Scaffolding now surrounds the spire of Borobudur’s great stupa, the very spot where Indonesia plans to install a bronze chattra.1,2 Almost nothing about the work has been officially explained to the public.1 For a monument that belongs to all humanity and remains a living place of Buddhist practice, that silence deserves scrutiny.2
Since 16 September 2026, the summit of Borobudur, in Central Java, Indonesia, the world’s largest Buddhist temple, has been under restoration, with work scheduled to end on 24 October.1,2 Regular visitors may now climb only to the eighth level, because the work is taking place on the 10th.3 The stated aim is to address a shifting yasti, weathering stone, cavities, cracks, and salt damage.4
The problem is that this is exactly where the government plans to install a bronze chattra.2 The proposed structure stands 6.2 meters tall, weighs approximately 800 kilograms, and would be anchored into the ancient stone.2 Borobudur has seen this pattern before: in 2025, a stairlift was installed on its stairways without an impact assessment and was explained only after a public outcry.5,6 That alone is reason for Buddhists everywhere to pay close attention.2
At a glance
The summit of Borobudur is being restored because the yasti has reportedly shifted and its stone is weathering, but the research behind that finding has not been made public.1,4
On the same spot, the government plans to install a bronze chattra of about 800 kilograms, fixed into the ancient stone with steel anchors.2
The 2025 stairlift demonstrated that a facility can be installed at Borobudur first and explained only after it goes viral, therefore the public needs to stay vigilant.6
Key terms
Main stupa (mahastupa): the largest stupa, crowning the top of Borobudur.7
Yasti: the stone spire at the very top of the main stupa, and the highest point of the monument.4
Chattra: a tiered parasol traditionally placed on the yasti; in Buddhist symbolism it represents protection, wisdom, compassion, and spiritual attainment.2
Consolidation: strengthening parts that have become loose so that a structure is stable again.4
Salt damage: salts carried by rainwater seep into the pores of the stone and crystallize there, making it crumble faster.8
Chemical anchor: a steel bolt set into a hole drilled in stone and locked in place with epoxy resin.2
Galvanic corrosion: corrosion that occurs when two different materials, such as bronze and iron-rich stone, touch in a damp environment.9
HIA (Heritage Impact Assessment): a study of whether a proposed project could harm the values of a World Heritage site.10
OUV (Outstanding Universal Value): the qualities for which Borobudur is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.11
ICOMOS: the International Council on Monuments and Sites, an official advisory body to UNESCO.2
BRIN: Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, which assessed the main stupa’s structure in 2024.2
MCB: the Indonesian state heritage agency (Museum dan Cagar Budaya, meaning Museums and Cultural Heritage) that is carrying out the restoration.12
IDM (InJourney Destination Management): the company that operates Borobudur’s tourism zone, part of the state-owned InJourney tourism group. PT Taman Wisata Candi is its corporate name; PT is the Indonesian abbreviation for a limited liability company.44,6
Indonesian names: Candi means a historic Hindu or Buddhist temple. Jawa Tengah, often shortened to Jateng, means Central Java. Jogja is a common name for Yogyakarta.
Government labels: Kemenag means the Ministry of Religious Affairs; Kemenbud means the Ministry of Culture; Ekraf means creative economy; RI means the Republic of Indonesia.
Institutions and roles: MCB handles heritage conservation; IDM manages tourism operations; BRIN conducts research. A tourism operator’s statement is not, by itself, a conservation permit.44
Indonesian legal references: UU means a national law, and Pasal means an article of a law. JDIH is a government legal-documentation network; BPHN is the National Law Development Agency.
What is happening atop Borobudur?
