Borobudur / Prambanan, Indonesia

Borobudur / Prambanan, Indonesia

Off the main tourist backpacking route of Southeast Asia are a set of temples on the island of Java, Indonesia, near Yogyakarta that are worth a visit.

Though Borobudur and Prambanan are two separate temples and even dedicated to different religions, I’ll group them together because of their close proximity.

Borobudur is an ancient Buddhist temple that is possibly the single most staggering ancient structure I’ve ever seen in Southeast Asia.

The temple consists of multiple layers stacked onto each other and covered in Buddhist reliefs carved deep into the stone.

Devout Buddhists are supposed to circumference each layer of Borobudur, symbolically following the path to enlightenment.

Nearly on equal terms of impressiveness is the Hindu complex of Prambanan.

Though the temple was not in that great of condition when I visited (they were doing maintenance), the jagged stones and architecture blew me away. It really looked like steeples reaching to the heavens.