Borobudur Temple Entrance Ticket & Attraction

Borobudur Temple is one of the magnificent and largest Buddhist temples in the world. Located in Magelang, Central Java. Borobodur is lying just one half an hour from Prambanan temple. In fact, exploring both sites in 1 day is doable. Listed as the UNESCO World Heritage, Borobudur is always packed with visitors. Locals coming from the big cities like Jakarta, and outside the region at least visit the temple once a year.

The temple will be full of locals coming with their kids, especially during the school holiday in summer. Between the month of June to the beginning of July. Another occasion like Idul Fitri is when the temple is full of family reunions including elder people. It is almost impossible to see the temple have low incoming visitors.

As the largest Buddhist site in the world. Worshippers and pilgrims from Indonesia and all over the world are regular visitors to this grand temple. Regardless there is never a low season, the temple is definitely worth exploring. To summarize here are the tips and guides to visiting Borobudur Temple.

See: The Largest Hindu Temple in Indonesia, Prambanan Temple

Borobudur Temple Event

As the largest Buddhist temple and world heritage, Borobudur is the site that hosts kinds of annual events. First, the annual religious Buddhist ritual on Vesak Day. To point out, the event is not only limited to Buddhists. In fact, it’s not just open for monks from all over the world to come and pray in the temple. At this time, even public guests get to celebrate the important Buddhist event.

The event starts with monks and participants walking from Mendut temple to Borobudur. The next procession follows by a parade in the first zone of the temple. Then, the run down is meditation led by the Bhikku. And last, the final procession. The closing of the event is when hundreds of lanterns light the dark sky.

Not only religious and musical events, but major sports event like the famous Borobudur marathon is also taking place here. Once a year, over 100.000 runners from the country and the world have participated in this annual marathon.

See: Borobudur Marathon, Information, Venue & Ticket.

Borobudur Temple History & Zone

Kalasan temple that located near the Hindu temple Prambanan might be the oldest Buddhist temple. However, compared to Borobudur now is aged more than 1,100 years. There is no other massive Buddhist temple in Java that could compete with Borobudur. Borobudur was built during Syailendra era between 780 to 840 AD. In fact, Borobudur existed before the famous largest complex temple, Angkor Wat.

However, after its glorious moment in the Syailendra era, the temple nearly vanishes. The stupa in the highest zone is ruin. The stone and structure are covered in soil, bush, and trees. At first, there seems no trace of its glorious day. In this case, the temple has witnessed earthquakes and damage by serial unfortunate natural disasters.

The first temple restoration happens after the Dutch occupation of Java island. First, after the Dutch governor acknowledge there is an ancient monument. It takes more than 20 years of work to land clear the entire area. To point out, there is 72 years pause between the first restoration in 1907 and the discovery.

Kamadhatu Zone 1, Rapudhatu & Zone 3

In total, Borobudur Temple has 3 zones, with each zone portraying a different story through its reliefs. The first zone has 160 reliefs that portray the law of cause and effect based on the Buddhist text Karmawibhangga Sutra. The relief in this zone itself once was covered and hidden. On the other hand, the argument of why the relief was buried has not ended until now.

The second zone Rapudhatu has more than 300 Buddha statues carved from a Sanskrit manuscript. In short, it depicts the human journey that begins to leave their human flesh desire. And the last one Arupadhatu zone, the stupa, and the terrace of the highest area in the temple represent the final stage. In the light of pure form and disappearance of desire.

Every relief in the temple tells a story of humans and their nature. To learn more about the relief and temple, make sure to visit the museum. In addition to temple history, visitors could watch the temple documentation. First, from the discovery to its preservation effort.

Borobudur Museum & Samudraraksa Museum

The temple museum is located inside the complex area. To sum up, the museum exhibits photos of the hidden relief found around the temple. The museum has a cinema that plays the documentation of Borobudur’s journey. Such as the history of the temple from its discovery, to its preservation.

Samudraraksa museum exhibit photos and the history of Indonesia’s ancient maritime. In particular, documentation of the Indonesian trade route and the story of its successful expedition in Ghana, Africa. To put it another way, the museum was built as a tribute to the crews involved in the Borobudur ship expedition.

Borobudur Temple Opening Hours

Borobudur opens every day from Monday to Sunday including on national holidays. However, on special occasions like Vesak day, the temple is limited to public visitors. The temple opens for public visitors from 7 AM to 5 PM. However, visitors with special passes could enter the temple zone. The sunrise opening hour is from 4:30 to 6 AM. While the sunset is from 5 to 6:30 PM.

Nearby: Chicken Church, Activities & Entrance Ticket.

Borobudur Temple Entrance Ticket Special Pass

Besides the regular ticket that allows visitors to explore the temple during the standard opening hours. Borobodur offers a special pass ticket for visitors to explore the site before sunrise or sunset. Borobudur entrance ticket for sunrise & sunset comes with a breakfast or dinner, coffee & tea, and souvenir. A special rate for Manohara guests is currently not available. And <6 years old children are free of charge.

The sunrise ticket includes access to Borobudur Temple from 4:30 AM to 6 AM. On other hand, the sunset experience in Borobudur temple begins after 5 PM to 06:30 PM.

See: Mendut Temple Monastery, The 8th Century Sites & Guide.

Borobudur Temple Entrance Fee

Entrance ticket for international tourist is available from a 1-7 day pass. A 1-day pass to visit Borobudur Temple costs $25. While the multiple-day is a ticket to visit Borobudur combine with other temples. Visitors can explore the Prambanan temple and other temples in different locations spread in Central Java.

The accepted method of payment is by cash or credit card in Indonesia currency (IDR) Rupiah based on the visit day exchange rate. The Borobudur entrance ticket can be purchased on the spot at the ticket booth in the temple complex. On the other hand, visitors could buy it online through the Borobudur temple’s official website.

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Facilities

Basic facilities like toilets and an information center are available on the premises. Visitors coming with a private vehicle will easy to find a parking spot. At this time, the parking fee for a car is Rp10.000 from Monday to Thursday. While from Friday to Sunday, the fee is Rp15.000. ATM machines are plenty just outside the temple area. Meanwhile, for accommodation, the choice is abundant from guesthouses to a 4-star hotels.

Restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops are plenty just outside the temple area. In fact, besides the temple, this area is never short of customers. On this occasion, try to buy some souvenirs such as Batik cloth. The souvenir shop outside is the best spot to practice bargaining skills. At the end of the trip, don’t miss visiting one local cafe and ordering their coffee for Rp4.000 only. Feel the humble ambiance and adore its wooden small house while eating some traditional snacks.

See: Yogyakarta International Airport YIA & Public Transportation Guide.

How To Get To Borobudur Temple

Right now the choice for public transportation is plenty compared to years ago. Previously, there is only 2 departures from Adisucipto airport and Jombor bus shelter using Trans Jogja. Now, tourists staying downtown could catch the Damri bus from Tugu train station with a ticket cost Rp70.000. The second option is to catch the bus from Hotel Limaran, Gondomanan, with a fare of Rp20.000.

There is also another departure from UC UGM that cost Rp30.000. And last, for tourists heading to Borobudur from Yogyakarta’s new airport. DAMRI bus is available just outside the departure terminal, and the bus fare is Rp70.000.

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Address & Location

Borobudur temple heritage is located in location is in Jl. Badrawati No.9 Borobudur Magelang – Central Java 56553.