Hindu and Buddhist Sites in Java

Borobudur, located in central Java 40 kilometres from Yogyakarta, is one of the most impressive Buddhist monuments in the world and the largest in the southern hemisphere. The complex is built on several levels around a hill - a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, three concentric circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with reliefs sculpted in stone which depict the life of the Buddha and the soul's progress towards redemption. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The complex covers 200 square metres, reaching a height of 35 metres. It was built between AD 750 and 842 by the Saliendra dynasty but was neglected in the 11th century and buried in volcanic ash from Mount Merapi. Rediscovered in the 19th century, it has undergone extensive renovation, most recently by UNESCO.

Built just half a century after the nearby Borobudur Temple in the 9th century, Prambanan Temple is a magnificent Hindu temple complex. There are 224 temple in all but the three central temples, dedicated to Shiva (at 47 metres the tallest), Brahma and Vishnu, are the most impressive. Each is decorated with reliefs depicting the Ramayana. The complex was abandoned due to volcanic activity and left to decay but renovation began in the 20th century.