Thai Princess Visits Borobudur Temple

Rabu, 21 November 2012 15:42 WIB

Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (photo: kanchanapisek.or.th)

She arrived at the temple compound at around 8am welcomed by the secretary of the Magelang district administration, Hadi Prabowo, the head of the Magelang district, Singgih Sanyoto, the president director of PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko, Purnomo Prasetyo and the head of the Borobudur Conservation Office, Marsis Sutopo.

Sporting local traditional 'batik' costume the princess and entourage immediately scaled the temple from the old Syailendra dynasty era through the eastern gate.

The princess toured the temple while receiving explanation from Panggah Ardiyansyah, an official from the Borobudur Conservation Office.

Princess Sirindhorn was at the temple for around 1.5 hours and she had asked a lot about stories behind ornaments in the temple.

"Princess Sirindhorn is an archeology graduate and therefore is very interested in Borobudur Temple. She asked everything found in the temple, including Buddhist statues and reliefs," he said.

He said the princess looked very happy and enjoyed the visit and stories about the reliefs, Buddhist statues and animal reincarnation very much.

When seeing the photos of the impact of Merapi volcano eruption on the temple the princess asked about the cleaning up efforts which were done using not metal but plastic and wooden equipment so as not to damage the temple's stones.

"She is a Buddhist and also an archeologist and so she was very happy visiting the Buddhist temple," Panggah said.

Princess Sirindhorn had also shown her interest in the temple's renovation asking about how stones are dismantled and codes are given to them and water-proof lamination.

Before visiting Borobudur Princess Sirindhorn on Tuesay visited the Dieng Temple complex in Wonosobo, also in Central Java.

The head of the Borobudur Temple Tourism Park, Bambang Irianto, said during her visit Zone I of the temple complex was closed for the public.

"We closed Zone I since 6am until the end of the visit. But the public could still enter through Zone II," he said.