Indonesia has five major islands, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Papua, and Java. Yogyakarta is located in the Java island and is known to be the university town of Indonesia. Yogyakarta is also the culture capital of Indonesia. It is the heart of Javanese culture, Javanese art, architecture, and the testament to the pre-colonial Indonesia.
Politically, it is autonomous from the central government of Indonesia and is enjoying a special political feature: It has a King who is at the same time the governor of the Special Province of Yogyakarta. In Yogyakarta, is where you can find the famous Borobudur temple, the largest and most complete Buddhist temple in the world. It is best enjoyed during sunrise and you’d be left in awe of the view you’ll see once you’ve reached the top. Borobudur temple is a UNESCO world heritage site and was restored after it was discovered on the 18th century. It is believed that the temple was built around the 9th century and after it was abandoned following the decline of Buddhism and the conversion of the Javanese people to Islam; trees had grown around and inside the temple until it was discovered and restored and now turned into one of the most famous tourist spots in Indonesia. Its mix of Javanese Buddhism is evident if compared to the Buddhist temples found in Thailand. A visit to Borobudur would give you a peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a sweet escape and is invigorating to one’s soul and mind.
Another temple that is also a slice of heaven on earth is the proud splendor of the Prambanan temple. The beauty of Prambanan temple is standing high and proud alongside the majestic character of Borobudur. Prambanan, on the other hand, is a Hindu temple which was originally made up of a compound of temples and is built in the same century as the Borobudur temple (9th century). It is also a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the largest standing Hindu temple in southeast asia. The story behind Prambanan is story passed down by the mouth with no one to validate the truth behind it. I heard it from the driver of the car we were renting for the day. It was said that there was a princess adored and worshipped by a dark prince. Prince Bandung Bondowoso, who murdered the father of the princess, King Boko, proposed a marriage to Princess Rara Jonggrang. The Princess initially rejected the proposal, but when faced with no other option, she asked for one condition: for the prince to build her a thousand temples in one night. The prince used his dark magic to conjure supernatural creatures to help him build a thousand temples and when he was only short of 1 more temple, the Princess tricked the prince and his allies by setting a fire for the cocks to crow and for the supernatural creatures to scatter in escape of the daylight. When the prince realized that he was tricked and with his effort and magic put to waste, the prince became angry and cursed the princess, making her the last piece of temple in the Prambanan, the largest and most majestic of all the other temples he built- all was a promise of love.. a love gone wrong. The story may or may not hold true and realistic bearing, but the beauty of Prambanan could attest to the beautiful tragic story. It is an array of tall, proud, and majestic temples, holding characters of its own. It is best enjoyed during the quiet afternoons and you could sit on the far most corner of the architectural compound and admire it from a distance. A lot of the temples have crumbled down to the ground after years of strength waned due to natural calamities. But some of them are still standing high and is continually adored by the eyes of mankind.
Volcanic eruptions and strong earthquakes have shaken the foundations of the temples yet the temples are still standing proudly for the present generation to admire. Both temples are testaments to behold of the strength of mankind in the midst of vulnerability and fragility. These temples are reminiscent of every person’s own earthquakes. It may shake us to the core, but it won’t crumble us down to the ground. Over the years it was proven, that the beauty that its temples show is only a fraction of its strength and enduring pride.
Writing about my experience of visiting these temples does not hold a candle to the actual experience of being able to see the temples and feel the peace and serene ambiance of its surroundings. So why don’t you grab your card and passport, book a flight and see for yourself. Check it off your bucketlist and get a hell of an experience out of it. Not to mention, Indonesia’s good food and kind people- Those are all toppings off the loaded serving of learning and exploring you’re going to get. Come visit Indonesia where “wonderful” does not give the place any justice.