The restoration focuses on consolidating the yasti and conserving the main stupa, and was expected to take about five weeks.4 The target completion date is 24 October 2026, although it may shift depending on technical conditions onsite.4 The north courtyard has been closed off as a work zone.4 The MCB is carrying out the work, with the stated aim of strengthening and stabilizing the stone structure.12
On 5 October 2026, Indung Purwita Jati, director of operations at IDM, explained the reason to Indonesia’s national news agency, ANTARA.3 Research, he said, had found several parts that needed repair: “These stones are quite old, and we had never checked or restored them before.”3 He described the repairs as “quite massive.”1 Asked about the chattra, he replied that it was “not our domain to answer.”13
Yet no detailed information about the restoration, including the research behind it, has been released.1 Wiwit Kasiyati, a sub-coordinator at the Borobudur World Heritage Unit, told detikcom, a major Indonesian digital news organization,41 that the central government had not yet issued any official release on the work.1 Indonesian law requires every restoration of a heritage structure to obtain a government permit.14 UNESCO has also asked Indonesia to report planned works at Borobudur before any decision that would be difficult to reverse.11 So far, public reporting on this restoration has said nothing about a permit, the methods used, or any notification to UNESCO.1,13
A parasol debated for over a century
In Buddhist symbolism, the chattra represents protection, wisdom, compassion, and spiritual attainment.2 For many devotees, a stupa without one feels incomplete.2 That is why some have argued for restoring a chattra on Borobudur since the early 1900s.2
The difficulty is that there is no complete archaeological documentation showing that Borobudur’s main stupa ever bore a chattra.2 The Dutch engineer Theodoor van Erp assembled a tentative chattra during his restoration of 1907–11, then dismantled it himself.2 He had come to doubt its original form, and too few of its stones were original compared with the new ones added.9
That reconstruction is now kept at the museum within the Borobudur complex.15 Its label says it was placed on the main stupa in 1910 and later taken down “because most of its stones were not original but new.”15 Nearby Buddhist temples such as Mendut, Pawon, Sewu, and Plaosan have no chattra either.15
Borobudur itself was conceived as a mandala, a three-dimensional guide that leads pilgrims toward awakening.9 Hari Setyawan of the MCB has argued that the temple’s religious value lies in its mandala and layout, not in a chattra.15
From stone to bronze
The chattra debate revived in 2023, when Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs proposed the installation and archaeologists objected straight away.16 At the time, Borobudur was being promoted as a “super-priority” destination for religious and spiritual tourism. Here, “super-priority” refers to a government tourism-development designation.9 A stone chattra was even scheduled to be inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on 18 September 2024.9 The plan drew a wave of online opposition under the hashtag #PrayForBorobudur.17
A technical study by BRIN then found material weakness and deformation in the main stupa.9 It warned that adding Van Erp’s stone chattra, which weighs about 1.4 tonnes, would be very dangerous, especially in strong winds and earthquakes.9 The Indonesian Association of Archaeologists (IAAI, from its Indonesian name, Ikatan Ahli Arkeologi Indonesia) also objected, arguing that the plan did not meet the legal requirements for reconstruction under Indonesia’s Cultural Heritage Law.9 The 2024 plan was called off at the last minute.9
In early 2026, the government replaced the word “reconstruction” with “adaptation.”9 The distinction matters: reconstruction requires evidence of the original form, while adaptation allows a new design to meet present-day needs.9 Minister of Culture Fadli Zon then confirmed that the new chattra would be made of bronze, not stone.18 At a coordination meeting on the chattra in January 2026, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar urged participants to “set aside our individual egos and leave this room with one unified voice.”19
According to World Heritage Watch, a Berlin-based network that monitors World Heritage sites, the design is called the “Chattra Triratna Dasabhumi.”2 It stands 6.2 meters tall and weighs approximately 800 kilograms.2 It would be anchored into the ancient stone with eight stainless-steel chemical anchors set 300 millimeters deep with epoxy resin.2
