Borobudur, a colossal Buddhist monument in Central Java, Indonesia, lies 42 km northwest of Yogyakarta. "The monument combines the symbolic forms of (i) the stupa, a Buddhist memorial mound housing relics; (ii) the temple mountain, modeled after the Hindu Mount Meru; and (iii) the mandala, a mystical Buddhist symbol of the universe, representing the square as a symbol of the earth and the circle as a symbol of the sky."
Source: britannica.com/topic/Borobudur Borobudur is the largest Buddhist monument in the world and, along with Bagan in Myanmar and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Borobudur is a popular pilgrimage destination for Buddhists and the most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia.
Candi Borobudur was built between approximately 778 and 850 AD from gray andesite (lava rock). From around the year 1000, Borobudur was buried under volcanic ash and overgrown with vegetation until the monument was rediscovered in 1814. Archaeologists restored the site between 1907 and 1911; a second restoration was completed in 1983.
The monument consists of ten stacked platforms—six square and three circular—crowned by a central dome. At its base, the monument measures 118 meters square and reaches a height of 42 meters.
Pilgrims and visitors can access the monument through an extensive system of stairs and corridors.
Candi Borobudur was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Detailed information about Candi Borobudur can be found at: