The restoration project

It was mentioned until the middle of the nineteenth century, concerning about the monument was confined to the amateur's project. The excavations were mostly carried out because of someone’s personal interest or an eagerness to know more about what was still kept hidden by the rubbish.

The Government interest dates from 1849, at the beginning when Wilsen was sent to make an accurate scale - drawings of the reliefs. A few years later Brumund was designated to prepare an extensive description of the monument then. This work actually was to be followed next by a monograph the embodying all the details of Chandi Borobudur and the results of the various studies made.

Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide. 

In the year 1896, Chulalongkorn the King of Siam visited Java and requested and  was allowed to take home eight cartloads of sculptures had been taken from Borobudur. These were included some of thirty pieces taken from a number of the relief panels, five Buddha images, two lions, and one gargoyle, several kala motifs from the stairs and the gateways, and a guardian statue (dvarapala). Several of these artifacts, most notably the lions, dvarapala, kala, makara and the giant waterspouts are now on display in the Java Art room in The National Museum Bangkok. 

Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

Even though there is no written record of who built chandi Borobudur first, it is believed that Borobudur Temple was built between AD 780 and 840 when the Syailendra dynasty ruled the region. Chandi Borobudur  was left behind  for  centuries  and  it's buried  beneath  the layers  of the volcanic ash  from Mount Merapi with only local people knew of its existence.

Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

In the year 1873, it began the job from Van Kinsbergen, an excellent art photographer, was invited to make photographs several parts of the sculptures which were of exceptional quality. During the activity, he had first removing the earth and the shrubs before he could even start selecting vantage points for his equipment.

In 1882, a proposal to demolish the monument and remove the reliefs in to a museum was submitted to the Government. This was considered to a radical. Instead, the Government appointed the experts, an archaeologist Groeneveldt to make a thorough investigation on the site and assess members were Van Erp, an army engineer officer, and Van de Kamer, a construction engineer in the Department of Public Works. Van de Kamer had earlier become known for his fantastic plan to protect the monument by sheltering Chandi Borobudur from the rain and the sunshine by constructing a huge umbrella over it, made of galvanized iron plates and supported by 40 iron pillars, at an estimated cost of 135,000 Dutch guilders.

In 1885, the excavation met to the Chairman of the Archaeological Society in Yogyakarta, Yzerman had discovered the hidden reliefs at the base of chandi Borobudur. These hidden reliefs revealed a Sanskrit instructions left for the carver, with the distinctive lettering that uncovered its date of the construction Chandi Borobudur as the temple: the middle of the 9 century, the time when the glory of Syailendra dynasty ruled the area.

Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

In 1902, the work began real when the Commission submited a three fold plan. First, the immediate dangers should be averted by resetting the corners, removing the stones that endagered adjacent parts, straightening the first balustrade, and restoring several archways, niches, stupas and the main dome. Secondly, the improvements so obtained should be consolidated by fencing off the courtyard, providing proper maintenance and, above all, by making the water drains really effective and restoring the floors and spouts. Thirdly, all loose stones should be removed, the monument cleared up to the first balustrade, disfiguring additions also removed, and the spire of the big dome should be restored.

At last the restoration then was carried out between the year 1907 and 1911, using the principles of anastylosis, it was led by Theodor van Erp. The first seven months of restoration were occupied with excavating the grounds around the monument to find missing Buddha heads and the panel stones. Van Erp dismantled and rebuilt the upper three circular platforms and the stupas. Along the way, Van Erp discovered more things he could do to improve the monument; which was approved with the additional cost of 34,600 guilders. Van Erp went further by carefully reconstructing the chhatra (three-tiered parasol) pinnacle on top of the main stupa. However, he later dismantled the chhatra, citing that there were not enough original stones used in reconstructing the pinnacle, which means that the original design of chandi Borobudur's pinnacle is actually unknown. The restoration had been primarily focused on cleaning the panel sculptures, and Van Erp did not solve the drainage problem.

Within fifteen years, the gallery walls were sagging, and the reliefs showed signs of new cracks and deterioration. Van Erp used concrete from which alkali salts and calcium hydroxides leached and were transported into the rest of the construction. 

reconstructing the pinnacle, chattra
Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

During World War II and Indonesian National Revolution in 1945 to 1949, Borobudur restoration efforts were halted. The monument suffered further from the weather and drainage problems, which caused the earth core inside the temple to expand, pushing the stone structure and tilting the walls. In 1965, Indonesia asked the UNESCO for advice on ways to counteract the problem of weathering at Borobudur and other monuments.

In 1968, the idea to rescue the monument came from Professor Soekmono, the Head of the Archeological Service of Indonesia, then launched his "Save Borobudur" campaign, in an effort to organize a massive restoration project. At first glance, Borobudur had been restored to its old glory. The Indonesian government and UNESCO then undertook the complete overhaul in a restoration project between 1973 and 1983.

Borobudur after Van Erp’s restoration in 1911.  Note the reconstructed chatra Pinnacle on top of the main stupa (now dismantled)
Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

The restoration project

The response was prompt; as from 1968, experts from several countries came in turn to carry out on-site studies, in close cooperation with the Archaeological Institute and the various governmental agencies involved.

Embedding concrete and pvc pipe to improve Borobudur's drainage system during the 1973 restorationSource: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

Chandi Borobudur faced imminent destruction through collapse of the structure and disintegration of the building stones; the only effective way of stopping infiltration and it was by making a complete reconstruction of the monument and introducing a properly - designed drainage system; and that surface treatment of the stone would not arrest the processes of decay but might, on the contrary, cause additional harm.

Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

Over one million stones were dismantled and removed during the restoration, and set aside like pieces of a massive jig - saw puzzle to be individually identified, catalogued, cleaned and treated for preservation. Borobudur became a testing ground for new conservation techniques, including new procedures to battle the microorganisms attacking the stone. The foundation was stabilized, and all 1,460 panels were cleaned. The restoration involved the dismantling of the five square platforms and the improvement of drainage by embedding water channels into the monument. Both impermeable and filter layers were added.

Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

The restoration project involved around 600 people to restore the monument and it cost a total of US$6,901,243. UNESCO gave support and commenced work to raise funds for the restoration. From 1968 to 1983, research through to restoration took place under UNESCO. Specialists from the world over came to assist in the dismantling, and re-engineering of the site. A great deal of work was also done to develop procedures to prevent the microorganisms eating away the stone.

Source: Balai Konservasi Borobudur - Guiding Technique Candi Borobudur arisguide.

Finally, UNESCO listed Borobudur Temple as World Heritage Site in 1991. 

Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide