Borobudur own words based on the first written evidence, written by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Governor General of the United Kingdom in Java, which gives the name of thistemple. There is no written evidence that older who named this temple of Borobudur on. The only document that shows the existence of the oldest temple is Nagarakretagama book, written by mpu Prapanca in 1365. In the book was written that this temple was used as a place of Buddhist meditation.
The meaning of the name Borobudur “abbey in the hills”, which comes from the word “coal” (temple or monastery) and “beduhur” (hills or high places) in Sanskrit. Therefore, in accordance with the meaning of the name Borobudur, then this place since long ago used as a place of Buddhist worship.
This temple for centuries no longer used. Then because of volcanic eruptions, most of the buildings covered Borobudur volcanic soil. In addition, the building is covered with trees and shrubs for centuries. Then the building of this temple began in the time-forgotten Islam arrived in Indonesia around the 15th century.
In the year 1814 when the British occupied Indonesia, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles heard of the discovery of huge archaeological objects in the village of Magelang district Bumisegoro. Because of the great interest of the history of Java, then immediately ordered Raffles HC Cornelius, a Dutch engineer, to investigate the discovery of the location was a hill covered with shrubs.
Cornelius assisted by about 200 men cut down trees and remove shrubs that covered the giant building. Because the building is considered fragile and could collapse, then report to the Raffles Cornelius invention includes several images. Since the discovery, Raffles received an award as one who started the restoration ofBorobudur and world attention. In 1835, the entire area of the temple has been unearthed. This temple was restored to keep the Dutch colonial period.
After Indonesian independence, in 1956, the Indonesian government requested the assistance of UNESCO to examine the damage to Borobudur. Then in 1963, out of the official Indonesian government’s decision to conduct the restoration of Borobudur temple with the help of UNESCO. However, this restoration was only really started to be done on August 10, 1973. The process of restoration was completed in 1984. Since 1991,Borobudur Temple, designated as World Heritage or World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
