Island Hopping Indonesia - Audley Travel

Island Hopping Indonesia : Group TourClose by and within the Prambanan archeological park, are the lesser known Sewuand Lumbung temples, all Buddhist, demonstrating the religious harmonyexperienced in Indonesia throughout the ages. Candi Sewu complex is 800 metersnorth of Prambanan itself and is the second largest Buddhist temple in Java,Borobudur bring the largest. Candi Sewu predates Prambanan and was most likelyoriginally built in the 8th century. Candi Lumbung is a Buddhist temple built around850AD by the Mataram Dynasty, and consists of a single central temple surroundedby 16 smaller temples.Depending on the group, you then have the option of visiting Ratu Boko. Thehistory of Ratu Boko is unclear, and much of what is understood about the sitecomes from inscriptions and even folklore. The oldest inscription found on the siteis believed to date back to 792AD, naming the site Abhayagiri Wihara.Archaeologists believe that the ruler of the Saliendra Dynasty between 760-780,Rakai Panangkaran, built Ratu Boko after he resigned from his leadership to findspiritual peace and concentrate on religious matters. Abhayagiri Wihara means‘peaceful Buddhist monastery’ and the site chosen has fairly spectacular views. OfBuddhist faith, Rakai Panangkaran was also responsible for the building ofBorobudur temple during his reign. A mix of Buddhist and Hindu structures arefound on the complex, including the Buddhist Dyani Budha, Stupika, TerakotaTablet, and a gold and silver plaque with a Buddhist inscription. Three small Hindutemples, as well as Yoni, a Durga statue, a Ganesha statue and a plaque with aninscription to Rudra, the other name for the god Siwa (shiva).At the end of the tour you will travel west of Jogja to your hotel in the surroundsof Borobudur.Tuesday09 October, 2012Saraswati Borobudur,YogyakartaSunrise at Borobudurgroup excursionYou will leave your hotel at around 5am for the short walk to the 8th centuryBuddhist relic of Borobudur. Find yourself a quiet spot to sit and wait for the sunto rise over the horizon enjoying the serene and spiritual atmosphere that seemsto have infiltrated every rock. As you look out to the hills and forests surroundingyou it isn't hard to imagine how explorers must have felt when they stumbled outof the forest in 1814 to find such a sight lost to the world for almost 500 years.The awe-inspiring monument features the largest and most complete collection ofBuddhist relief sculptures on the walls of its seven terraces - all of which detail thestory of Buddhist cosmology. It was thought to take 75 years to complete andalthough it's exact purpose is still unclear it was evidently a shrine to Lord Buddhaand guide to the noble path of the Buddha. It is thought that Borobudur wasabandoned following the 14th century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms inJava, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. It was then completely covered in adeep layer of volcanic ash following the eruption of nearby Mount Merapi andworldwide knowledge of its existence was only sparked in 1814 by Sir ThomasStamford Raffles, the then British ruler of Java.Borobudur, JavaFollowing your trip to Borobudur you will stop to see a local village at work.Perched in a valley beside a river, the village of Candijero has a great setting. It hasnumerous cottage industries you can see as well as the opportunity to meet someof the locals. You may see people tending the fields, making noodles or tofu formarket and constructing small hand crafted souvenirs. The village works with alocal tourism initiative and this is a good way to provide a small amount of extraincome for the local population. The smiles and waves you receive from everyoneyou pass are a sight to treasure and the rural atmosphere is a refreshing changefrom in Java's normally crowded towns and cities.Itinerary in detail 17