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Borobudur (in Javanese barabudhur or barabudur) is a Buddhist stupa with a pyramid-shaped silhouette related to the Ma tradition and is the largest Buddhist monument in the world. It is located in Indonesia's Central Java Province, 40 kilometers northwest of Yogyakarta. It was built between 750 and 850 by the rulers of the Sailendra dynasty. The name may be derived from the Sanskrit "Vihara Buddha Ur", which translates as "the Buddhist mountain temple".



The monument consists of six square platforms crowned by three circular platforms and is decorated by 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.



It is located approximately 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Yogyakarta, in an elevated area between two twin volcanoes, Sundoro-Sumbing and Merbabu-Merapi, and the Progo and Elo rivers.



The monument is a Buddhist shrine and pilgrimage site. The pilgrims' journey begins at the base of the monument and continues along a path that surrounds it, as it ascends to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology. During the trip, the monument guides pilgrims through a system of stairs and corridors.



Evidence suggests that Borobudur was abandoned after the fourteenth century with the decline of the Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java and the conversion of islanders to Islam. It was discovered in 1814 by Thomas Stamford Raffles, British Governor of Java. Since then, Borobudur has been preserved by numerous restorations. The largest restoration project was carried out between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, after which the monument was named a World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used as a pilgrimage site, where once a year Indonesian Buddhists celebrate Vesak at the monument. In addition, Borobudur is Indonesia's most visited tourist attraction.

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