A 4.30am wake up call on a Monday morning for some may feel kind of harsh, but when your purpose is to visit the world’s largest Buddhist Temple minus the crowds, this rude awakening is definitely worth it.
By 10am, we had already been to Borobudur in Java's Yogyakarta. A 9th Century temple, one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site - not a bad start to the day at all and certainly no Monday morning blues!
What was it about Borobudur that made it such a beautiful place to visit before breakfast?
By 10am, we had already been to Borobudur in Java's Yogyakarta. A 9th Century temple, one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site - not a bad start to the day at all and certainly no Monday morning blues!
What was it about Borobudur that made it such a beautiful place to visit before breakfast?
Where is Java?
Java, Indonesia is the fourth largest island in the Country. The capital of Java and also Indonesia is Jakarta, which dominates the country both politically and economically.
Java was voted the Best Island in the World 2018 according to Travel + Leisure, making it's first appearance beating it's more famous neighbour Bali, which ranked second. The Indonesian island of Lombok was third place.
Java, Indonesia is the fourth largest island in the Country. The capital of Java and also Indonesia is Jakarta, which dominates the country both politically and economically.
Java was voted the Best Island in the World 2018 according to Travel + Leisure, making it's first appearance beating it's more famous neighbour Bali, which ranked second. The Indonesian island of Lombok was third place.
Borobudur Buddhist Temple
The temple at Borobudur is located in Yogyakarta, and sits majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields. The stonework of this temple was built without using any kind of cement or mortar, it is like a set of interlocking Lego blocks without any glue; the more you hear about this monument, the more fascinating it becomes.
It is amazing to learn that this monument, which is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage, was buried underneath volcanic ash for centuries until it was re-discovered in 1815. Thankfully in the 1970’s, the Indonesian Government and UNESCO worked together to restore Borobudur to its former majesty. The whole project took eight years, is now one of Indonesia’s most valued treasures and the single most visited tourist attraction.
After visiting Borobudur, we happen to agree!
To reach the temple, we first walked through landscaped gardens with pretty trees and shrubs. Usually we would stop and admire the greenery, however we were fully focused on where we were going … we had our eyes on the prize.
Approaching the entrance, we could see Borobudur Temple looming in front of us and it was spectacular!
Approaching the entrance, we could see Borobudur Temple looming in front of us and it was spectacular!
Walking up the steps, as the temple came closer and closer, we quickly realised how enormous this site actually was. The sheer size of this temple took us by surprise.
We paused at the top of the steps so we could take it all in. It really was beautiful and as we turned to look at the steps we had just walked up, in the distance we saw two mountains peeking through the early morning mist. What a view!
We took our time walking around admiring the temple from all angles. We wanted to appreciate as many of the impressive 504 Buddha statues as we could, and some of the 2,672 relief panels which housed intricate stone carvings.
Some of the sculptures depict part of Buddha’s history, from his descent from Heaven, to his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and finally to his first teachings in the city of Banaras.
Some of the sculptures depict part of Buddha’s history, from his descent from Heaven, to his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and finally to his first teachings in the city of Banaras.
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Out of the 504 Buddha statues, 72 of them surround the central dome, along with 72 magnificent stupas which capture your attention.
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The best way to truly appreciate somewhere is to stop, sit down and soak up the atmosphere, so that is what we did! We sat next to a stupa and, as we had taken a few Buddhist lessons before we left the UK, we felt that here and now was the perfect time to practice our meditation techniques, letting the external noises of other tourists wash over us.
Borobudur Buddhist Temple is the perfect place to practice meditation!
The views were stunning. Then the sun started to burn its way through the mist and, as it shone on stupas and statues of Buddha, it looked very ethereal.
We both took a plethora of photographs, we just couldn’t stop! After walking a few steps, the view would change slightly and we were faced with yet another beautiful Buddha statue or stupa; I am so glad we had spare camera batteries fully charged for this visit!
Once the sun had risen, we made our way back to the entrance for our return journey home. We couldn’t help but stand for a few more moments looking back at the wonder of this temple. We were captivated by its beauty; this is one Temple that works its magic on you!
Prambanan Hindu Temple
I will start with a little known fact for you; Prambanan, the 9th Century Hindu Temple, is actually older than Angkor Wat by around 300 years so if you are in this area, you should definitely check it out. It is easy to compare the two temples as there are similarities, but Prambanan needs to be viewed for its own story and history.
Prambanan Hindu Temple
I will start with a little known fact for you; Prambanan, the 9th Century Hindu Temple, is actually older than Angkor Wat by around 300 years so if you are in this area, you should definitely check it out. It is easy to compare the two temples as there are similarities, but Prambanan needs to be viewed for its own story and history.
This UNESCO World Heritage site was actually completely destroyed in an earthquake back in 1891 and has been painstakingly reconstructed. Unfortunately, it was then hit by another earthquake in 2006 so further reconstruction work is still being carried out. Today, it is widely regarded as the most beautiful and graceful Hindu temple in Indonesia, even more so than any other temple you may know, including those in Bali.
