Borobudur

Borobudur is a ninth century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely, Kamadhatu (the world of desire); Rupadhatu (the world of forms); and Arupadhatu (the world of formless). During the journey, the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balutrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. It was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Raffles, the British ruler of Java. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage, where once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak (Waisak) at the Borobudur monument, and it is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

But frankly speaking, I think quite many of the statues were stolen. Comparing the first and the last time I had visited Borobudur, I feels like so many statues was beheaded. Anyhow I can't be very sure because the first time I visited Borobudur was more than 20 years ago. And now I can just hoping the authority will be able to take a good care of this great monument for a long - long time.

FYI the entry fees is Rp 10,000 (ten thousand rupiahs) for each person and Rp 1,000 (one thousand rupiahs) for each camera you bring inside and car parking fee is Rp 5,000 (five thousand rupiahs), and it takes about 1 hour from Yogyakarta city. Have a nice trip. :D

Source: Wikipedia, National Geography Indonesia