Page 221 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places
P. 221
111111219
~ Kamadhatu bas-
reliefs of musi<ians
Y Seated Buddha
Sitting within an arched
niche in the temple, this
Buddhaisthoughtto
represent a hermit in a
mountain cave.
A One of the Medilating Buddhas
A Carved Gateway
RESTORATION
In 1973, a $21 million restoration project
began at Borobodur. The terraces were
dismantled, cataloged, cleaned, and
reconstructed on a concrete foundation.
This Buddhist site is now a national
monument in a Muslim country.
~ Carved Gateway
This archway leading to the roof is A Rupadhatu Bas-Reliefs
guarded by Kala, a protective deily These carvings depict the
and a mythica I monster who life of Siddhartha Gautama,
swallowed his own body. the Buddha.
View of Borobodur
Temple>-
The name of this colossal
structure probably came from
the Sanskrit Vihara Buddha
Uhr, meaning High Buddhist
Monastery. It is the earthly
manifestion of the Buddhist
vision of the universe.
CONSTRUCTION
Borobodur is square in plan and 113 ft
(34.5 m) high. Originally, five square
terraces of diminishing size were built,
leading to a sixth from which three
circular terraces rose, with a stupa at the
summit. The original intention seems to
have been to construct a pyramid, but
theweightwas so great that a stone
buttress had to be built around the base
to stop it from collapsing.
A A graceful, bejewelled king and
queen holding wurt at Borobodur
~ Kamadhatu Bas-Reliefs
These superb carvings on the
first level of the temple illustrate
ancient Javanese society.
KEY DATES
~ Seated Buddha
7704!50 c. 928 c.900 1815 1907-11 1991
Constructbn of The balance of Heavy volcanic Borobodur is The temple Borobodur is
Borobodur Temple power shifts to east activity submerges rediscovered by undergoes its first declared a UNESCO
under the Sailendra Java and the temple the temple in layers British colonial agent renovation, by World Heritage Site.
dynasty. is abandoned. of ash. Sir Stamford Raffles. the Dutch.

