Borobudur - Yogyakarta: The Eternal Legend

With barely four hours of sleep (Jogyakarta The Kickoff), I was were up and ready, heading to the lobby by 4 a.m. A packet breakfast awaited me - two sandwiches and some cut fruits, enough to tide us over since we'd miss the hotel's breakfast service. By 4:45 a.m., we arrived at the entrance of Borobudur Temple.

Borobudur Temple, located in Central Java, Indonesia, is a monumental Mahayana Buddhist temple and the world's largest Buddhist monument. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is famed for its intricate stone carvings, stunning architectural grandeur, and unique design that symbolizes the Buddhist cosmology with its three tiers: the world of desire, the world of forms, and the formless world (Pretoria South Africa Moments).

Visitors are captivated by its 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues, which narrate stories of human life and the Buddha's teachings. Borobudur's serene atmosphere at sunrise, combined with panoramic views of the lush landscapes, makes it a must-experience destination that beautifully showcases Indonesia's rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

Darkness swarmed around us as dim lights guided our way. Armed with a tiny torchlight, we carefully walked through the vast, well-maintained park-like setting, where nature splendidly ushered tourists from all over the world towards Borobudur Temple. It was quite a long walk, with a security check for our bags, before we finally reached the temple. Climbing the steep stone steps was no easy feat - I had to stop several times to catch my breath. But with cheerful older tourists, mostly Westerners, climbing alongside me, I found the motivation to keep going and eventually made it to the top.

Once there, we stood at that height, staring blankly at the sky for the next hour. Thankfully, there were not many people, which was a blessing. Otherwise, it would have been crowded, leaving little space between us, and all I would have seen would have been the sky, or I would have had to climb to the next level or even higher to get a view of the sunrise. Our hopes soared as we anticipated the sunrise.

Honestly, I didn’t quite understand what was happening. I watched as people zoomed in with cameras as big as my head, wondering what the fuss was all about. I started questioning myself: Was it just me, or were others also confused about this whole Borobudur Sunrise Watching experience?

The sun eventually rose, but only in tiny fractions of splashes, not as the huge, bright, glowing orange ball I had expected. It left me feeling a bit clueless. Was it just hype? Maybe our guide was right about the weather not being conducive. Despite this, Borobudur Sunrise Watching is an adventure worth experiencing. The early wake-up and the excitement itself felt like conquering the world. I've seen sunrises and sunsets before (Osaka Sunsets, Sri Lanka Escapes & Kerala Kovalam Beach), but since this was touted as a must-do in Borobudur, I expected something extraordinary. Yet, it was still the sun.

After the sunrise fizzled off, it was time to explore Borobudur Temple itself. Seeing is believing, especially with our guide sharing its history. Hidden in the darkness of history and buried under layers of volcanic ash and jungle growth before being rediscovered in the 9th century, Borobudur stands as a magnificent pride of all time. Its incredible stone structures, stupas, Buddha statues, and skillful stone carvings narrate many stories and teachings of Buddhism. Borobudur, one of the most famed archaeological discoveries in the world, is truly awe-inspiring.

Once our exploration was over, we walked back to where we started. At the entrance's dining area, we helped ourselves to coffee, tea, and some cakes. After resting for a while, the rest of the group got into the van, while I took a brief walk around Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur before joining them for the next sightseeing spot.