In April 2026, Fadli took the plan to UNESCO in Paris, presenting Borobudur as a “living heritage,” meaning a historic place that continues to support religious practice and community life.10 There, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, stressed that a Heritage Impact Assessment must be prepared and submitted for review by UNESCO and its advisory bodies.10 The installation, first planned to coincide with Vesak in May (called Waisak in Indonesia, the Buddhist observance of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing), was postponed to August 2026.2 On 24 July 2026, Supriyadi, the ministry’s director general for Buddhist community guidance (Bimas Buddha, the government directorate responsible for Buddhist religious affairs and education),47 said the installation would have to wait because the studies were not yet complete.20 As of 23 September 2026, the chattra had not been installed and was still under discussion.4 On 5 October, the structure visible at the summit was restoration scaffolding, not a chattra.13
Voices in support. The Ministry of Religious Affairs argues that the chattra fulfills the spiritual aspirations of Indonesia’s Buddhist community.2 Supporters also point to stones recovered by Van Erp, including sector-shaped parasol stones, octagonal shaft fragments, and dowel-fitted pieces, as archaeological grounding.2 A representative of WALUBI, an umbrella organization bringing together Buddhist religious councils, institutions and monastic bodies in Indonesia45, called the chattra “the highest spiritual symbol representing sanctity and protection.”19 BRIN researcher Ilham Hatta has said that preliminary analysis indicates the main stupa could technically support a chattra, provided detailed engineering design and long-term evaluation follow.21
Voices urging caution. Buddhist monks and the Young Buddhist Association have said a chattra should be installed only if there is clear archaeological evidence and expert consensus.2 Marsis Sutopo, chair of the Indonesian Association of Archaeologists, has insisted on a heritage impact assessment before any decision is made.21 The Ruwat Rawat Borobudur community, a local cultural-preservation group, has called for postponement, noting that the authenticity at stake matters to the whole world, not only to Buddhists.2 On 10 April 2026, ICOMOS Indonesia submitted a formal Statement of Concern to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre about threats to the site’s authenticity and the transparency of the process.2 World Heritage Watch also notes that an internal impact assessment commissioned by the Ministry of Religious Affairs has not been made public.2
Then and now
Borobudur’s great restoration of 1973–83 was carried out together with UNESCO and, according to Tempo (one of Indonesia’s leading news organizations),40 backed by 26 donor countries.22 That shared effort is one reason the international community has a legitimate interest in how the monument is managed today.2
Notably, the upper terraces and the yasti were not part of that restoration.15 Ismijono, one of the restorers of that era, recalled: “The Arupadhatu [upper levels] was not within the scope of the restoration, so it was not touched.”15 Arupadhatu is the Buddhist ‘formless realm’. At Borobudur it is symbolized by the three upper circular terraces and the main stupa, rather than naming only the stone spire.46,7
So the common belief that the yasti “has been safe since the restoration of the 1970s and 1980s” is not quite accurate, because the yasti was never comprehensively restored then.15 Even so, the main stupa has been maintained regularly.23 In 2010, Marsis Sutopo, then head of the Borobudur Conservation Office, described the repair of the main stupa as an annual task.23
The contrast is stark: then, the world took part; now, the public learns of the work mainly from brief remarks by the tourism operator.3
Never checked before?
IDM’s statement that the main stupa’s stones had “never been checked or restored” deserves to be questioned.3 In December 2010, the Borobudur Conservation Office repaired the main stupa after leaks appeared in dozens of its stone joints.23 Marsis Sutopo said at the time that the main stupa had also been repaired after the 1985 bombing.23
ANTARA’s report does clarify that what was meant was the absence of any comprehensive inspection and restoration of that part.3 If so, the public is entitled to see the maintenance records of the main stupa, including when the yasti first began to shift.23
The main stupa has also come through the volcanic ash that fell from Mount Merapi, an active volcano near the monument, in 2010.23 That does not prove the yasti is healthy: BRIN’s 2024 study found the main stupa weakened by age and environmental exposure.9 Junus Satrio Atmodjo, who chairs Indonesia’s national team of heritage experts, once warned: “Temple stones are not as strong as we think.”8
