Borobudur Things to Do Tips by bpacker Top 5 Page for this destination

Candi Pawon

When you're out visiting Borobudur Temple, do bear in mind that there are 2 other temples in the entire temple complex. Before Pilgrims visit Borobudur, they will visit Candi Mendut and crossed the two rivers before coming to Candi Pawon. After that, they would walk another 1,750 meters to reach Borobudur.

Of the two temples, Pawon is a lot smaller than Mendut and logically speaking there is a lot less to see. But personally, I found the Pawon the more whimsical of the two. Though there are no fairy tales here, you can still find dwarves showering down rings and other jewelry from above the entrance and a Kalpataru Wishing Tree at the back of the temple!

Type:Buddhist temple

When: Built around 824 A.D by King Indera of Cailendra dynasty

What:Built to house King Indra's weapon- Vajranala.

Who:The presence of those comical pot-bellied dwarfs pouring riches over the entrance to the temple suggested that it was dedicated to Kubera, the god of wealth.

Candi Mendut

When you're out visiting Borobudur Temple, do bear in mind that there are 2 other temples in the entire temple complex. Before Pilgrims visit Borobudur, they will visit Candi Mendut and crossed the two rivers before coming to Candi Pawon. After that, they would walk another 1,750 meters to reach Borobudur.

Candi Mendut (Mendut Temple) the oldest of the three, is seriously worth a visit. Within her hallowed interior are statues that are considered the greatest example of Buddhist art in Java and on her exterior are fairy tales(Jataka)! See my travelogue for a more detailed explanation.

Type:Buddhist temple

When: Built around 824 A.D by King Indera of Cailendra dynasty

Photo Note: The picture actually depicts the story of the willy croc who gives a ride to Mr Monkey across the river. Croc, as we all know, thinks of Monkey as a huge Whopper. Unfortunately, Monkey gives Croc the slip when he tells him that he left his heart on the opposite side of the bank.

Walk clockwise around Borobudur

One, two, three o'clock, four o'clock, rock!
Five, six, seven o'clock, eight o'clock, rock!
Nine, ten, eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock, rock!

It's strange but I was thinking of this Bill Haley classic when someone mentioned that I should walk clockwise around Borobudur, one terrace at a time, starting at the bottom to look at 1000 bas relief of Buddha's life. I tried for a while but my attention-deficit nature will not permit me to do that. I thought of the devout Buddhist pilgrims and I had no doubts those fellas will have no problem doing just that on Vesak Day and attaining Nirvana as they reach to the top.

70 bell shaped stupas

70 bell-shaped stupas on the wall, 70 bell-stupas! Touch one Buddha, go around. 69 bell stupas...

Though it's unlikely that any pilgrim will sing my half-witted song on Vesak Day, it is a belief that anyone who reaches inside the bell-shaped stupas in Borobudur temple to touch Buddha's hands will receive good luck. There are 70 of these bell-shaped stupas over here on the top three round concentric terraces, each with a seated Buddha. To make things a little easier for us pesky tourist, the authrities have removed half of the structure so that we can see or touch the statue a bit more easily. So did I touch all 70 of the Buddhas? I didn't. I was mainly stuck at the bottom 6 square concentric terraces which were trimmed with over 1000 Buddhist relief panels.

Where:Borobodur Temple, Java, Indonesia
When: Built by AD830, the peak of the Sailendra dynasty in Central Java, 300 years before Angkor Wat.
Whom: Re-discovered by Sir Stamford Raffles, 1814, 47 years before the re-discovery of Angkor Wat.

Go to Borobudur at Sunrise

Join a sunrise tour and go to Borobudur at a Godamm early hour. It's not a crazy idea to wake up at 4am to reach the gates of the monument grounds by 7am. It's too late to catch the sunrise but you'll see the whole place shrouded by a misty forest and have the whole place to yourself before the crazy swarms of tourists arrive at noon.

Sunrise tours
Available at many tour agent shops along the backpacker's alley, Jalan Prawirotaman. You'll have at least 3 options:
a)Borobudur sunrise (leave at 5.00 AM, USD4, 5 hours)
b)Borobudur sunrise & Prambanan (leave at 5.00 AM, USD8, 8 hours)
c)Borobudur & Chandi Pawon & Mendut (leave at 7.30 AM, USD5, 5 hours)
Most of these tours will not include the entrance fee to Borobodur and Chandis Pawon and Mendut.

Private Tours
Alternatively, you can charter a car to drive you to Borobudur and back to Yogya. It'll cost you around USD8 or so.

Website: http://www.borobudurpark.com/

Savouring Borobudur Slowly

Borobudur will probably be the highlight of your trip and not a sight which you should miss while in Java. Don't be daft and rush Borobudur with a Dieng tour on the same day. Afterall, you'll pay about USD9 for your entrance fee so why zip in and out like speedy Gonzales? Be prepared to spend at least 3 hours here. 2 hours to look at the bas relief, 1 hour to explore the museums below.