Jogyakarta

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Surroundings of Jogyakarta

Borobudur
From Jogyakarta one can travel easily to the Borobudur and Prambanan temples, which are half-day trips from the city. Jogyakarta is situated between the foot of the still-active Merapi volcano and the mystical Indian Ocean, home of 'Loro Kidul,' Queen of the South Seas.

Cleaning Borobudur in the beginning of this century

Borobudur

The most famous of Indonesia's temples is this huge Buddhist pyramid. Located north west of Jogyakarta, Borobudor was completed in the second half of the ninth century. Like the Hindu temple complexes Prambanan and the Dieng plateau, Borobudur was unknown and neglected for almost a thousand years, covered under thick layers of volcanic ash. Ironically the temple was completed as Buddhism was losing its stronghold as a religious force.

Borobudur, which dwarfs the neighboring temples of Candi Pawon and Mendut, remains one of the main cultural attractions in Indonesia. From afar Borobudur looks like a huge but ordinary stone construction. But from nearby we can see that it consists of hundreds of wonderfully detailed statues and sculptures, representing Buddhist teachings mixed with images of Javanese life of a thousand years ago.

Borobudur

Prambanan

Perhaps the finest temple complex in Indonesia, Prambanan is a ten-century old Hindu temple. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, locally called Candi Loro Jonggrang, which means 'slender virgin.' From an architectural point of view this beautifully sculptured spire, fifty meters high, indeed resembles a 'slender virgin.'
For photo see 5 days Jogya tour
Like the Buddhist stupa Borobudur, Prambanan was abandoned when the Buddhist and Hindu Javanese Kingdoms moved to East Java.

Dieng Plateau

The oldest Hindu temples in Indonesia are located two thousand meters above sea level on the cool Dieng plateau. The temple complex dates from the 8th century but was unknown to westerners until around 1850. A trip to the mysterious Dieng temple complex is most worthwhile, not only to see the temple itself but for a breathtaking view of the fine rice terraces along the mountain road, and the final beauty that nature offers at the destination.