Czech Ambassador Admire Historical Relics at Borobudur

The Czech Republic's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (LBBP) to the Republic of Indonesia, Jaroslav Doleček, visited the Borobudur Temple Tourism Park on Saturday (March 27, 2021). Doleček and his family were amazed by the splendor and historical significance of the reliefs.

"Borobudur Temple is very special because it holds a lot of interesting information related to the history and the relationship between the Hindu-Buddhist eras in the past," said Doleček after climbing Borobudur Temple.

The ambassador, who claimed to have visited Borobudur twice, also expressed admiration for the Indonesian people's attention to cultural heritage sites like Borobudur. He noted that Indonesians are proud of Borobudur as a well-preserved historical monument.

"I'm impressed by the Indonesian people's concern for this historical heritage. This is because they are very proud of it," he continued.

During his visit, the Czech Republic's Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia was accompanied by the General Manager of PT TWC Borobudur Unit, I Gusti Putu Ngurah Sedana, and Borobudur Conservation Center (BKB) officer, Mura Aristina.

"The Czech ambassador really enjoyed visiting Borobudur. They enjoyed every story told about Borobudur. During their visit, the group also visited the main stupa and enjoyed the view from the summit," Mura added.

After visiting Borobudur Temple, the group then entered the Samudra Raksa Museum which is still in the Borobudur Temple Tourism Park complex.

This museum, representing Indonesia's maritime glory, features a complete display of the Samudera Raksa ship. Designed to mimic the reliefs of Borobudur Temple, the vessel sailed the vast oceans on a mission to retrace ancient trade routes.

The Czech Ambassador, his wife, and children were stunned by the intact hull of the Samudra Raksa at the museum. Accompanied by the General Manager of PT TWC Borobudur Unit, they took a peek inside several rooms of the vessel, which sailed from Jakarta to the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

"They were intrigued by the Samudra Raksa voyage, which relied solely on natural power without engines. They were also intrigued by the experience of sailing for six months in the vast ocean on this mission to explore ancient trade routes," said I Gusti Putu Ngurah Sedana.

"I will ensure that I disseminate this information and story to a wider public in our country. Hopefully, after this pandemic is over, there will be many visits to Borobudur," Doleček concluded.

In addition to visiting Borobudur Temple, the Czech Ambassador also visited Prambanan Temple on Sunday, March 28, 2021.