The sequence of events deserves attention: in 2024, BRIN judged the main stupa too weak to carry a stone chattra of 1.4 tonnes.9 In 2026, the plan switched to a bronze chattra of about 800 kilograms, still anchored into the stone.2 It is lighter, but it would still rest on the yasti.2 And in the same year, the yasti that would carry it is being consolidated.4
It is fair to ask whether this consolidation is also preparing a base for the chattra.4 Because the studies have not been published, that suspicion can neither be confirmed nor ruled out.2 The only way to settle it is to release the documents to the public and to UNESCO.10
Lessons from the 2025 stairlift
In late May 2025, videos of steel plates and wooden boards being installed on Borobudur’s stairways went viral on social media, labeled an “escalator.”24 What was actually installed was a stairlift, a motorized chair that runs on a rail along the stairs to carry people who struggle to climb.25 According to Kompas.com, a long-established Indonesian national news website,42 the operator initially stayed silent, and explanations came only later from the Presidential Communication Office and the Ministry of Culture.6
Hasan Nasbi, head of the Presidential Communication Office, said the facility was for the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron: “No nails, no drilling… it can be dismantled easily.”26 InJourney’s president director, Maya Watono, described it as part of a long-term plan to make the temple accessible to the elderly, people with disabilities, and senior monks.27 Four stairlift units were installed from the third to the seventh level.25
On 29 May 2025, President Prabowo Subianto and President Macron climbed to the top of the temple.28 According to IDN Times, an Indonesian digital news outlet focused on younger audiences,43 Macron declined to use the stairlift and walked instead.29 That same day, Fadli Zon said: “We have long planned this, and we will try to make it permanent.”30 Shortly afterward, the stairlift was removed on the grounds that it had only been a trial and the assessment was still under way.30
The Indonesian Association of Archaeologists warned that Borobudur’s andesite stone is “highly vulnerable to pressure, friction, and impact.”31 Tempo summed up that the installation was carried out “without impact analysis or procedural clarity.”5 Even the Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, could only refer questions to InJourney.32
The pattern has been noticed internationally as well.2 World Heritage Watch observes that the World Heritage Committee has repeatedly noted significant works at Borobudur proceeding before appropriate assessments were completed.2 In 2023, the Committee expressed deep regret that major projects around Borobudur had been completed before the requested impact assessments were submitted.33
The lesson for the chattra is clear: at Borobudur, a facility can be installed first and explained only after the public objects.6 If the chattra is installed without clear public disclosure and education, that should be read as a warning sign.11 It would suggest that the chattra plan itself is flawed, and that only a small circle is determined to force it through.2 A plan that is scientifically sound has nothing to fear from being explained and tested in public.10
Why metal on ancient stone is risky
Borobudur’s stones have stood since the ninth century.2 An analysis by the Young Buddhist Association lists several risks of fixing metal onto stone this old.9
Corrosion and stains. Bronze in contact with iron-rich andesite can trigger galvanic corrosion in a rainy tropical climate.9 Corrosion products can seep into the stone’s pores and leave permanent stains.9
Uneven expansion. Metal and stone expand at different rates as temperatures change, so the joints between them are under constant stress.9
Wind vibration. A tall parasol buffeted by wind can send micro-vibrations into the old stone and trigger new cracks.9
Earthquakes. Extra weight at the highest point makes the structure more vulnerable in an earthquake, and if the chattra failed, the original stone beneath it could fall too.9
Permanent holes. The anchors would be set 300 millimeters into ancient stone, leaving holes that are hard to undo.2
The 1986 precedent. A lightning rod was once installed on the main stupa by dismantling part of the stupa and setting it with cement.23 Rainwater then seeped into the stone joints, causing corrosion, moss, and whitish stains.23
The same analysis recommends an isolating layer between metal and stone, and a knock-down design that leaves no trace on the original stone.9
The rules are clear
