Borobudur: The Largest Buddhist Temple in the World
Borobudur is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple located in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. It is the world’s largest Buddhist temple, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. Borobudur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most important Buddhist monuments in the world.
Borobudur is a massive stone structure covered in intricate carvings and statues. The temple is a nine-story pyramid, with each level representing a different stage of the bodhisattva path to enlightenment. The temple is also decorated with over 2,600 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
Borobudur is a popular destination for pilgrims from all over the world. The temple is also a popular tourist destination, known for its stunning beauty and its peaceful atmosphere.
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The Best (and Cheapest) Way to Get to Borobudur from Yogyakarta
The easiest way to get to Borobudur is by catching a Damri bus from downtown. These buses are super cheap and run four times to Borobudur and back from Bank Indonesia (you can find the exact spot they depart from if you look for “Shuttle Damri Wisata” on Google Maps). We took this bus to Borobudur and the one way fare cost us 20,000 Rupiah/$1.30 each for the 1.5 hour drive. In case of any updates to this schedule, you can check their instagram page (damriindonesia) and click through the Yogyakarta story highlight until you see “Bank Indonesia – Borobudur”.
Buying Your Ticket to Borobudur
When you’re ready to purchase your tickets, you can click the link below to do so. Notice that there are two options: Temple Ground Ticket and Temple Structure Ticket. I highly recommend buying a Temple Structure Ticket because that will allow you to actually explore the structure and learn a bit about its historical background. If you choose to do the Temple Structure Ticket and are planning to head to Borobudur in the morning, I recommend that you buy your tickets in advance. If you’re thinking of going later in the day, this isn’t as necessary. We bought our tickets for the 2:30-4:00 PM time slot while on the bus to Borobudur and all of the other time slots around that were open.
Buy Your Borobudur Ticket Here
What to Expect During Your Visit
If you got the Temple Ground Ticket, you will only have access to the lawn area around the temple, and you will be permitted to enter and exit whenever you choose to.
If you got the Temple Structure Ticket, you should arrive at the ticket office at the beginning of your 1.5 hour block. Here, you’ll receive and change into special slippers that you have to wear in order to walk up the temple. You’ll also be placed into groups and assigned a guide. For the remainder of the time, your guide will lead you up the nine levels to the top of the temple and explain the stories behind some of the carvings on the temples. At the top, you’ll have time to roam around on your own and take pictures. After the tour, you can spend as much time on the grounds as you desire!
Visiting Borobudur at Sunrise
Sunrise is a very popular time of day to visit Borobudur, and we can see why from the pictures! If you decide to visit at sunrise, be prepared to pay a slightly higher entrance fee and don’t be surprised to see lots of other tourists there! Also, due to the distance from Yogyakarta to Borobudur, you may prefer to stay in a hotel closer to the temple if you decide to do this.
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