Day 586-587: May 9-10, 2026 – Semarang, Java, Indonesia

The port of Semarang was the starting point for a temple-hopping tour in central Java. We spent the night at the 5-star Royal Ambarrukmo hotel in Yogyakarta and toured dozens of magnificent temples in these 4 main complexes:

1. Borobudur Temple – largest Buddhist temple in the world
2. Prambanan Temple – largest Hindu temple in Indonesia
3. Sewu Temple – second largest Buddhist temple
4. Plaosan Temple – combination of Buddhist and Hindu architectural style

The Borobudur temple is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. For centuries it was hidden under jungle growth and volcanic ash and ranks as one of the great archeological sites. It is built from 2 million blocks of stone. What is amazing is that it is built without any mortar; the stone blocks fit together with various indentations and knobs.

The structure is home to 2670 stone panels with intricate reliefs and carvings.

At the top are 72 stupas (below) each of which contains a Buddha image inside. “Slippers” (what we would call flip-flops) were required for entry to prevent damage to the stone.

The Prambanan temple is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. dedicated to the deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The tall, pointed architecture is typical of Hindu design.

Many of the temples in this complex were damaged in earthquakes. The ruins surround the remaining temple structures.

The Plaosan temple is believed to be a “love temple” built by a Hindu king for his Buddhist queen and is a blend of Hindu and Buddhist architecture.