Watching Borobudur at sunrise, waiting in anticipation for the world’s largest Buddhist temple to emerge out of the night-time shadows, is a truly magical experience. The world-renowned Borobudur temple, located on the island of Java, is slowly illuminated by golden sunlight, as its ancient stone walls come into view.
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During my solo trip around Java, visiting Borobudur at sunrise was one of the most memorable experiences, and definitely worth waking up early for (even for us night owls).
In this blog post, I’ll explain why Borobudur is such a special place, how to get there, and hopefully convince you to make the journey to this iconic attraction.
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO BOROBUDUR
Most well-known for being the largest Buddhist temple in the world, Borobudur was built sometime between 750 and 850 AD. Intriguingly, no one knows exactly why it was built. Today Borobudur is Indonesia’s most popular tourist attraction, but centuries ago as Buddhism declined in Java, the temple lay forgotten for centuries…
It wasn’t until the 19th century that we began to comprehend the crazy skill required to build a temple with the magnitude of Borobudur. In the following century the Dutch set about restoring it. (Indonesia only gained independence from the Dutch in 1945 following WW2.)
From above, Borobudur’s circular, spiralling structure becomes clear. Each platform represents moving closer to nirvana as you climb each new tier. There are 504 Buddha statues carved into the stone and each is unique.
HOW TO SEE BOROBUDUR AT SUNRISE
The most common way to visit Borobudur from Yogyakarta is to do the sunrise tour. Not only will you beat the heat, but – unless it’s cloudy – you should have a great sunrise at any time of year since the top of the temple is round and views in all directions. (April to October has the best weather.)
To view Borobudur at sunrise, you can either get picked up from your accommodation in Yogyakarta (via tour or private driver that morning) or stay overnight in Borobudur beforehand. Once you’ve arrived, you will begin the day at Manohara. Manohara used to be a hotel but is now the meeting point for sunrise. Arrive around 04:40 to pick up the ticket. The temple is just a few minutes walk away.
The sunrise ticket is ONLY available from Manohara. If you are on a tour, they will organise the ticket for you.
If you are going at the regular entrance time of 6am or after, you can just buy a normal ticket when you arrive.
Full costs and details of how to book transport options below!
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF BOROBUDUR AT SUNRISE
My friendly driver picked me up around 3:45am from my hostel in Yogyakarta and we drove to Manohara. I was impressed by how organised the set-up was there with plenty of seats and tables to wait at in the early hours. The temple was just a few minutes walk away and there was a real sense of mystery about climbing the steps of Borobudur without being able to make out any details of the temple in the dark.
After finding a place to sit upon the temple, I waited for the first slither of light to rise over the mountains ahead – I could just about make out my silhouetted surroundings in the dusk light. And it was a glorious wait guys. The crowd – all mixed ages and nationalities – sat patiently and respectfully. It was quiet; like everyone was taking a deep deep breath and would only exhale when the sun had risen.
TAKING PHOTOS:
Please be respectful and don’t distract from the sunrise. The sun was fully in the sky and the crowds dispersing by the time anyone jumped into view to get their photos which I really appreciated – there are loads of opportunities to get great photos so no need to rush. I took maybe two/three total photos from each angle before moving on and did so after the sun was already low in the sky – bearing in mind I was solo and asking strangers to help me who were already so kind. I took a few in return for other people as well. 🙂
IS IT WORTH IT?
Despite coming with high expectations, I was still surprised by how stunning the misty mountain views surrounding the structure were. I could even see Mt Merapi in the background. In the early morning light, there is time for those who aren’t too tired to reclimb the steps from the beginning, follow the intended route towards the centre again, and pay more attention to the hundreds of unique Buddhas carved upon the temple.
Personally think visiting Borobudur at sunrise is definitely worth it! It was a really tranquil, memorable experience.
VISITING CANDI PRAMBANAN
Prambanan is a huge Hindu temple that can be as a combined day trip with Borobudur. Since Java is now predominantly Muslim now, it’s a huge reminder of how multicultural and diverse Java’s history is.
