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Borobudur Temple Ranks as One of the Most Beautiful Spiritual Tourism Destinations in the World

Borobudur Temple Ranks as One of the Most Beautiful Spiritual Tourism Destinations in the World
Borobudur Temple Ranks as One of the Most Beautiful Spiritual Tourism Destinations in the World

The British media Financial Times recently included Borobudur Temple on the list of the most beautiful spiritual tourism destinations in the world.

Financial Times lists 32 of what the media deems to be the world’s most impressive sacred buildings. In addition to Borobudur Temple, the list includes the Temple of Light in Texas and the Khuha Kharuehat Pavilion in Thailand. Borobudur Temple, managed by InJourney Destination Management, is also known as the epicentre of learning and worship for Buddhists as well as a cultural centre in the heart of Java.

As written by Maria Shollenbarger, a contributor to Financial Times, regarding Borobudur Temple:
Central Java’s magnificent 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple, the largest in the world, was originally home to more than 500 Buddha statues. Today, only 72 remain, sitting erect and impassive in their stupas, forming a nine-level hill that’s ascended by tourists in dawn’s indigo hours to watch the sunrise. I did this years and years ago, with such a bad case of food poisoning that I was semi-delirious and vomiting at regular intervals on the way up. But that sunrise was a legitimately holy moment.

This recognition was noted by the Indonesian government as well. On the 12th of January, InJourney and the management of Borobudur Temple published a joint post on Instagram with the caption:
Did you know that [Borobudur Temple] is one of the most beautiful places of worship in the world? British media [Financial Times] compares the beauty of the spiritual tourism destination Borobudur Temple with various other locations ranging from the Siena Cathedral in Italy to the Şakirin Mosque in Turkey.

Indonesian netizens have responded to this recognition positively. One netizen commented on the Instagram post, saying:

Proud to be a citizen of Magelang [where Borobudur Temple is located].

Another netizen wrote:

FYI, every Waisak and Thudong Tradition, Borobudur [Temple] becomes the headline of national and foreign media.

Nonetheless, today (the 21st of January) marks a pensive moment for Borobudur Temple, as the iconic spiritual tourism destination remembers the time when, exactly 40 years ago on this day, an act of terrorism occurred at this historical site, a legacy of the Syailendra Dynasty. Back then, the prosecutor stated that the individuals responsible for this act of terrorism—brothers Abdulkadir bin Ali Alhabsyi and Husein bin Ali Alhabsyi, along with their accomplices—bombed Borobudur Temple intending to take revenge for the Tanjung Priok Tragedy, which killed dozens of Muslims in 1984.

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