An example of some of Prambanan's ruins on-site
We caught the local bus and arrived about 9am to try to avoid the crowds, which allowed us plenty of time to wander around at our own pace. We paid our entrance fee but didn’t bother with a guide, instead we made our way through the lush green park eager to see what this temple had in store for us. When we first saw the iconic temple spires, we were surprised at how spectacular it looked. It’s a seriously impressive site; from a distance, the 47 meter high peak of the tallest temple is clearly visible. Walking towards the complex, I knew we were about to view something special.
As we reached the small steps to the temple complex, four local students asked if they could guide us around for free in order to practice their English and share their knowledge of the site. Well, it would be rude of us to say no, after all, we would be helping out locals with their education … but first, a group of Chinese wanted to include Sy in their photos.
Our very friendly tour guides!
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Everyone say "Jump"!
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Prambanan isn’t just one temple, but a collection of different sized temples, each one representing a different Hindu divinity; Shiva (the destroyer), Brahma (the creator) and Vishnu (the keeper) plus temples for the three animals that serve them; Nandi the bull (Shiva), Hamsa the swan (Brahma), and Garuda the eagle (Vishnu). |
Suddenly, it dawned on me how much there was to see, especially when I started noticing the intricate detail of relief carvings depicting scenes from the Ramayana. The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit story of how Prince Rama rescued his beloved wife Sita from the clutches of the demon King Ravana with the help of an army of monkeys.
View from our shady bench where we were able to sit and take it all in
I wanted to take it all in, so we sat on a bench in a shady area; a local family wanted their photo taken with both so we obliged.I t was nice to think that this one simple act can put a smile on someone’s face. We started to feel like minor celebrities posing with locals for photos.
The largest main temple is dedicated to Shiva the destroyer. It contains five chambers, four small chambers and one large main chamber within its centre.
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The Hindu religion has many different Gods, which means there are many statues honouring them to admire. Every wall had different elaborate carvings, each with its own story and unique representation. Just like any other temple we visit, we took our time strolling slowly around the site looking at the intricate carvings, there was just so much to look at, and so many small, steep steps to climb to reach each section.
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From our trip to India, we are familiar with Shiva’s son, the elephant-headed Ganesh so were particularly fond of his statue in the inner chamber of Shiva’s Temple.
There is a wonderful statue of Durga, the warrior Goddess, who was Shiva's consort. We were told if you touched her tummy you will be slim, if you touched her face you will be youthful and if you touched her breasts you will be blessed with big boobs! Of course we obliged in this custom, but I won’t tell you which part we touched … it’s a secret!
There is a wonderful statue of Durga, the warrior Goddess, who was Shiva's consort. We were told if you touched her tummy you will be slim, if you touched her face you will be youthful and if you touched her breasts you will be blessed with big boobs! Of course we obliged in this custom, but I won’t tell you which part we touched … it’s a secret!
Ganesh, Shiva's son
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Statue of the warrior Goddess Durga
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When we felt we had soaked up as much of the history and detail as we possibly could, it was time to explore the rest of the complex, but not before one look back as this beautiful site.
As I previously mentioned, on the Prambanan site there are a few other small temples, but in my opinion, the most impressive is Shimba, a Buddhist temple. This is the second largest Buddhist temple in Indonesia and actually predates the more famous Borobudur by around 37 years. I thought it interesting that a Buddhist Temple was built so close to the Hindu Prambanan Temple; this shows that the two religions can live in harmony.
What fascinated us the most about this temple were the four entrances guarded by twin Dvarapala statues. Dvarapala are door or gate guardians often portrayed as a warrior or fearsome giant armed with a weapon. Although this was an interesting temple, after seeing the majesty of Prambanan, we had little enthusiasm left in us to truly appreciate this site and maybe it would be best viewed first.
What fascinated us the most about this temple were the four entrances guarded by twin Dvarapala statues. Dvarapala are door or gate guardians often portrayed as a warrior or fearsome giant armed with a weapon. Although this was an interesting temple, after seeing the majesty of Prambanan, we had little enthusiasm left in us to truly appreciate this site and maybe it would be best viewed first.
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Shimba Buddhist Temple
By the time we had visited all the temples in this complex, it was lunchtime and we had built up a bit of a hunger wandering around in the heat. Thankfully there was an open-air restaurant just near the entrance/exit which served a set meal at a reasonable price.
We ordered two delicious meals and ice cold drinks – oh man, we were in heaven! Rather strangely, behind the restaurant was a herd of deer and a Cassowary; what bizarre animals to have at a Temple site within Indonesia.
We ordered two delicious meals and ice cold drinks – oh man, we were in heaven! Rather strangely, behind the restaurant was a herd of deer and a Cassowary; what bizarre animals to have at a Temple site within Indonesia.
Our delicious, well-earned lunch
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The Australian bird ... a Cassowary
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Travel information
If you have the time, I would suggest visiting these two temples on separate days. They are both large, impressive and are not very close together. I also personally feel that, because they are both so different, it’s better to have a “clear head” when visiting, however it is possible to do both in one day, if you visit Borobudur for sunrise to give you extra time.
