Past: Borobudur
In the heart of Java, the Buddhist Borobudur Temple has welcomed visitors and pilgrims to walk amongst its tiers. Each of Borobudur’s tiers is covered with openwork stupa, 72 of them in all, and detailed relief along the walls and balustrade. While visitors take in the artwork, they also experience Buddhist philosophy, with each level symbolizing Buddhist cosmology of the Universe. The base of Borobudur is kamadhatu, the sphere of desires. Moving upward is the rupadhatu, represented by five square terraces symbolizing the sphere of forms where desires are abandoned but form remains. At the top is the arupadhatu, where desire and form are left behind, symbolized by the three circular tiers and the monumental stupa. Borobudur sees around 1.44 visitors each year, and us a world UNESCO site.