Borobudur, the Biggest Buddhist temple in the 9th Century

Who does not know Borobudur? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Millions of people are yearning to visit the buildings included in this World Wonder Heritages. Not surprisingly, since architecturally and functionally, as the place of worship, Borobudur is attractive.

Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the king of the ancient Mataram kingdom, descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on the inscriptions Kayumwungan, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur is a place of worship that was completed on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years since the beginning of construction. The name of Borobudur, as some people means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while the other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.

Punden terraces Borobudur-shaped building comprises 10 levels. Height 42 meters before being renovated and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level is used as a barrier. Six lowest level of a square and three levels above and a circular highest level of Buddhist stupa facing to the west. Each level represents the stages of human life. In accordance schools of Mahayana Buddhism, every person who wants to reach the level of Buddha must through every level of life is.
The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizing human beings that are still bound by lust. Four levels above referred Rupadhatu symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but still bound manner and form. At these levels, a statue of Buddha placed open. Meanwhile, three levels above where the Buddhist stupas are laid in holes called Arupadhatu, symbolizing human beings that have been free from lust, appearance, and shape. The top part is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.

Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful. Relief that will be read coherently when you walk in a clockwise direction (towards the left of the entrance of the temple). In the reliefs of Borobudur tells of a legendary story, the Ramayana. In addition, there are relief panels describing the condition of society at that time. For example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of the cruise, who was based in Bergotta (Semarang).

All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha's teachings. Hence, this temple functions as educating the media for people who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES invites you to surround each of the narrow alleys of Borobudur in order to understand the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the 10th century once visited this temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.

Thanks to visiting Borobudur and having Buddhist manuscripts from Serlingpa (King of Sriwijaya), Atisha was able to develop Buddhism. He became abbot Vikramasila and taught Tibetans of practicing Dharma. Six manuscripts of Serlingpa was condensed into a core doctrine called "The Path to Lamp for the Enlightenment" or better known as Bodhipathapradipa.

One question that is still unanswered about Borobudur is how the condition around the temple was built and why the temple was found in the buried. Some say Borobudur initially stood surrounded by a swamp and then buried by the eruption of Merapi. Calcutta is essentially the inscription reads 'Amawa' means sea of ??milk. The word which is then interpreted as Merapi lava. Some other says that Borobudur Merapi cold lava buried.

With all the grandeur and mystery that is, only natural that many people from all the world penjru include Borobudur as a place worth visiting in his life. Besides enjoying the temple, you can walk around to the villages around Borobudur, like Karanganyar and Wanurejo to see the activities of people make crafts. You can also go to the top watu Kendil to Borobudur panoramic view from the top. Wait what? No need to worry about an earthquake May 27, 2006, because of Borobudur is not affected at all.

Source Article : http://www.yogyes.com/id/yogyakarta-tourism-object/candi/borobudur/

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Elo River, Rafting for Beginners

Elo River is one of the rivers that have specifications suitable for whitewater rafting in Indonesia. Elo River is located in the district of Magelang, Central Java. In Central Java alone, there are 4 streams commonly used options for rafting, the Elo River, Upper Progo, Serayu and Progo River Bottom. My advice for beginners, and Progo Top Elo River may be the first experience to do the rafting.

Elo river itself lies along the Magelang district, with upstream and downstream in the river Progo. Elo river also passes the temple that had entered seven wonders of the world, namely Borobudur temple, as well as the flow of the river towards the hills Menoreh.

For the difficulty of this river, the River Elo including at level 1, the beginner level. Because of that every week, there are currently rafting this river, from school children, students, families, employees, to athletes who are exercising rafting.

Now this river, has many rafting guide services available, from small events to rafting package for travel and training. The usual price is offered for 1 boat complete with first his guide, ranging from 90 US dollar.

2 times I've waded the river, and when I first tried it, indeed, as a beginner, while adrenaline accelerated rapidly through the first rapids on the river Elo. Fear mingled pleasure felt, and after passing some rapids there, I began to enjoy the trip off. The scenery is given along the river is very beautiful and amazing. At half way, we can find a landscaped stone wall that exists between our boats.

Not complete when we visited Borobudur Yogyakarta or without trying to wade through the river this Elo. For the beginner who wants tries rafting, river Elo is perfect for trying.

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Dieng Temple, Traces of the Greatness of Life in the Past

Dieng temple is a collection of temples located in the foothills of Dieng, Wonosobo, Central Java. Candi Dieng plateau region occupy at an altitude 2000 m above sea level, extends north-south direction with a width of about 1900 m along the 800 m.

Dieng temple complex overall width approximately 1.8 x 0.8 km2. The temples in the Dieng temple is divided into 3 groups and 1 individual temple named after a character in the puppet story from the Mahabharata. The third group is the group of Arjuna temple, Gatutkaca Group, Dwarawati groups and one individual temple is Candi Bima.

Wing Hindu Shiva temples were built between the late estimated the 8th century until the beginning of the 9th century is believed to be the oldest temple in Java. Until now there has been found written information about the history of Dieng Temple, but experts estimate that these temples were built by the kings of Sanjaya dynasty. In Dieng was discovered a stone inscription dated 808 AD, which is the oldest inscription written in ancient Javanese, who are still extant today. A statue of Shiva were found in the area is now kept in the National Museum in Jakarta. Dieng Temple was probably built in two phases. The first stage took place between the end of the 7th century until the first quarter of the 8th century, includes the construction of temple Arjuna, Semar Temple, Temple and Temple Gatutkaca Heroine. The second phase is a continuation of the first phase, which lasted till about the year 780 AD.

Dieng Temple was first discovered back in 1814. When it was a British soldier who was traveled to the area to see a bunch Dieng temple submerged in a puddle lake. In 1956, Van Kinsbergen led the drying lake where the temples were located. Cleanup efforts continued by the Dutch government in 1864, followed by recording and taking pictures by Van Kinsbergen.

In a place that is close enough to the temple, there is also a museum that explains about the temple existing temple. The museum explains the origin of the temple, iluustrasi on all aspects concerning the temple and many more.

The ride was visible when you go there, so charming, especially scenic perkebuan vegetable plantations, and roads that turn turn, like a racing circuit. We can reach the beaches by bike, car or bus because of the existing road is good but prepare your adrenaline because I mentioned earlier, there is a very winding road.

Source Article : http://candi.pnri.go.id/jawa_tengah_yogyakarta/dieng/dieng.htm

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