The most cost effective way of visiting both (especially Borobudur for sunrise) is to arrange transport only to Borobudur, buy a combined ticket for both temples at the office in Borobudur and visit Prambanan under your own steam. This is the option we chose and was arranged through the Backpackers where we were staying. Most accommodation can arrange this for you.
Sunrise and sunsets at both Prambanan and Borobudur are meant to be stunning (we visited in February during the wet season so it was cloudy at these times of day).
If you have the time, I would suggest visiting these two temples on separate days. They are both large, impressive and are not very close together. I also personally feel that, because they are both so different, it’s better to have a “clear head” when visiting, however it is possible to do both in one day, if you visit Borobudur for sunrise to give you extra time.
The most cost effective way of visiting both (especially Borobudur for sunrise) is to arrange transport only to Borobudur, buy a combined ticket for both temples at the office in Borobudur and visit Prambanan under your own steam. This is the option we chose and was arranged through the Backpackers where we were staying. Most accommodation can arrange this for you.
Sunrise and sunsets at both Prambanan and Borobudur are meant to be stunning (we visited in February during the wet season so it was cloudy at these times of day).
Wondering what to pack for your next trip? Let us help you with the essentials in our Ultimate Packing List for Worldwide Travel (tried and tested!)
Visiting Borobudur
Borobudur is an hour away from Yogyakarta and most hostels/hotels arrange trips which is easier than doing it alone. If you are here during the dry season, a sunrise trip will be amazing (if the weather is right!). The cost to visit Borobudur will vary depending on whether you are here for sunrise and if you want to combine it with Prambanan.
Entrance fee: US$ 22, or a combined ticket with Prambanan is $32
Visiting Prambanan
Located only 17km away from Yogyakarta centre, it is easy to reach Prambanan independently. Catch the TransJogja 1A or 1B bus to the final stop which takes approx. 45 minutes, then it’s about a 1km walk to the entrance. The bus service is clean, comfortable and efficient.
Entrance fee: US$ 18
Local bus tickets cost 3,600 IDR
How to get to Yogyakarta, Java
Flights: Air Asia fly to Yogyakarta from various countries as well as within Asia. We opted for the one-hour flight from Jakarta but you can also fly from Bali.
By train: From Jakarta, the train journey takes eight hours.
If you are travelling around the rest of Asia, we recommend you check bus, boat and train schedules ahead of time with 12Go Asia website. You can also book your tickets in advance online (as we did) to save time and hassle.
Where to stay
As we were on a budget, we stayed at Laura’s Backpackers which had excellent reviews and lived up to its reputation as a quiet backpackers. The owner (Laura) provides outstanding travel advice and information not just locally, but for Java generally.
When to visit Java
Oct – April – Summer, rainy season
May, June & Sept – Winter, dry season
July & August – high season so expect crowds and higher prices
Borobudur is an hour away from Yogyakarta and most hostels/hotels arrange trips which is easier than doing it alone. If you are here during the dry season, a sunrise trip will be amazing (if the weather is right!). The cost to visit Borobudur will vary depending on whether you are here for sunrise and if you want to combine it with Prambanan.
Entrance fee: US$ 22, or a combined ticket with Prambanan is $32
Visiting Prambanan
Located only 17km away from Yogyakarta centre, it is easy to reach Prambanan independently. Catch the TransJogja 1A or 1B bus to the final stop which takes approx. 45 minutes, then it’s about a 1km walk to the entrance. The bus service is clean, comfortable and efficient.
Entrance fee: US$ 18
Local bus tickets cost 3,600 IDR
How to get to Yogyakarta, Java
Flights: Air Asia fly to Yogyakarta from various countries as well as within Asia. We opted for the one-hour flight from Jakarta but you can also fly from Bali.
By train: From Jakarta, the train journey takes eight hours.
If you are travelling around the rest of Asia, we recommend you check bus, boat and train schedules ahead of time with 12Go Asia website. You can also book your tickets in advance online (as we did) to save time and hassle.
Where to stay
As we were on a budget, we stayed at Laura’s Backpackers which had excellent reviews and lived up to its reputation as a quiet backpackers. The owner (Laura) provides outstanding travel advice and information not just locally, but for Java generally.
When to visit Java
Oct – April – Summer, rainy season
May, June & Sept – Winter, dry season
July & August – high season so expect crowds and higher prices
Book your Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia, any weekend break or holiday hotel through our website. We always use and are proud to have an affiliate partnership with Booking.com. Visit our Hotel Booking page now!
Book your Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia, any weekend break or holiday hotel through our website. We always use and are proud to have an affiliate partnership with Booking.com. Visit our Hotel Booking page now!
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We are proud to host the #FollowMeFriday blog Linkup. If you have a blog post you would like to share, feel free to click on the picture below which will take you through to our Facebook Community and drop your link there. The link-up is open from 3am Friday morning (UK time) and will close 8pm UK time Sunday. We are a fun and loyal group who are more than happy to comment, share and reciprocate! Happy Travelling Feet Fans!
