Few places are as spectacular during Vesak as Borobudur in Central Java, Indonesia. The world’s largest Buddhist monument becomes the center of one of the most important Buddhist celebrations in Southeast Asia.
For a few days, Borobudur is no longer simply a historical monument visited by tourists. Monks and pilgrims arrive from across Indonesia and beyond, ceremonies take place throughout the area, and thousands gather for the pilgrimage and famous lantern release.
For us, it was an opportunity to experience Borobudur not only as travelers and photographers, but as witnesses to a living religious tradition.
Why Visit Borobudur During Vesak?
Borobudur is a 9th-century Buddhist temple built during the Sailendra Dynasty and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monument consists of nine stacked platforms crowned by a large central stupa, with thousands of relief panels and hundreds of Buddha statues.
Borobudur is impressive at any time of year, but Vesak transforms the experience. Instead of simply walking through an ancient site, you see monks, pilgrims and local communities actively practicing their faith.
Vesak, known as Waisak in Indonesia, is the most important Buddhist holiday. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.
The celebration takes place around the full moon, creating an extraordinary setting for photography: monks in colorful robes, candles, ceremonies, processions and, eventually, thousands of lanterns floating into the night sky.
The Day Before Vesak
We arrived in Borobudur during the afternoon before the main celebration.
One of the best places to visit at this time is Mendut Temple, a 9th-century Buddhist temple and an important part of the Vesak pilgrimage route. The temple houses an impressive three-meter-high Buddha statue and serves as the starting point for many of the Vesak ceremonies.
Preparations were already underway when we visited. Monks were arriving, volunteers were preparing ceremonial items, and pilgrims were gathering from across Indonesia and beyond. It gave us our first glimpse of what was to come the following day.
Nearby is Pawon Temple, a small temple located between Mendut and Borobudur. Together, Mendut, Pawon and Borobudur form an important part of the Vesak pilgrimage route.
Vesak Day
Sunrise at Punthuk Setumbu
Our Vesak Day began well before sunrise at Punthuk Setumbu, a hill a few kilometers from Borobudur and one of the best-known viewpoints overlooking the temple.
After a short walk uphill in the dark, we reached the viewpoint before dawn. From here, Borobudur appears in the distance, surrounded by the lush landscape of Central Java.
For photographers, it offers a completely different perspective of Borobudur. Rather than photographing the stupas and architectural details up close, you see the monument as part of the surrounding landscape.
Watching the countryside slowly emerge in the early morning light was a peaceful way to begin what would become a very full Vesak Day.
After sunrise, we returned to get ready for the main celebrations.
Wear White for Vesak
One thing we wish we had known beforehand: wear white.
White is traditionally worn during Vesak and symbolizes purity and peace. Most pilgrims and participants are dressed in white, so if you are planning to attend the procession and celebrations, come prepared.
Our tour company had not mentioned this to us, and we only realized it once we arrived.
It is a small detail, but one that is useful to know in advance.
Getting Around on Vesak Day
Another thing to prepare for is the traffic.
Thousands of people converge on the Borobudur area for Vesak, and getting around can be difficult. Roads become extremely congested, traffic restrictions may be in place, and getting close to the start of the procession by car is not guaranteed.
We had transportation arranged through the company we had booked our lantern tickets with, but even they had considerable difficulty getting us close to the starting point of the procession.
Give yourself plenty of extra time, wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk.
The crowds are part of the experience, but Vesak is definitely not the day to plan a tight schedule.
The Procession from Mendut to Borobudur
One of the highlights of Vesak is the pilgrimage procession from Mendut Temple to Borobudur.
Thousands of Buddhist monks and pilgrims walk the route carrying sacred flames, holy water and ceremonial offerings. The procession eventually reaches Borobudur, where the main ceremonies take place.
We walked alongside the procession for part of the route.
There was plenty happening around us, but the atmosphere remained surprisingly calm and respectful. Monks, families, pilgrims, photographers and visitors all moved together toward Borobudur, accompanied by chanting and prayers.
For documentary photography, it was one of the most interesting parts of the celebration. But even without a camera, simply walking alongside the procession and observing the people around us was memorable.
Inside the Borobudur Grounds
Once inside the Borobudur grounds, we began to understand just how large the celebration really was.
There were gathering areas, food stalls, market vendors and ceremony locations spread throughout the complex. Thousands of monks, pilgrims, photographers and visitors were moving through the grounds.
It was easy to spend hours simply watching what was happening.
Everywhere we looked there was something different: meditation, group prayers, conversations between pilgrims, ceremonies and moments of quiet reflection.
This was what made visiting Borobudur during Vesak so different from a normal visit.
For a short time, the monument stopped feeling like a historical site or museum. It became what it was originally intended to be: a place of faith and community.
The Vesak Lantern Release
As night fell, attention shifted to one of the most anticipated parts of the celebration: the lantern release.
For us, getting tickets for the lantern release had actually been one of the most difficult parts of planning Vesak.
We tried to purchase tickets as soon as online ordering became available, but they were already sold out. We eventually booked through a tour company because it appeared to be the only way we could still obtain lantern tickets.