Prambanan was built around the 9th century and unfortunately was damaged by several earthquakes. Despite the piles of cordoned-off rubble, thankfully the main structures are still intact and are very impressive. I didn’t realise you can climb up the stairs and see into each structure. Each temple is hiding a different statue, usually a deity.
Please be aware that if visit both temples on the same day it will be very hot by the time you get to Prambanan, but it remains ultimately time effective. If you have time, Prambanan is said to be a wonderful sunset spot.
They also run traditional Javanese dancing performances at the temple on certain days! Find out more and see the schedule and book tickets here: Ramayana at Prambanan tickets
HOW TO GET TO BOROBUDUR AND PRAMBANAN:
Most tourists will be wondering how to get to Borobudur from Yogyakarta. The best way will depend on your budget and how much time you have to visit, so I’ve outlined a few different options for you!
TOUR / BUDGET SHARE CAR
There are dozens of options available for tours and shared cars. I recommend waiting till you arrive in Yogyakarta to pick one. Ask your accommodation for recommendations or negotiate with local tour agencies to get the lowest price. You can also look online for cheap options – Klook seems among the cheapest options here.
I paid 50K IDR to book a shared car to take me to Borobudur and Prambanan. The cost included the driver who sorted out the ticket so I didn’t have to queue (not that I’d usually mind that) and a big breakfast including lots of needed coffee at Manohara Hotel when the sunrise had finished.
Prices vary depending on what they include. Usually, they include the Borobudur ticket and breakfast.
Recommended for: solo travellers, budget travellers with a time constraint (you can book a cheap tour) or mid-range travellers
COMBINED TOURS
For a combined day tour of Borobudur Temple, Merapi Volcano and Prambanan, you might be interested in using GetYourGuide as their tour is very high-rated:
Recommended for: mid-range / non-budget travellers looking for a memorable day trip
SCOOTER
Only do this if you are confident about driving at night. I do NOT recommend this option for solo travellers, particularly if you are new to Java/don’t know the directions or are inexperienced. There’s no set cost so ask your accommodation for help or negotiate with local tour agencies to get a better price.
Scooter rental shouldn’t cost more than 50K (5 AUD / 2.83 GBP / 3:53 USD) to 60K IDR per day and can often be rented directly from your accommodation.
Recommended for: experienced drivers travelling in pairs or groups
BUS:
This option is not possible if you’re hoping to make it for sunrise unless you stay overnight in Borobudur, but bus tickets are very cheap. (I’ve seen people say they paid between 3K and 20K per ticket.)
For the bus from Yogyakarta to Borobudur, you have to first get to Jombol Terminal. Ask a local which bus you need if you’re not sure – even if their English isn’t great, they’ll probably guess where you want to go! I believe you might have to travel via Yogyakarta again to get from Borobudur to Prambanan by bus as there is not a direct route. Getting from Yogyakarta to Prambanan by bus is fairly easy – it takes longer compared to 40 minutes by car, but it’s a direct bus which is air-conditioned.
Recommended for: budget travellers with no time constraint
PRIVATE DRIVER
You can hire a driver for the day from Yogyakarta which will give you full freedom. Those travelling across Java can also hire a multi-day driver. There’s no set cost so ask your accommodation for help or negotiate with local tour agencies to get a better price.
Private cars can be from around 400K IDR (40 AUD / 22.5 GBP / 28 USD) for sunrise or 500K IDR for a full day if booked in advance, negotiable in person.
Recommended for groups, families and anyone not on a budget
TICKET COSTS
COST OF BOROBUDUR SUNRISE TICKET: 475K IDR
Unfortunately, the entrance cost has recently gone up. Personally, I think it is worth visiting Borobudur at sunrise despite the increased cost. It is 350K IDR for Indonesian visitors. You can only buy the sunrise ticket from Manohara.
For up-to-date tickets costs including for children and students, please see here
or
COST OF REGULAR TICKET (after 6 am): 325K IDR
COST OF A BOROBUDUR AND PRAMBANAN COMBINED TICKET: 520K IDR
PRAMBANAN ONLY TICKET: 325K
Ticket costs are usually included in tour prices.
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