Borobudur is a giant Mahayana Buddhist monument in Central Java. Lost for centuries after the decline of the Buddhist dynasties in Java, Borobudur was rediscovered in the 19th century.
Today, Borobudur is a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. Pilgrims come from all over to ascend the many levels of the stupa, which are structured according to Buddhist cosmology and lined with over 2,600 relief panels that tell stories from the life of the Buddha and parables from Buddhist texts. The walk is imagined to be a recreation of a personal voyage into Nirvana, represented by the top levels where numerous Buddhas welcome the tired visitor.
Borobudur is most popular during the Buddhist day of enlightenment, or Waisak, where hundreds of Buddhist monks join thousands of Buddhist pilgrims as they begin a procession in the wee hours of the morning and ascend the levels to await the appearance of the moon on the horizon.
Entrance fee for Borobodur is $11, with operating hours from 6am to 5pm. The nearest convenient airport is at Yogyakarta, about 40 minutes away by car. You can take a taxi from Yogyakarta for about $20.
