Hotel Manohara Borobudur

Every single traveler who has decided to land their feet in Jogja has ONE destination in mind and that is none other than Borobudur. In fact, the interest to explore this ancient marvel are equal to that of Angkor Wat recently. Not difficult to guess why. Avid photographers has been taking impossibly beautiful pictures of this temple that it almost seems surreal that this place existed on earth. Its almost heaven-like.

So to begin my blog on Borobudur, I would like to talk about where to stay. Although all the brochures or website that talk about Borobudur tells you it is located in Jogjakarta, actually more accurately, Borobudur is located in Magelang. Magelang is about 1 hour away from Jogja town. Although this is consider to be pretty much in the same town, it will be highly inconvenient to stay in Jogja town if you want to catch the sunrise in Borobudur and may I tell you that you MUST ABSOLUTELY go catch the sunrise in Borobudur.

And so I would like to introduce to you the Hotel Manohara Borobudur.  Hotel Manohara is conveniently located inside the Borobudur Archeological Park. Borobudur is practically located at the backyard of Manohara! So if you would like to catch the sunrise in Borobudur, you can wake up at 5am and walk to the top tier of the temple within 15 minutes (unless you are a slow stair climber). Now this is very useful because if you stay out of Magelang, you will probably need to wake up at 3.30am in the middle of the night and beg a double charge cab driver to fetch you to Borobudur.  If you stay more than 2 nights in your trip, you can at least book in for 1 or 2 nights for the pure convenience.

The room in Hotel Manohara is noticeably plain and basic for the charge of USD80 per night. Having said that, it includes the entrance to Borobudur temple and complete with breakfast. So, if you look at it from the view that you are there just to spend the night sleeping, it shouldn't bother you that much.  What's more important is that after we climb up the Borobudur at 5am in the morning for the sunrise, we walk back to the hotel for a good breakfast before strolling back to explore the temple. Now, that's priceless.

Manohara is also the centre for Borobudur study. There is a resource centre where you can find a lot of books on the temple. In the room, we can sit and enjoy a full AV show on the television as one of its in house channel from the history of Borobudur to what does the 1460 relics means.  It simply is the wisest choice to stay.

A snap shots collage of the hotel by Sam Hor.

Location : Java, Indonesia
Next, Sunrise in Borobudur

Prambanan

The most beautiful Hindu temple in the world - hope that is a good opening line. And to think that this most beautiful temple is located not in India where the religion begins but in the island of Java.  It is constructed in the 10th century by two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung who obviously are Hindus. OK, we shall skip the history part of this architecture cause you can just go google it.

The Prambanan from afar

What's more important is that from afar as our cab nearing this piece of world marvel architecture, you can already see it. It is not made of gold as in the temples in Thailand or Myanmar, just plan ol' earthen stones but it is just so huge and tall and well, beautiful.

Look at the ruins, where could all these stones be placed at?

I think this is one of the entrance. We are trying to get our bearings.

Entering the most beautiful Hindu temple in the world

As we walk past the little doorway, it suddenly opens to a huge compound with many satellite-like temples around the compound. The three main temples in Prambanan complex is for Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. I'm sure these names rings a bell. Well, to be frank I didn't managed to identify which is which because apart from these 3 main temples, there are at least another 10 or more slightly smaller temples, so I'm just going around trying to appreciate this more than 1000 years old architecture.

A very familiar carvings depicted in a lot of Hindu temples. Can see this a lot in Bali, Indonesia.

An avid photographer of ours not knowing where to capture because every single angle, stone and building is just  beautiful.

This is one of the favourite photo of myself in Prambanan :)

Two of the larger temples

Shiva temple, the highest of all the temples

Finally, one silly photo of myself. We are trying to levitate around the temple of Prambanan.

Location : Java, Indonesia
Next, Hotel Manohara Borobudur

The twin temple, Plaosan

I have a regret, that is not able to spend more time in Jogja. Before I went to Jogja, I only have 1 place in mind, that is Borobudur. I have no idea that Jogja is such an ancient city that it is full of ruins to be explore. This place has both the Buddhism and Hinduism influence along with the local Javanese elements making it so unique. Apparently, there are at least 8 more ruins that is worthy to be listed in UNESCO such as Ijok, Boko, Sambisari, Plaosan, Tara, Gampingan, Kedulan, Mendut and Pawon.

After leaving Tamansari, we managed to arm twist the driver to drop us at Plaosan before heading to Prabanan. Why Plaosan among the 8 others is simply because it is located very near to Prabanan, about 1km away.

Plaosan is also famous for the name of Twin Temple of Jogja.  Apparently this is the only temples that has both Buddhism and Hinduism mixed together.

The entrance fee to the Plaosan ruin is 3000 Rupiah each. We were at first a little bit sceptical to go in because there wasn't a single soul here and we were just four ladies. But we went in nevertheless. 

Although this temple did not get the attention that Borobudur and Prabanan gets, it still stands proud and gives the hint of a once majestical temple.

Stupa is a clear sign of Buddhism although I might be wrong in the case of Jogja.

In ruins

The one that is still accessible but there was nothing to see inside, total darkness.

Sure sign of Hinduism

An avid photographer in our midst

Ancillary temples

Location : Jogja, Indonesia
Next, Prambanan

A water castle called Tamansari

After reading too much about Borobudur and after planning for more than a year, I finally made it to Jogjakarta, Indonesia. There are many ways to spell Jogjakarta, some spells Yogyakarta, some spells Jogyakarta, so I'm just gonna use Jogja. This is one short name that everyone can agree on.

Jogja is actually a small town located in the middle of Java Island. Thousands and thousands of tourists came here to see two of the most beautiful Buddhist and Hindu temples in the world that dates back to more than one thousand years ago. And being a ruin enthusiast, this is definitely something I cannot missed.

I only stayed 2 days in Jogja as my mission is specific 1 day Borobudur and 1 day Prabanan. If you ask me now, I would say you need at least 4 days to cover Jogja.

Thanks to one of my travel buddy who are always very good in planning. She has pre-booked a car to bring us around the first day. Because of that, we managed to save time the moment we landed at the airport and hit the scene immediately.

The first spot that we checked, (and I'm so glad we did) is the Tamansari Water Castle. This is not the palace of the king (Kraton) but rather the concubines' castle. We figured it would make a more interesting place to visit and indeed it is. It is located just 500 metres away from the Kraton, very convenient for the king.

The entrance fee to go into the Tamansari is 7000 Rupiah. Upon entering, we were approach by a guide and he immediately bring us around the castle. 

Entering Tamansari

Inside the courtyard to Tamansari before the pool

Beautiful Java architecture

This pool is where 30 concubines gather to swim and play and dance for the king or rather Sultan as the king are called in Indonesia.

The Sultan sits on top of the building overlooking the pond. This is the view. When he has chosen the concubine to serve him, he will throw down a flower to the concubine. This concubine can then join the Sultan in his private pool and the rest is well, you know.

This door is called Gapura Agung which is the main entrance to the Tamansari by the king but has since been blocked because over the years, houses have been built on the fringe making it impossible to be the main entrance to this historic building.

From here, we walk through Tajug, a small village and alleyway to Sumur Gumuling, an underground mosque.

Me, standing infront of the entrance to the underground mosque

Going underground

This underground mosque serves as the prayer place for the Sultan and his families. It apparently also serves as the hiding place in times of danger.

At the centre of the underground mosque, there is a sudden opening like a well. We couldn't help but to strike a pose. Perfect place for photography effect.



Location : Jogja, Indonesia
Next, The twin temples, Plaosan