Overview
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About the Borobudur Temple
Borobudur is an impressive Buddhist temple, located close to Yogyakarta in Central Java, Indonesia. It is even the largest Buddhist temple in the world. The temple structure is decorated with originally 504 Buddha statues. The central stupa is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa, that people often refer to as ‘bells’.
The temple was built in the 8th and 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra. After some time, Borobudur was abandoned. The facts behind its abandonment remain a mystery. For centuries, the temple has been hidden under volcanic ash and jungle growth.
In 1814, Borobudur was rediscovered by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. He let Hermann Cornelius clean the temple and brought it back to the world’s attention. Christiaan Lodewijk Hartmann continued Cornelius’s work, and finished cleaning the whole temple complex in 1835.
After many years of restoration, the Borobudur Temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Note: To better preserve the temple, the number of visitors to enter the temple structure is limited to 1200 people per day. You must buy a separate ticket for this. The temple structure is closed on Mondays for maintenance purposes.
The temple courtyard without climbing the temple is not limited and you can visit it every day.
Practical
Temple Ground: 375.000 IDR ($25)
Temple Structure: 455.000 IDR ($30)
Prambanan - Borobudur package: $45 (Only valid for Borobudur Temple Ground)
Daily: 6.30am - 4.30pm
The Temple Structure is closed on Monday for maintenance purposes.
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Know before you go
Dress Code
There's no official dress code to visit Borobudur. However, it is a religious place and you are expected to dress modestly and cover your shoulders and knees.
Temple Structure Closed on Monday
The Temple Structure of Borobudur is closed every Monday for maintenance purposes. You can then only visit the temple courtyard.
Book in advance
To better preserve the temple, the number of visitors allowed on the temple structure is limited to 1200 per day. There's no limit to the number of visitors in the temple yard. If you want to visit the temple structure, we recommend you to book your tickets in advance.
Borobudur and Prambanan in one day
You can visit both temples in just one day.
Borobudur - Prambanan packages
If you plan to visit both Borobudur and Prambanan, you can buy a combi-ticket and save a little on the entrance fees.
Drones
Drones are not allowed at Borobudur.
Bring sunscreen, water and a hat
There's is barely any shelter at Borobudur. Bring enough sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from te sun and plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Wear proper shoes
Wear proper shoes, especially if you want to climb the temple structure.
No sunrise or sunset
Borobudur used to be a popular place to watch sunrise or sunset. Unfortunately, due to the updated opening hours to preserve the temple, it is no longer possible to visit the temple during sunrise or sunset. Alternatively, you can watch the sunrise over Borobudur from Setumbu hill.
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How to get to there
The best way to visit Borobudur is from Yogyakarta. From here, you can get to Borobudur by renting a motorbike, taking the local bus, hiring a private driver or joining an organized tour. It is about a 1-1,5 hour drive from Yogyakarta to the temple. The easiest way to visit Borobudur is by joining a tour that combines a visit to both the Borobudur and Prambanan Temple.
Prices for a scooter rental vary between 60,000 IDR to 80,000 IDR for 24 hours.
Yogyakarta can be reached in almost any way. It has a train station, an international airport and highways leading to the city. Depending on where you are coming form, you can get to Yogyakarta either by train, by air or by bus.
By train
There is a good train connection to Yogyakarta from major cities such as Jakarta, Malang and Surabaya. The train network on Java is amazing and the trains are comfortable, fast, clean and relatively cheap. We highly recommend taking the train of you are coming from another city on Java. You can book your train tickets in advance online.
By bus
Another option to reach Yogyakarta, when you are already on Java, is by bus. If you can, we recommend that you take the train, because it is much smoother and more pleasant to travel. If you have no other option, you can find and book buses on 12Go.Asia.
By air
Yogyakarta has an international airport, with direct flights from for example Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumper or Bali. The airport is located 47km outside Yogyakarta and it takes around 1,5 to 2 hours to reach the center. You can find the best flight deals on Trip.com or Skyscanner.
Best time to visit Borobudur
Indonesia, and therefore also Java, has only two seasons: dry season and rainy season. Although Java is a popular destination all year round, the best time to visit Borobudur temple is during dry season, from May to October. During these months, you can expect sunny and dry weather, perfect for exploring!
July and August are considered peak tourist season on Java. Although it will never be quiet at Borobudur, it will be extra busy these months.
Rainy season runs from November to April. You can still visit Borobudur during these months, but there is a greater chance for bad weather.
Overall, Java has a tropical climate, which means it can be very hot and humid and the average temperature is 27°C all year round. To avoid the heat, but also the crowds, we recommend that you go as early as possible. It is also better to avoid weekends and public holidays.
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Where to stay
The best place to stay to visit the Borobudur Temple is in Yogayakarta. This city offers different kinds of accommodations, such as hotels, hostels and guesthouses for every budget. We’d recommend you to stay close to the bustling Malioboro streets, close to all the bars, shops and restaurants.
Hotels
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Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
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Other Things to do near Borobudur
Near Yogyakarta and the Borobudur temple, there are some more interesting places to visit such as the Prambanan Temple and the Jomblang Cave. You can find more information in our guide about Yogyakarta.
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
