple is incomparable. And it's built without the use of cement or mortar of any kind! The structure is like a large set of interlocking Lego blocks held together without glue.
The temple remained strong even after ten centuries of neglect. Rediscovered in 1815, buried under volcanic ash. In the 1970s, the Government of Indonesia and UNESCO worked together to restore Borobudur to its former glory. The restoration took eight years to complete and today Borobudur is one of Indonesia's and most valuable treasures in the world.
The temple is decorated with stone carvings in reliefs representing images from the life of Buddha. Commentators claim that this is the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world, which is unrivaled in artistic terms.
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