What is the Borobudur and why is it significant?

Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. It is the world's largest Buddhist temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues, and is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture and engineering.

The temple was abandoned in the fourteenth century due to the decline of Buddhism in Java, and was largely forgotten until it was rediscovered in the eighteenth century by the Dutch colonial ruler. In the nineteenth century, the temple was restored and is now a major tourist attraction in Indonesia, attracting visitors from all over the world.

The Borobudur is significant not only for its size and beauty, but also for its role in spreading Buddhism throughout Southeast Asia. It was built during the Sailendra dynasty, which ruled central Java during the eighth and ninth centuries, and is a testament to the influence of Indian culture and religion in the region. The temple's design and iconography reflect a blend of Indian and indigenous Indonesian artistic traditions.