Borobudur Temple History

Borobudur was built around 800 BC or 9th century. Borobudur Temple was built by the Mahayana Buddhists during the reign of Wangsa Syailendra. This temple was built in the heyday Syailendra dynasty. Founder of the Borobudur Temple is derived from King Samaratungga dynasty or dynasties Syailendra. The possibility of this temple was built around 824 AD and was completed around the year 900 AD during the reign of Queen Pramudawardhani who is the daughter of Samaratungga. While the architects who contributed to build this temple according to stories passed down through generations named Gunadharma.
Borobudur Temple
Borobudur own words based on the first written evidence which was written by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Governor General of the United Kingdom in Java, which gives the name of this temple. There is no written evidence that older who gave the name of this temple of Borobudur. Only one of the oldest document showing the existence of this temple is Nagarakertagama book, written by mpu Prapanca in the year 1365. In the book was written that this temple was used as a place of Buddhist meditation.

Meaning of the name Borobudur is "a monastery in the hills", which comes from the word "coal" (temple or monastery) and "beduhur" (hills or high places) in Sanskrit. Therefore, in accordance with the meaning of the name Borobudur, then this place since first used as a place of Buddhist worship.

This temple for centuries are no longer used. Then, because of volcanic eruptions, most of the buildings covered with volcanic soils, the Borobudur Temple. In addition, the building is also covered with trees and shrubs for centuries. Then the building of this temple began forgotten in the days of Islam arrived in Indonesia around the 15th century.

In the year 1814 when the British occupied Indonesia, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles heard of the discovery of huge historical relics in the village of Magelang district Bumisegoro. Because of the great interest towards the history of Java, then immediately ordered Raffles HC Cornelius, a Dutch engineer, to investigate the location of the discovery that the time was a hill covered with shrubs.

Cornelius assisted by about 200 men cut down trees and removing shrubs that covered the giant building. Because considering the building is fragile and could collapse, then report to the Raffles Cornelius invention includes several images. Since the discovery, was awarded the Raffles as the person who started the restoration of Borobudur temple and received worldwide attention. In 1835, the entire area of the temple has been uncovered. This temple is kept restored in the Dutch colonial period.

After Indonesian independence, in 1956, the Indonesian government requested the help of UNESCO to examine the damage to Borobudur. Then in 1963, out of the official Indonesian government's decision to conduct the restoration of Borobudur temple with the help of UNESCO. But this new restoration really starting place on August 10, 1973. Process new refurbishment completed in 1984. Since 1991, Borobudur Temple designated as a World Heritage Site or the World Heritage by UNESCO.