southeast asia tour packages, Borobudur

southeast asia tour packages, Borobudur or the mountain of statues is an astounding accomplishment of the ancient Cambodians. Take a virtual tour, become information-rich and explore this largest non-monastic Buddhist temple with us before planning your visit.



The Ascent to Salvation
Borobudur, the mountain of statues, is the largest non-monastic Buddhist Temple of the planet. A monument of breathtaking grandeur and grace, it has the power to make the viewer speechless.

Synopsis

Country	Indonesia
State	Central Java
Location	Borobudur District, South of Magalang
Known For	Largest non-monastic Buddhist stupa representing cosmos
Best Time To Visit	May to October
Best Moment To Visit	Morning
Architectural Style	Gupta architecture of Indian influence

Why to Visit

• One of the seven medieval wonders of the world.
• Biggest non-monastic Buddhist temple in the world.
• Listed as a World Heritage Site.
• Intended replica of cosmos.

Fine Points of Borobudur

• Few sights as beautiful as watching Borobudur in morning.
• From the air, the monument looks floating.
• Structure with a unique architectural design.
• A replica of the universe.
• Takes the visitor to incredible journey back in time.
• A marvel of history, religion and art preservation

The Structure
The form of Borobudur Temple is a combination of zigurat (middle Asian Pyramid) and Indian stupa. Perched atop a hill, the huge monument is built from volcanic rock. It is in the form of a colossal mandala, symbolically depicting the path to salvation.

The monument has nine concentric terraces. The upper three are circular while the six in bottom are square.

The Circumambulation
A pilgrim goes around the monument clockwise, starting with the reliefs on the eastern staircase. He circumambulates the monument before ascending to the next level.

Thus, going round and round the monument, he reaches the top. The total journey covers the distance of five kilometres.

Kamadhatu (World of Wishes)
The base of Borobudur, which was later covered by a platform to buttress the structure, contains Kamadhatu level. This level depicts the deeds of passion and worldly desires. At least 160 relief panels were carved around this level.

Rupadhatu (World of Forms)
The levels related to Rupadhatu display events related to the life of Siddartha or Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The depiction starts with his birth and ends with the Buddha's last sermon which he delivered near Varanasi, a city of India.

Arupadhatu (World of formlessness)
The three circular terraces at the top of the monument represent the state of Arupadhatu. No reliefs are there to convey the point. Instead, they display life-size statues of the Buddha, either within the stupas or in niches in the walls.

Not To Miss
Meet Borobudur with her companions. For the tour of the great temple would not be complete without them.

Waisak Festival
Come May and Borobudur sinks in the sea of joy. For, in May, Borobudur celebrates Waisak festival to mark the birth of Buddha.

This is a colorful, multi-day event which ends with a long, candle-lit procession of saffron-clad monks from Candi Mendut to Borobudur. Surely a vision you will never forget!

Candi Mendut
Candi Mendut, a serene Buddhist temple, lies 3 km away from Borobudur. A temple with exquisite interiors, the temple hosts three magnificent Buddhist statues. A must-see for persons interested in heritage.

Candi Pawon
Pawon Temple, also built with volcanic stones, is one and half eastward from Borobudur Temple, on the way to Candi Mendup. A Buddhist temple, it is a blend of ancient Javanese and Indian art. It seems to be built for Kubera, the Hindu and Buddhist deity of fortune.

Elephant Safari
Manohar Hotel near Borobudur Temple, organises a tour on pachyderm express. The safari has three options:

Route I (Nglipoh Village, 2.5 hours, 7 km)
Takes you through swaying paddy fields to Tanjung Sari Village, then to Nglipoh Village, famous for its earthenware craft industry. The route will also cover Kali Tengah traditional market.

Route II (Pawon Temple, 2.5 hours, 6 km)
Journey through picturesque scenery with Borobudur Temple on left side and Manoreh Hill on the right side. Then a walk along Sileng River. Idyllic! Isn't it?

Route III (Borobudur Temple Park, 1.5 hour, 2 km, day & night)
A circumambulation of Borobudur Temple

Ship Museum
Samudra Raksha, the ship museum, is at hundred yards away from the colossal temple. An ancient ship depicted in a Borobudur relief was restructured. The ship traced the ancient Cinnamon route(Indonesia to Madagascar and Africa). Then it was dismantled and its key parts placed in the museum. Don't Miss.

