Borobudur and Prambanan Temples, Indonesia

Given that Indonesia is an archipelago of 17,500 islands, it seems sensible that its archaeological past is varied. Discover the expansive megalithic site of Gunung Padang and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Prambanan and Borobudur by traveling to Java and visiting Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. The building of the 8th-century Borobudur Temple, the biggest single Buddhist temple in the world, began then. Explore the expansive sanctuary's tiered architecture and take in the sculpted bas-reliefs that decorate the open passageways. These depictions show scenes from the Buddha's life as well as the stages of the soul's development toward salvation. These intricately carved panels would span over three kilometers if they were extended end to end.

The greatest Shiva shrine complex in Indonesia was constructed at Prambanan, another UNESCO World Heritage site, in the 10th century. Admire the 224 temples that make up the complex, which is arranged in three concentric squares as a whole. Three of these temples include carved reliefs that depict the Ramayana epic and are devoted to the Hindu gods Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma.