THE FORGOTTEN TEMPLE

THE FORGOTTEN TEMPLE

Trees and twisting vines once completely covered a famous Buddhist
temple. It was hidden from sight for hundreds of years. This temple is
on the island of Java, which is part of the country of In­donesia. Years
ago, workers began to re­store the temple. They cut down the trees and
vines and dug away dirt. Finally, out of the jungle rose the ruins of
beautiful Borobudur.

The big bell-shaped object on top of Borobudur Temple is the main
monument.

The temple is shaped like a pyramid with the top cut off. It’s built on
a hill and has six stone terraces that rise like steps. The temple is so
big that if you start at the bottom and walk around each terrace all the
way to the top, you will walk three miles (4.8 kilometers). On the top
ter­race, there is a gigantic, bell-shaped stupa, or domed monument, made
of stone. It is surrounded by smaller stupas that also look like giant
bells. Stone stair­cases with carved stone archways con­nect the terraces.
The terraces have blocks of stone with countless carvings that show
figures from famous Buddhist books. There are also openings set with
statues and more bell-shaped stupas.

Work on the temple continues as other countries help Indonesia with
money to make sure the once-forgotten temple will be remembered.

4 Almost 1,500 stone carvings like these honor Buddha at Borobudur
Temple. Buddha’s statue sits on the left.