Dieng Plateau
Dieng Plateau, an active volcanic area, which hosts mysterious lakes and the relics of Hindu Temples from the 7th century Sanjaya Dynasty. Hissing, boiling waters of the lakes is a sight you will never forget.

Making of The Borobudur

• More than 2 million blocks of stone carried by hand from the Progo River to the building site.
• Borobudur houses an amazing 1,460 individual narrative reliefs and 1,212 decorative ones, all ornately and intricately carved.
• Constructed on a hill about 46 meters high, Borobudur has about 55,000 m3 or stones.
• The whole structure is in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha.

Borobudur:Past and Present
It will be fascinating and relevant here to have a brief knowledge of the past and present of Borobudur.

Concise History
An inscription dated 842 AD, suggests that Borobudur was once a place for praying. The inscription mentions a place 'Bhumi Sambhara', which is considered by many the origin of Borobudur.

Most scholars agree that Borobudur Temple was build between 750-850 AD, under the reign of Sanmaratungga, a ruler of Shailendra dynasty in Central Java. Sanmaratungga belong to Mahayana sect of Buddhism.

Borobudur suffered indifference during the 10th and 11th centuries, because of the political turmoil in the region. The site also faced wrath of nature, like volcanic eruption. It vanished beneath the layers of volcanic ash and wild growth.

Rediscovery
Stories of a 'mountain of statues' lying buried went rounds for centuries. The stories were intriguing enough to compel Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles, the British Lieutenant-Governor to deploy his men to investigate the reported site. This was 1814. Their hard work eventually unravelled a collosal mountain of statues.

Restoration
Thanks to to efforts of Theodor van Erp, a Dutch engineer, in 1907-1911, Borobudur attained its previous glory to some extent. But the monument was face to face with a grave danger. Mosses and wild vegetation had made it their home. Torrential tropical rains were also playing their part in gradual collapsing of the monument.

The UNESCO took note of the situation and undertook the renovation and restoration work 1973-1984 on a grand scale. It now adorns the UNESCO world heritage list.

Quotes Unquotes
Arnold Toynbee (Historian)
As the equal of the Parthenon.

How to Reach
Air: JogJakarta Airport serves Borobudur. Fleet of buses and cabs travel to Borobudur from there.
Taxi: You can rent a car in JogJakarta and keep it for your stay in Borobudur. If yop want to drop-off, you can have metred taxis.
Bus: Number of buses from JogJakarta's Giliwangan Bus Terminal travel daily to Borobudur Bus Stop. Then you can walk to the temple site, which is 1 ½ km away.

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southeast asia tour packages, Angkor Wat - The largest temple on the planet

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Angkor Wat, glory of Cambodia, is the masterpiece of Khmer architecture. One of the architectural wonders of the world, it is the pinnacle of a great ancient civilisation. Get informed about everything of Angkor Vat with us, the complex, the architecture, the history and more.

Temple Built By Gods Or By Giants
Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world, is the supreme masterpiece of Khmer architecture. Representing the pinnacle of a great ancient civilisation, the place is the convergence of the streams of history, architecture and faith. One of the architectural wonders of the world, it currently holds the tag of the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia.

Synopsis

Country	Cambodia
Province	Seam Reap
Known For	One of the architectural wonders
Best Time To Visit	Anytime in year
Best Moment To Visit	Sunrise
Architectural Style	Khmer, Influenced by Indian architecture

Why to Visit

• Biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia.
• Listed thirteen by Hillman Wonders in World's Top Hundred Wonders.
• Largest temple in the world.

Fine Points of The Angkor Wat

• Supreme masterpiece of Khmer architecture.
• Moat circumferencing the temple itself an engineering marvel.
• Cultural home of Khmer people.
• Occupies space on Cambodian flag.
• Only major religious centre, which was first Hindu and then became Buddhist.

The Complex
Angkor Wat is just one of the structures in a massive complex, which is spread out over 230 sq km and houses thousand plus monuments having their origin in different periods. Some spectacular jewels of Angkor treasure house are

Angkor Wat Temple
The best-preserved and largest temple at the site, Angkor Wat has found place on the Cambodian flag. Glorious example of Khmer architecture, the temple is remarkable for remaining a significant religious centre- first Hindu, and then Buddhist, since it came into being.

