Candi Borobudur Audio Guide
Explore Candi Borobudur with Stanza's GPS-triggered offline audio guide.
About the Tour
Borobudur is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia. It is also a prominent archaeological site and a major tourist attraction.
What you will hear
Arrival at the Three-Dimensional Mandala
Start with a grand overview of the temple complex to explain the mandala structure and the architectural ensemble. Use the northwest view to frame the site before entering.
Scale of the Mandala
Standing before this massive structure, the sheer scale of ancient Javanese engineering becomes clear. This monument was built using over two million individual blocks of volcanic stone without the use of cement.
First Gallery: The Life of Prince Siddhartha
Walk through the first gallery to see the Lalitavistara series, following the Buddha's journey from birth to enlightenment.
Birth of a Prince
This relief captures the beginning of the Buddha’s life story. It depicts Queen Maya, the mother of Prince Siddhartha, traveling in a grand carriage toward the gardens where she would give birth.
The Great Renunciation
One of the most significant moments in the Buddha's journey is the Great Renunciation. This relief shows Prince Siddhartha cutting his hair, a final act of abandoning his royal life.
Architecture and the UNESCO Restoration
A close look at the masonry. Discuss how 55,000 cubic meters of stone were laid without mortar and the massive dismantling project of the 1970s.
Engineering Without Mortar
The construction of Borobudur is a marvel of ancient engineering. Despite its massive size, the entire temple was built without the use of mortar to hold the stones together.
Samudra Raksa Museum: The Cinched Ship
Conclude with the maritime history of ancient Java. Connect the ship reliefs on the temple walls to the full-scale reconstruction housed here.
Voyage of the Replica
The journey of the Samudra Raksa replica proved that the ancient ships depicted on Borobudur's walls were capable of crossing vast oceans to reach distant continents.
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