Borobudur has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1991.2 In 2025, the World Heritage Committee asked Indonesia to submit details of every project, together with impact assessments, before any decision that would be difficult to reverse.11 The Committee also stressed that responsibility for protecting Borobudur remains with the state, and that tourism must not conflict with that responsibility.11
As early as 2007, the Committee asked Indonesia to stop practices that harm Borobudur’s stone, including the use of epoxy resin.34 Yet the reported chattra design relies on anchors set in epoxy resin.2
Indonesia’s Cultural Heritage Law requires restoration to preserve original materials and form, to change as little as possible, and to use methods that do no harm.35 Anyone who deliberately damages cultural heritage faces one to fifteen years in prison and/or a fine of 500 million to five billion Indonesian rupiah.36
The Venice Charter of 1964, the founding conservation text adopted by ICOMOS, states that restoration must stop at the point where conjecture begins.37 In plain terms, if the original form is not known, restorers must not guess at it and add it.37
Questions that need answers
1. What does the “research” behind the yasti restoration contain, and when was it carried out?3
2. Has the restoration obtained a government permit and a recommendation from the Cultural Heritage Expert Team (TACB, a panel of heritage specialists advising the government)?14
3. Has any drilling, anchoring, or metal element been introduced into the yasti during the works?2
4. Was UNESCO informed before the work began?11
5. When will the Heritage Impact Assessment for the chattra be made public and submitted to UNESCO?10
6. How can anchors set in epoxy resin be reconciled with UNESCO’s 2007 request to stop using epoxy on Borobudur’s stone?34
7. Who will be held responsible if the main stupa is damaged in the future?11
A call to guard Borobudur
Borobudur is a World Heritage property that belongs to all humanity.2 Guarding it does not mean rejecting the aspirations of Indonesian Buddhists, for whom the chattra carries deep spiritual meaning.9 It means making sure that every physical intervention is grounded in evidence, kept to a minimum, and reversible.21 As the Young Buddhist Association has put it, the Buddha’s empirical, investigative approach to truth resonates with conservation science, which puts evidence first.21
For Indonesian citizens:
Request the documents. Indonesia’s Public Information Disclosure Law guarantees every citizen the right to request information from public bodies, such as restoration studies and permits.38
Report procedural failures. The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia, the country’s public-service oversight body, accepts public reports of maladministration in public services, meaning improper handling of public duties or procedures.39
Observe from the permitted routes. When visiting, keep to the marked paths and barriers, and record what you see along with the date.4
For the global Buddhist community and friends of Borobudur:
Raise concerns with UNESCO. Concerns can be submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, as ICOMOS Indonesia has done.2
Share only what is verified. Pass on information together with its source; Indonesian law itself obliges users of public information to cite where it came from.38
Hold the authorities to UNESCO’s own standard. The director of the World Heritage Centre has said that Borobudur “is a living site and must remain a living site,” and that the technical process must be carried out properly.10
The stairlift episode must not be repeated at the summit of Borobudur: installed quietly, exposed online, and explained only afterward.6 Let us guard Borobudur together, as a heritage of the world and a living space of Buddhist practice.2
What is confirmed and what is not
Confirmed: the yasti is being restored, with the work scheduled to finish on 24 October 2026.1
Confirmed: there is a plan for a bronze chattra of about 800 kilograms, fixed with steel anchors and epoxy resin.2
Not proven: claims that a metal chattra has already been installed in secret; on 5 October 2026, the structure at the summit was scaffolding.13
Not published: the research behind the yasti restoration and the impact assessment for the chattra.1,2
Needs correcting: the yasti was not comprehensively restored in 1973–83, but the main stupa has been routinely maintained, including in 2010.15,23
References
1. detikTravel, 6 October 2026: Borobudur’s stupa under restoration, with visitor access arrangements. [Source in Indonesian]: https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/d-8694929/stupa-candi-borobudur-lagi-dipugar-ada-pengaturan-akses-wisatawan
