Borobudur

Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, a colossal ninth-century monument in central Java built as a giant stone mandala. Its nine stacked terraces, carved with kilometres of exquisite relief panels telling Buddhist teachings, rise to a summit crowned with dozens of bell-shaped stupas and a central dome, ringed by jungle and volcanoes. A UNESCO masterpiece, it is at its most magical at sunrise, emerging from the morning mist.

What you actually see

• The stone mandala - the vast stacked temple of nine terraces.
• The relief panels - the kilometres of carved Buddhist reliefs.
• The bell-shaped stupas - the summit terraces of latticed stupas.
• The sunrise - the temple emerging from the mist at dawn.

When to go

May to September, the dry season, for the clearest weather; sunrise is the classic and most atmospheric time, though it costs extra and books out. Note that visitor numbers and access to climb the upper terraces are now limited to protect the stone, so book ahead.

Honest expectations

To protect the fragile stone, visitor numbers and access to climb to the upper terraces are now capped and require booking, often with a guide, so plan ahead. The famous sunrise experience is a premium ticket and popular. It is hot and can be crowded. It pairs naturally with the Hindu temples of Prambanan nearby.

Nearby

The Prambanan temples and the city of Yogyakarta are close; Mount Merapi looms nearby.