Two degrees is now attached to the Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Guinness World Records as the largest Buddhist temple archaeological site in the world. Apart from the grandeur and beauty of Borobudur, complete with full relief tale in Buddhism, some mystery still surrounds this temple.
In 1814, on the merit of the Governor-General of the United Kingdom, Thomas Stamford Rafffles, the temple for centuries buried under mounds of earth, becoming like a hill full of shrubs and trees, began to be a concern of the colonial government. Raffles also was the first to write the name "Borobudur" in his book, History of Java. It is not clear the origin of the name.
Borobudur mysterious recognized by the Director of Taman Wisata Candi (TWC) Borobudur Prambanan Ratu Boko (Persero), Purnomo Siswoprasetjo. One of them, how to Borobudur was built. Where do the large stones of the temple material and what technology is used to lift and arrange them with precision and admirable architectural design.
"Whether it's from Mount Merapi, so what took him from Merapi to the location of the temple is still a mystery," said Purnomo.
Not only the origin of the stone, where the maker of Borobudur carve and sculpt stone is also still unknown. Archaeologists are still searching for a workshop where artists. "The carvings and stone carving such a large size and numerous, is not known where it was," he explained.
Borobudur unusual layout, located on a hill, surrounded by two pairs of twin mountain - Sindoro-Sumbing and Merbabu-Merapi, while the other temple built on flat land is also a riddle unanswered.
In 1931, artist and expert Hindu Buddhist architecture, W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp, proposed the theory that Kedu Mainland - the location of Java Borobudur according to legend, was once an ancient lake. Borobudur was built symbolize the lotus flower floating on the lake surface. This is a hypothesis that a heated debate among scientists at that time.
Van Bemmelen in his book "The Geology of Indonesia" to mention that a large pyroclastic eruption of Merapi in 1006 has covered the lake Borobudur become dry and once covered this temple to disappear from history.
Geological facts also provide support that opinion. "Around the temple there are wells where the water is salty. But the salty wells not in all areas, only at a certain point, "said Purnomo about the alleged Borobudur was built in the middle of the ancient lake.
He added that it was also an interesting question many foreign scientists coming, to do research. "Many experts from abroad such as Japan who come to Borobudur specifically to examine the ancient lake. They used to stay for a week to two weeks, "he said.
One way to unravel the mystery of the ancient lake with researching rivers are around Borobudur, including Progo and the Elo. Also the people who live around the temple. "All these questions are still stored all. We are waiting for studies of archaeologists to uncover the mystery, "he said.
Van Bemmelen in his book "The Geology of Indonesia" to mention that a large pyroclastic eruption of Merapi in 1006 has covered the lake Borobudur become dry and once covered this temple to disappear from history.
Geological facts also provide support that opinion. "Around the temple there are wells where the water is salty. But the salty wells not in all areas, only at a certain point, "said Purnomo about the alleged Borobudur was built in the middle of the ancient lake.
He added that it was also an interesting question many foreign scientists coming, to do research. "Many experts from abroad such as Japan who come to Borobudur specifically to examine the ancient lake. They used to stay for a week to two weeks, "he said.
One way to unravel the mystery of the ancient lake with researching rivers are around Borobudur, including Progo and the Elo. Also the people who live around the temple. "All these questions are still stored all. We are waiting for studies of archaeologists to uncover the mystery, "he said.