Go to Muaro Jambi in Jambi, Sumatra, Indonesia, you will find dozens of Buddhist temples built in the 7th century that were abandoned. There are 8 temples that have been excavated from the ground but still dozens are buried.
On an area of 3,981 hectares, you will find the rest of life that has been stuck on the land, some of which are still visible. Ancient canals made for transportation and mobilization of temple building materials connected by the Batang Hari River are the evidence they left behind. Some students from India, Tibet, China, and some other Buddhists in Asia also study here, this is evidenced by money and some souvenirs found.
Why Abandoned
A very large flood ahead of the 12th century left the impact of the great cholera at that time. Some students and teachers who inhabited the complex were no longer helped and died in this place. Some of those who have not been affected by the disease have fled and returned to their country. They left the temple complex they had built for 500 years and nature through its mechanism protected this heritage. Through land, leaves and large trees for hundreds of years.
“Koto Mahligai” Temple
Koto Mahligai Temple is the name for a mound wrapped in old trees in the middle of the jungle far from the center of the temple complex that has been restored. Access to this place is also difficult. A bridge over an ancient canal connecting this area with the main ensemble area was damaged and I saw no bridge repair effort.
Temples that are still embedded in this area are intentionally not excavated to show the original conditions when the temple complex was still buried by soil and thick old trees.
UNESCO
7 hours in this complex area, there are lots of questions that I want to ask, whether to whom. If only the rest of the magnificent building with the equipment left behind would be carefully examined, surely the remaining red thread of the Srivijaya kingdom that was connected with the Malay Kingdom and Singasari’s interference and the influence of Buddhism brought from India should have been neatly exposed.
Since 2009 this area was submitted to UNESCO to become one of the world heritage sites. It has been almost 9 years until today, the proposal was ignored by the honorable council of nations for education, science and culture.
Instead of empowering local residents to provide business opportunities by selling food, drinks and toys that they do, in my opinion it is very inappropriate in historical places that are of very high value, certainly not only for Buddhists, but for Indonesia’s pride.
Situs Muaro Jambi, Kampus Budha yang Telantar di Jambi
(Translated from Bahasa Indonesia using Google Translate)
