Borobudur, one of the Four Great Wonders of the Ancient East

To Indonesians, Bali is just the most glamorous representation of Indonesia, while the true soul of the country lies in the lesser-known Java Island. Java Island boasts more primitive and unspoiled natural scenery, like an undiscovered treasure. It is home to Indonesia's oldest city, Yogyakarta, the center of Javanese culture and art, and the world's largest Buddhist temple complex, Borobudur. The famous Borobudur is located north of Yogyakarta and is the largest Buddhist site in the world. This magnificent structure took hundreds of thousands of craftsmen decades to complete and is praised as the "Pyramid of Indonesia." It is one of the Four Great Wonders of the Ancient East, along with the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in India, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is nestled in a lush valley surrounded by majestic mountains, like a paradise on earth. Stepping into this place feels like traveling back in time, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the extraordinary scenery that combines history, culture, religion, and natural beauty. Borobudur means "Buddhist stupa on a hill." Archaeologists speculate that it was built around 800 AD, making it over 1,200 years old. However, there are no written records of who built this massive structure or why, adding to its mystery. The entire Borobudur complex covers an area of 15,000 square meters, with a grand and imposing scale. It has nine levels, containing 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The 2 million stone blocks used in its construction were not bonded with any adhesive, resembling a giant set of Lego bricks. In the ancient times of 1,200 years ago, with backward technology and scarce resources, what inspired the ancient people's artistic creativity and perseverance to complete the construction of this stupa remains a mystery, just like the Egyptian pyramids. For this reason, Borobudur is called the "epic on stone" by later generations. Each level of the stupa has corridors with exquisite reliefs on the walls, depicting stories related to Buddhist scriptures, like a continuous and captivating comic book. The stories are fascinating, the images vivid, and the carving techniques delicate and ingenious. With over 2,600 reliefs, Borobudur is a treasure of Buddhist art and a world-renowned stone carving art repository, making it one of the most valuable treasures in Indonesia and the world. Walking is the best way to explore Borobudur. As you climb the steps and reach the top of this magnificent temple, you will be amazed by the wonders of this structure. Surrounded by lush forests and green rice fields, this ancient monument has stood on the hill for thousands of years, protecting the creatures of this land and becoming a spiritual refuge for the locals. Today, Borobudur has become a famous tourist landmark in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, attracting many visitors. However, outside of Indonesia, few people know about this great structure, so it rarely sees tour groups, which perfectly matches its unique and independent character.