The Symbolism
Angkor Wat, which translates as 'The Pagoda Of The City', represents Mount Meru, considered home of deities by Hindu mythology. The five towers symbolise five peaks of Mount Sumeru. The outer wall hints the end of the world while the oceans are represented by the surrounding moat.

Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas
This marvellous collection of priceless heritage was a part of Angkor Wat, which got its name for the Khmer faithful left great number of Buddha statues here. Alas! most of these were annihilated during the recent civil war.

The Moat
A massive moat, which symbolises the Ocean, encircles the Temple. The moat itself provides testimony to the grand efforts of the makers of the temple- it is four miles in length and six hundred feet in width. Only after crossing the moat, or the ocean, you enter the 'home of deities'.

Architecture
A prime example of Khmer architecture, the Temple, with its ornate and exquisite stone carving, specially the dancing female sculptures, enthralls the visitors. The Temple, with the harmony of its design, has been often compared to the architecture of ancient Greece or Rome.

Unlike most temples, unique Angkor Wat sits looking west, on a sandstone plinth a meter above the ground. Adorned with naga balustrades, it occupies land measuring 1300 meters north-south, and 1500 meters east-west.

Some peculiar features of the Temple include: majestic towers shaped like lotus buds; half-galleries to broaden passageways; axial galleries connecting enclosures; and the terraces which are present along the main axis of the temple. Exquisite stone carvings of devtas and apsaras, bas-reliefs, and narrative scenes on pediments, are typical embellishment styles off the Temple.

First Enclosure
Near the first Temple enclosure is a series of four rooms arranged in a cruciform. Sunken floor is the common feature of every room, which are also surrounded by continuous gallery.

Inner Enclosure
Resting on a eleven meters tall two-tiered pyramid, the Inner Enclosure, with steep stairs, looks grand. A continuous gallery in the upper encases an inner cruciform of four rooms. Five towers jut from the upper tier. Once, the cruciform housed a lot of shrines, but now, in the absence of wooden doors, they look like passageways.

Construction Material
Sandstone is the main construction material, while laterite is also used in some parts.

Concise History
The first half of the 12th century witnessed the construction of Angkor Wat, during the rule of Suryavarman-II (1113-1150). But after his death, his empire disintegrated. In 1177 Angkor was ransacked by the Chams, the sworn enemies of the Khmer. Thereafter the empire was reestablished by Jayavarman VII, an eminent ruler. The Temple assumed Buddhist ambience in the 14th or 15th century. With the decline of the Khmer empire, the temple was abandoned. The temples, which were once full of life, became 'the lost royal city of Angkore'.

An accidental visit to the site by Henri Mouhot, a French colonialist, in 1860 unearthed the great archaeological heritage. Angkor Wat regained its prime.

Quotes Unquotes
Maurice Glaize, a mid-20th-century conservator of Angkor
The temple "attains a classic perfection by the restrained monumentality of its finely balanced elements and the precise arrangement of its proportions. It is a work of power, unity and style."

Antonio da Magdalena, a Portuguese monk who visited in 1586
The temple "is of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe it with a pen, particularly since it is like no other building in the world. It has towers and decoration and all the refinements which the human genius can conceive of".

Travel Tips

• Carry as much cash as necessary.
• Be well-informed about current affairs within the country. It can come handy.

How to Reach
Easily accesible from Seam Reap. Daily tourist buses operate. You can also take taxi.

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southeast asia tour packages, South East Asia Tour

Singapore - Malaysia - Thailand
(12 Nights / 13 Days) 


 Day 01 : Arrive Singapore
As we arrive to this world famous metropolis, we are warmly greeted and transferred to our hotel. The drive from the airport is in itself the beginning of the wonderful experiences we will have with people, culture and scenery. Overnight Copthorn Orchid, Singapore

Day 02 : Singapore
Morning tour of Singapore will include a drive through the very interesting and busy Orchard Street followed by a tour of Indiatown, the Arabtown and the Chinatown showing a multicultural background of Singaporeans. We take a glimpse at the world famous Raffel Hotel. Afternoon is at leisure to explore Singapore and take advantage of the bargains in the duty free city-state.