2. Buddhistdoor Global, 24 June 2026: Buddhist Heritage: Borobudur Chattra Proposal Sparks International Debate on Authenticity and Conservation: https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/buddhist-heritage-borobudur-chattra-proposal-sparks-international-debate-on-authenticity-and-conservation/
3. ANTARA, 5 October 2026: Borobudur’s main stupa under restoration; visitors only up to the eighth level. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5771702/stupa-utama-candi-borobudurdipugar-pengunjung-hanya-sampai-lantai-8
4. IDN Times, 23 September 2026: Borobudur under restoration: rules and changes for visitors. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.idntimes.com/travel/tips/candi-borobudur-dipugar-begini-aturan-kunjungan-wisatawan-00-z5hk4-2ntk4b
5. Tempo: Archaeologist: the Borobudur stairlift shows sustainable development is just jargon. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.tempo.co/sains/arkeolog-stairlift-borobudur-bukti-pembangunan-berkelanjutan-cuma-jargon-1744560
6. Kompas.com, 28 May 2025: The stairlift controversy at Borobudur ahead of the Macron and Prabowo visit. [Source in Indonesian]: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2025/05/28/050500678/polemik-stairlift-di-candi-borobudur-jelang-kunjungan-macron-dan-prabowo
7. Borobudur Conservation Office: The stupas of Borobudur. [Source in Indonesian]: https://kebudayaan.kemdikbud.go.id/bkborobudur/stupa
8. Forest Digest (an Indonesian forestry and environmental publication): Borobudur affected by climate change. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.forestdigest.com/detail/1788/candi-borobudur
9. Young Buddhist Association, 15 January 2026: The plan to install an adaptive chattra on Borobudur’s main stupa. [Source in Indonesian]: https://yba.or.id/rencana-pemasangan-chattra-adaptasi-pada-stupa-induk-candi-borobudur-2026/
10. VOI (an Indonesian online news outlet), 24 April 2026: Chattra Borobudur Entered the UNESCO Discussion: https://voi.id/en/news/572086
11. UNESCO World Heritage Committee, 2025: Decision 47 COM 7B.74, Borobudur Temple Compounds (Indonesia): https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/8798
12. ANTARA Foto, 29 September 2026: Restoration of Borobudur’s mahastupa. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.antarafoto.com/id/view/2874083/pemugaran-mahastupa-candi-borobudur
13. SuaraBaru.id, 6 October 2026: Borobudur’s main stupa under repair. [Source in Indonesian]: https://suarabaru.id/2026/10/06/stupa-utama-candi-borobudur-sedang-diperbaiki
14. Jogloabang: Law No. 11 of 2010 on Cultural Heritage. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.jogloabang.com/pustaka/uu-11-2010-cagar-budaya
15. detikJateng , 10 October 2023: A look at the chattra once installed on Borobudur’s stupa. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.detik.com/jateng/budaya/d-6975510/melihat-bentuk-chattra-tugu-yang-pernah-terpasang-di-stupa-candi-borobudur
16. detikJateng, 2023: Archaeologists reject the religious affairs minister’s proposal to install a chattra on Borobudur. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.detik.com/jateng/berita/d-6839269/arkeolog-tak-setuju-usulan-menag-pasang-chatra-di-candi-borobudur
17. Kompas.com, 11 September 2024: When opposition to the main stupa chattra sparked ‘Pray for Borobudur’. [Source in Indonesian]: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2024/09/11/054948478/saat-penolakan-chattra-di-stupa-induk-memicu-pray-for-borobudur
18. detikJateng: Culture minister on the chattra plan for Borobudur’s summit: not made of stone. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.detik.com/jateng/budaya/d-8449630/menbud-soal-rencana-pemasangan-chattra-di-puncak-borobudur-bukan-dari-batu
19. Ministry of Creative Economy, 15 January 2026: Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Encourages Inclusive Decision Making on the Planned Installation of the Borobudur Chattra: https://ekraf.go.id/news-en/deputy-minister-of-creative-economy-encourages-inclusive-decision-making-on-the-planned-installation-of-the-borobudur-chattra
20. ANTARA: Borobudur chattra installation still awaits study results. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5664621/pemasangan-catra-candi-borobudur-masih-menunggu-hasil-kajian
21. Buddhistdoor Global, 5 December 2025: Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia Joins National Dialogue on Borobudur Chattra Restoration: https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/young-buddhist-association-of-indonesia-joins-national-dialogue-on-borobudur-chattra-restoration/
22. Tempo: 49 years since Borobudur’s restoration: 26 countries took part as donors. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.tempo.co/hiburan/49-tahun-pemugaran-candi-borobudur-26-negara-terlibat-sebagai-donatur-308959
23. detikNews, 10 December 2010: Leaking summit stupa of Borobudur restored. [Source in Indonesian]: https://news.detik.com/berita/d-1522152/bocor-stupa-puncak-borobudur-dipugar
