Borobudur Temple Compounds

Borobudur Temple Compounds

This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO's help in the 1970s.

Ensemble de Borobudur

Ce célèbre temple bouddhique datant des VIIIe et IXe siècles est situé dans le centre de Java. Il est construit sur trois niveaux : une base pyramidale comprenant cinq terrasses carrées concentriques, surmontée d'un tronc de cône (trois plate-formes circulaires) et couronnée d'un stupa monumental. Les murs et les balustrades sont ornés de bas-reliefs couvrant une surface totale de 2 500 m2. Bordant les plate-formes circulaires, 72 stupas ajourés abritent autant de statues du Bouddha. Le temple a été restauré avec le concours de l'UNESCO dans les années 1970.

مجمّع بوروبودور

يقع هذا المعبد البوذيّ الشهير الذي يرقى إلى القرنين الثامن والتاسع في وسط جافا. وهو مبنيّ بثلاث طبقات: قاعدة هرميّة تتضمن خمس مصاطب مربّعة ومتراكزة، يعلوها جذع مخروط (ثلاث منصات دائرية) وتتوجها أُسطبة ضخمة. أما الجدران والدرابزين، فمزينة بنُقيشات تغطي مساحة إجمالية تقدر بـ 2500 م2. وتحيط بالمنصات الدائرية 72 أسطبة مخرّمة تحوي العدد نفسه من تماثيل بوذة. وقد تم ترميم المعبد بمساهمة من اليونسكو في سبعينيات القرن العشرين.

source: UNESCO/ERI



source: UNESCO/ERI

Храмовый комплекс Борободур

Известный буддийский храм, датируемый VIII-IX вв., находится в центре острова Ява. Он имеет три яруса: пирамидальное основание с пятью квадратными концентрическими террасами, основной конус с тремя круглыми платформами и монументальная «ступа» наверху. Стены и балюстрады украшены прекрасными барельефами, имеющими общую площадь 2,5 тыс. кв. м. Вокруг круглых платформ размещены 72 отдельных «ступы», каждая – со статуей Будды. В 1970-х гг. памятник был реставрирован с помощью ЮНЕСКО.

source: UNESCO/ERI

Conjunto de Borobudur

Situado en el centro de la isla de Java, este célebre templo budista fue construido en los siglos VIII y IX. Su edificio comprende tres niveles: una base piramidal con cinco terrazas cuadradas concéntricas; una parte central en forma de cono truncado con tres plataformas circulares; y un remate formado por una estupa monumental. Las paredes y las balaustradas están ornamentadas con bajorrelieves que cubren una superficie total de 2.500 m2. En torno a las plataformas circulares hay 72 estupas ahuecadas con otras tantas estatuas de Buda. Este monumento fue restaurado en el decenio de 1970 con ayuda de la UNESCO.

source: UNESCO/ERI


source: NFUAJ

Borobudur tempelcomplex

Deze beroemde boeddhistische tempel uit de 8ste en 9de eeuw, ligt in het centrum van Java. Het tempelcomplex werd gebouwd op drie niveaus: een piramidale voet met vijf concentrische vierkante terrassen, de stam van een kegel met drie ronde platforms en aan de top een monumentale stoepa. De muren en balustrades zijn versierd met fijne, lage reliëfs en beslaan een totale oppervlakte van 2.500 vierkante meter. Rondom de ronde platformen zijn 72 opengewerkte stoepa's, die elk een standbeeld van Boeddha bevatten. Het monument werd in de jaren ’70 van de vorige eeuw gerestaureerd met behulp van UNESCO.


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Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

















Tourism also exerts considerable pressure on the property and its hinterland.








Protection and management requirements






Long Description

Borobudur is one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. Founded by a king of the Saliendra dynasty, it was built to honour the glory of both the Buddha and its founder, a true king Bodhisattva. The name Borobudur is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit words vihara Buddha uhr, meaning the Buddhist monastery on the hill. Borobudur temple is located in Muntilan, Magelang, and is about 42 km from Yogyakarta city.

This colossal temple was built between AD 750 and 842: 300 years before Cambodia's Angkor Wat, 400 years before work had begun on the great European cathedrals. Little is known about its early history except that a huge army of workers worked in the tropical heat to shift and carve the 60,000 m3 of stone. At the beginning of the 11th century AD, because of the political situation in Central Java, divine monuments in that area, including the Borobudur Temple became completely neglected and given over to decay. The Sanctuary was exposed to volcanic eruption and other ravages of nature. The temple was not rediscovered until the 19th century. A first restoration campaign, supervised by Theodor van Erp, was undertaken shortly after the turn of the century. A second one was led more recently (1973-82).

A harmonious marriage of stupas, temple-mountain and the ritual diagram, this temple complex was built on several levels around a hill which forms a natural centre. The first level above the base comprises five square terraces, graduated in size and forming the base of a pyramid. Above this level are three concentric circular platforms crowned by the main stupa. Stairways provide access to this monumental stupa. The base and the balustrades enclosing the square terraces are decorated in reliefs sculpted in the stone. They illustrate the different phases of the soul's progression towards redemption and episodes from the life of Buddha. The circular terraces are decorated with no fewer than 72 openwork stupas each containing a statue of Buddha.



The stories are compiled in the Dvijavadana (Glorious Heavenly Acts) and the Awadana Sataka (Hundred Awadanas). The first twenty panels in the lower series of the first gallery depict, the Sudhanakumaravadana. The series of reliefs covering the wall of the second gallery is devoted to Sudhana's tireless wanderings in search of the Highest Perfect Wisdom. The story is continued on the wall and balustrade of the third and fourth galleries. Its depiction in most of the 460 panels is based on the holy Nahayana text Gandavyuha, the concluding scenes being derived from another text, the Badracari.