Day 03 : Singapore/Tampin/Malacca (Train)
Early morning we are transferred to the railway station for the 8:00 AM departure for an interesting three hours train ride to Tampin (train timing subject to change). Enjoy the rural scenery as the train passes through villages and plantations. As we arrive our local guide meets us and we proceed to Malacca. We tour the historic sites: Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia (under renovation, we will see the front of it), Kampung Kling Mosque, Jonker Street (Antique Row), Baba & Nyonya Museum, Stadhuy’s Building, Malacca Clock Tower, Christ Church and the famous Porta de Santiago.

Day 04 : Malacca/Kuala Lumpur
Depart by 8:30 AM for Kuala Lumpur. Upon arrival tour capital city of Malaysia: a photo stop at the King’s Palace, National Mosque & Railway Station, National Monument, Independence Square, Sultan Abdul, photo stops at the famous Samad building and the Selangor Club, St Mary’s Church and the world tallest free-standing flagpole. Continue to visit the Seri Mahamariaman Temple and the colourful Chinatown for bargain hunting. We culminate the city tour with a visit to the tallest Communication Tower in South East Asia for a panoramic view of the City. Overnight Ming Court, Kuala Lumpur (2 nights)

Day 05 : Kuala Lumpur
Morning tour of the Countryside where we visit the Ambassadors Road, a pewter factory, (Malaysia is one of the biggest producer of tin), Batu Caves, (except during Thaipusam in January), the sacred cave temple for the Hindus and a batik factory. Balance of the day at leisure to discover the good bargains, cafes and restaurants of Kuala Lumpur.

Day 06 : Kuala Lumpur/Cameron Highlands
Morning we depart for the Cameron Highland, which is located at 1542 meters above sea level and famed for its tea plantations and cool temperatures. En route, we visit a basket weaving cottage industry, Lata Iskandar Waterfall and a native settlement. Balance of the day at leisure to enjoy the cool, crisp air of the Cameron Highlands. Overnight Strawberry Park, Cameron Highlands (1 night)


Morning tour of the Cameron Highlands including the tea plantation, tea factory, market place and the famous butterfly farm. Afternoon, we depart for Penang visiting the Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple in Ipoh, the Ubudiah Mosque, Iskandariah Palace and Istana Kenangan. We cross over to Penang using the fifth longest bridge in the world. Overnight Bayview Beach Resort, Penang(2 nights)

Day 08 : Penang
Morning is our tour of this interesting town and beach resort which includes the 3rd longest Reclining Buddha in the world, next is the Botanical Gardens which offers lush green surroundings with a wide variety of tropical plants and bird life. Visit the Kek Lok Si Temple built in 1904, the most beautiful and largest Buddha Temple Complex in South East Asia and is known as the Temple of 1000 Buddhas and Fort Cornwallis where Captain Francis Light first landed. Continue to the old part of Georgetown where the Khoo Kong Si Clan House is located. Enjoy a breezy trishaw ride. Late evening, you can explore the nightlife along Batu Ferringhi- the Penang style.

Day 09 : Penang/Butterworth/Thailand (Train)
Morning we are transferred to Butterworth to board the international train to Bangkok, departing at 14:12 Hrs. Using the comfortable 2nd Class sleeping berth, we cross the southern Thailand Peninsula arriving Bangkok, the capital city the next day. Overnight on the Train (1 night)

Day 10 : Arrive Bangkok
Afternoon is at leisure. Evening we take an interesting cruise on the River Chao Phraya. This journey is the most pleasant way to discover the many riches of the city and pass through historical and religious monuments including the Royal Barges which houses exquisite carvings of mythical figures. Overnight Amari Atrium, Bangkok (3 nights)

Day 11 : Bangkok
Morning we take a tour of the “city of smiles” and visit the magnificent Grand Palace followed by the Emerald Buddha Temple and the popular Wat Pho – the reclining Buddha. We drive around the city and witness the everyday activities of the people residing along the banks of the Chao Phraya, the mighty “River of Kings”. Afternoon is free for taking optional tours.

Day 12 : Bangkok
Bangkok Day at leisure. Bangkok is probably the world’s best shopping paradise and you would need the time for bargain hunting.

Day 13 : Depart Bangkok
After an interesting overland journey through these three countries, we bid farewell as we are transferred to the airport for our departure flight.

Interested ? Contact us

Note: The above tour can be customized as per individual requirement & budget.

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