1. Function of Borobudur Temple

Apart from being a tourist attraction, Borobudur Temple now functions as a pilgrimage site for Buddhists around the world to guide humanity to leave worldly desires towards enlightenment and wisdom according to Buddhist teachings.
On their journey, pilgrims walk through a series of corridors and stairs, witnessing 1,460 reliefs carved on the stone walls of the temple.

2. Unique Facts about Borobudur Temple

Apart from the history and the Waisak holiday moments that attract international attention, Borobudur Temple holds a number of unique facts, including:

1. There are 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues, making Borobudur the owner of the most complete and largest Buddha reliefs in the world.
2. Theft of statues is rampant. Original Buddha head statues are often stolen to be sold in antique markets, collectors, and illegal markets. Of the 504 Buddha statues, many statues were found without heads.
3. Borobudur Temple was once bombed. Two years after the 2nd restoration, on January 21, 1985, 13 bombs were placed by the perpetrators in a number of small stupas. 9 of the 13 bombs exploded and destroyed hundreds of stupa stone blocks. The bombings were related to radical understanding.
4. The Dutch East Indies government handed over valuable statues to Thailand and England. The Dutch East Indies government at that time gave away a large number of temple artifacts for free as souvenirs for the arrival of the King of Thailand Chulalongkorn II.
5. The Dutch East Indies government had set up a coffee shop at the top of the stupa when it was first discovered.