If participating in the lantern release is important to you, try to secure your tickets ahead of time if at all possible. Check the arrangements for the year you are visiting well in advance, as ticketing procedures can change.
There was one more lesson we learned: if possible, have your actual tickets before entering the Borobudur compound.
We had booked ours, but we did not yet have the tickets in hand when we entered. Once inside, we discovered that we couldn’t simply leave again to find our tour operator. We eventually located them and got our tickets, but it added an unnecessary complication to an already very busy day.
With the tickets finally sorted, we joined thousands of other participants in the designated lantern area.
Large video screens were set up, and everyone was guided through a meditation session before the lantern launch began.
Then the lanterns were distributed.
This was also when we discovered that launching one is not nearly as easy as it looks.
You have to keep the lantern upright, wait patiently for it to fill with hot air and somehow coordinate the release at exactly the right moment. A little teamwork definitely helps.
Eventually, lantern after lantern began floating into the sky.
Watching thousands of them rise into the night above Borobudur was an incredible sight.
Yet what stayed with me most was not the photographs, but the feeling of being part of something much larger than myself.
A Tip for Photographers
If photography is your priority, arrive at the lantern area as early as you can.
Once thousands of people begin gathering with their lanterns, moving around becomes difficult. Find a good position before the release rather than expecting to change locations once everyone is in place.
And don’t concentrate only on the lanterns in the sky.
Some of the most interesting moments happen around you: families trying to launch their lanterns together, monks and pilgrims, people meditating, and the anticipation just before the release begins.
The Morning After
Before leaving Borobudur, we booked a sunrise tour so we could finally spend some time learning more about the history and architecture of the temple itself.
Because regular temple visits can be limited during the Vesak celebrations, adding a proper temple visit before or after the event is well worth doing.
Our morning visit came with an unexpected bonus.
Monks and pilgrims who had remained overnight were still there for full moon meditation and sunrise worship.
What we thought would simply be a historical tour of Borobudur became one last part of our Vesak experience.
Not a bad surprise at all.
Practical Tips for Vesak at Borobudur
Book Your Accommodation Early
Hotels and guesthouses around Borobudur fill quickly during Vesak, so book your accommodation as early as possible.
Staying close to the temple area is useful, but don’t rely only on the distance shown on a map. During Vesak, road closures, traffic restrictions and the layout of the park can turn what looks like a short walk into a much longer journey.
Wear White
Plan to wear white on Vesak Day.
It is the traditional color worn by pilgrims and participants and symbolizes purity and peace. This was something we didn’t know beforehand and wished we had.
Arrange Your Lantern Tickets in Advance
If you want to participate in the lantern release, make this one of the first things you organize.
When we tried to buy tickets as soon as online ordering opened, they were already sold out. We eventually obtained ours through a tour company.
Check the official arrangements for the year you plan to attend as early as possible, as the ticketing process may change.
And if possible, have the actual tickets in hand before entering the Borobudur grounds.
Allow Plenty of Time
Don’t plan your day according to normal driving times.
Traffic around Borobudur can be extremely heavy during Vesak, roads may be restricted, and thousands of people are trying to reach the same places at the same time.
Arrive early and expect to do a lot of walking.
Understand the Park Entrances and Exits
This is something we learned the hard way.
Moving in and out of the Borobudur complex during Vesak is not necessarily straightforward. Once inside, don’t assume you will be able to quickly leave, meet someone outside and come back in.
The location of your accommodation can also be misleading on a map. A hotel that appears extremely close to Borobudur may be much less convenient depending on which entrances and exits are operating.
Before booking, check not only the distance from the temple but also how you will actually get there and back during Vesak.
Don’t Skip a Regular Borobudur Visit
Vesak is an extraordinary time to experience Borobudur, but it isn’t necessarily the best time to quietly explore the monument itself.
If you have enough time, stay an extra day and book a regular temple visit.
Seeing Borobudur surrounded by thousands of pilgrims during Vesak and returning when the temple is quieter are two completely different experiences.
Both are worth having.
Final Thoughts
Attending Vesak at Borobudur was much more than a sightseeing experience.
Our Vesak Day began before sunrise overlooking Borobudur from Punthuk Setumbu. Later, we walked alongside the pilgrimage procession, explored the grounds among thousands of pilgrims and monks, and ended the day releasing lanterns beneath the full moon.
The following morning, we returned to Borobudur and unexpectedly found ourselves among monks and pilgrims still gathered for sunrise worship.
The day itself required some patience. Traffic was difficult, moving around wasn’t always easy, and there were a few things we wish we had known beforehand—especially to wear white and to have our lantern tickets sorted out before entering the grounds.
But those are practical details.
What I remember is the atmosphere: the procession, the monks and pilgrims, the ceremonies, the quiet moments among the crowds and finally the lanterns rising into the night.
As a photographer, there was no shortage of extraordinary scenes to capture. But the photographs are only part of what stayed with me.
Vesak gave us the chance to see Borobudur not simply as one of Indonesia’s great monuments, but as a place that is still very much alive with faith, tradition and community.
And that is what made the experience unforgettable.