Borobudur temple reflects cross-cultural similarities between Pakistan, Indonesia.

ISLAMABAD -- Borobudur temple, enlisted by the Guinness World Records as the largest archaeological site of world, is a reflection of cross-cultural similarities between Pakistan and Indonesia.

Indonesia has recently unveiled its miniature model at a five-day exhibition at the Lok Virsa which attracted many historians from across the country.

Syeda Shanzay, a student of geography from Punjab University briefly narrated some astounding geographical facts about the Borobudur temple. 'Known as one of the most famous cultural heritage sites across the globe, the temple has an area of 15,129 square meters, 42 meters high with 10 levels, realistic length is more than 1 km, and consisting of 72 stupas. It is located on the island of Java in Indonesia and was built around 800 C.E. by the rulers of the Sailendra Dynasty. The monument is a shrine to the Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage,' she said.

An Indonesian archeologist present at the exhibition while talking to reporter said the astonishing history of abandonment of the temple. 'The Borobudur temple lay hidden for centuries under layers of volcanic ash and vegetation. The facts behind its abandonment and negligence remain a mystery even today. Several sources have mentioned the abandonment period has occurred between 928 and 1006, when King Mpu Sindok moved to the capital of the Medang Kingdom to the region of East Java after a series of volcanic eruptions. However, whether his movement influenced the abandonment of Borobudur temple is not certain.'

Maheen Mirza, a historian present at the exhibition told reporter about the significance of the temple. 'Even after its abandonment, the Borobudur temple was not forgotten completely. However, the folk stories gradually shifted its conception from glorious to more superstitious, and people started to relate it with bad luck and misery. Old Javenese chronicles, also known as babad, mention cases of bad luck associated with the monument.

According to the Babad Tanah Jawi (The history of Java), the monument was a fatal factor...

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