24. ANTARA: Palace explains why Borobudur’s stairlift was needed for President Macron. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/4858625/istana-jelaskan-urgensi-stair-lift-borobudur-untuk-presiden-macron
25. detikJateng: What the much-discussed Borobudur stairlift looks like. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.detik.com/jateng/wisata/d-7939523/begini-wujud-stairlift-di-candi-borobudur-yang-ramai-disorot
26. Tempo: ‘Escalator’ installed at Borobudur; Palace says it is for the Macron and Prabowo visit. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.tempo.co/politik/eskalator-dipasang-di-candi-borobudur-istana-untuk-kunjungan-macron-dan-prabowo-1553579
27. IDN Times Jogja: InJourney assures the stairlift will not damage Borobudur. [Source in Indonesian]: https://jogja.idntimes.com/news/jogja/injourney-pastikan-pemasangan-stairlift-dan-ramp-tak-merusak-candi-00-6gk18-2z41lz
28. Tempo: Riding the stairlift, Prabowo and Macron reach Borobudur’s topmost stupa. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.tempo.co/politik/naik-stairlift-prabowo-dan-macron-capai-stupa-teratas-di-candi-borobudur-1583571
29. IDN Times: French president declines to use the stairlift at Borobudur. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.idntimes.com/news/indonesia/presiden-prancis-tolak-gunakan-stairlift-saat-kunjungan-ke-borobudur-00-bbwlv-r3mnj8
30. Liputan6: What became of the Borobudur stairlift?. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.liputan6.com/lifestyle/read/6132869/bagaimana-nasib-stairlift-di-candi-borobudur
31. Tempo: Borobudur stairlift: inclusivity and archaeologists’ review. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.tempo.co/politik/stairlift-borobudur-pertimbangan-inklusivitas-dan-tinjauan-arkeolog-1613186
32. CNN Indonesia, 26 May 2025: Public works minister responds to viral Borobudur ‘escalator’. [Source in Indonesian]: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/ekonomi/20250526130209-92-1233247/menteri-pu-respons-soal-viral-pembangunan-lift-di-borobudur
33. UNESCO World Heritage Committee, 2023: Decision 45 COM 7B.162: https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/8152
34. InforMEA: Borobudur Temple Compounds (Indonesia) (2007 World Heritage Committee decision): https://www.informea.org/en/decision/borobudur-temple-compounds-indonesia-1
35. National Law Development Agency (BPHN): Law No. 11 of 2010 on Cultural Heritage (PDF; in Indonesian): https://bphn.go.id/data/documents/10uu011.pdf
36. Pasal.id: Law No. 11 of 2010, Article 105 (in Indonesian): https://pasal.id/peraturan/uu/uu-no-11-tahun-2010/pasal-105
37. ICOMOS: The Venice Charter (1964): https://icomos.org/en/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/157-the-venice-charter
38. Ministry of Finance legal database (JDIH): Law No. 14 of 2008 on Public Information Disclosure (in Indonesian): https://jdih.kemenkeu.go.id/FullText/2008/14TAHUN2008UU.htm
39. Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (in Indonesian): https://ombudsman.go.id
40. Tempo Media Group: About Us; history and investigative journalism: https://www.tempo.id/en/about
41. detikcom: Official company profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/detik-com
42. Kompas.com: About Us: https://inside.kompas.com/about-us
43. IDN Times: About Us: https://www.idntimes.com/info/about-us
44. InJourney Destination Management: Collaboration with the Ministry of Culture in managing the Borobudur temple complex: https://injourneydestination.id/en/wujudkan-pariwisata-berbasis-budaya-injourney-dan-kementerian-kebudayaan-sinergi-lakukan-pengelolaan-kompleks-candi-borobudur
45. WALUBI: Organisational structure. [Source in Indonesian]: https://walubi.or.id/struktur-organisasi/
46. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Borobudur Temple Compounds; location and Buddhist cosmology: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/592
47. Ministry of Religious Affairs: Duties and functions of the Directorate General of Buddhist Community Guidance. [Source in Indonesian]: https://bimasbuddha.kemenag.go.id/tugas-dan-fungsi-direktorat-jenderal-bimbingan-masyarakat-buddha-artikel-9.html
48. ANTARA: Corporate profile and photojournalism service. [Source in Indonesian]: https://korporat.antaranews.com
Related features from BDG
Beyond van Erp: Why Borobudur’s Authentic Form Has Already Been Affirmed
Borobudur’s Lost Crown: Why Theodoor van Erp’s Words Matter Today
Related news reports from BDG
Buddhist Heritage: Borobudur Chattra Proposal Sparks International Debate on Authenticity and Conservation
Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia Joins National Dialogue on Borobudur Chattra Restoration
