Controversy Over Ancient Lake Theory at Borobudur Temple

6 hours ago 2

March 16, 2026 | 10:21 am

Tourists enjoying the sunset at Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, on December 22, 2025. Antara/Anis Efizudin

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The controversy surrounding Indonesia's Borobudur Temple being built on top of an ancient lake has been ongoing for almost a century. New evidence has been obtained from a research conducted by the Geological Survey Center of the Geological Agency about 2-3 years ago, which also involved researchers from the National Innovation Research Agency's (BRIN) Geological Disaster Research Center, Eko Yulianto. "The issue is sensational, much like Gunung Padang," said Eko to Tempo on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Recently, the Museum and World Heritage Cultural Site of Borobudur posted on its official Instagram account about the ancient lake surrounding the Borobudur Temple. The post, accompanied by an AI-generated illustration, depicts the Borobudur Temple situated in the middle of a lake.

The idea of the Borobudur Lake was first mentioned by W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp in 1933 in an article titled Het Borobudur Meer. He envisioned the Borobudur Temple as a lotus flower in the middle of a lake, symbolizing purity in the Buddhist teachings.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Borobudur restoration from 1907-1911, Theodoor van Erp, rejected the notion due to the perceived lack of scientific data. However, later geological researchers such as Reinout Willem van Bemmelen, as well as geomorphology researchers J.J Nossin and A.D. Voute, supported the possibility of the existence of an ancient lake around Borobudur. Similarly, research by Helmy Murwanto from the Yogyakarta Veteran National Development University, cited in the book 100 Years After the Restoration of Borobudur Temple, also supported this possibility.

Geological evidence found in the field by Murwanto's research in 1996 includes lake sediments consisting of black clay and containing pollen from marsh plants such as lotus, cyperaceae, eleocharis, and hydrocharis. The sediments found in the Elo, Progo, and Sileng Rivers around Borobudur are interpreted as evidence of a stable water body with a marsh and lake ecosystem.

Based on carbon dating conducted by Murwanto in 2001, the lake was formed approximately 22,000 years ago. The remnants of the lake still existed when Borobudur was built in the 8th-9th century AD. Then, in the 13th century, the lake was buried under volcanic deposits and transformed into land.

The latest research group visited several locations mentioned in previous hypotheses and field research by other researchers. For example, on the banks of the Sileng River, Eko and his team found layers previously identified as ancient lake deposits. This location was their main and initial target to prove the claim.

"When we arrived, after clearing the riverbank, we immediately knew this was not clay, but based on the grains, it is sand," said Eko. Laboratory tests on the samples taken revealed that the layer contained 70% sand with high iron content.

Further analysis of the samples to determine the presence of plant pollen and, more importantly, unique creatures from the lake, ostracods and diatoms, yielded no findings," said Eko.

Other samples taken from the location of the supposed ancient lake in the rice fields, approximately 500 meters south of Borobudur Temple, at a depth of six meters, did not yield lake deposits as expected, but rather tuff or volcanic ash mixed with clay. "There was some pollen, but lacking ostracods and diatoms," said Eko.

As a comparison, the team took samples of deposits from the Jombor Marsh in Klaten, which contained a large amount of plant pollen, as well as ostracods and diatoms. From the findings and analysis, Eko refuted the claim of the ancient lake being the site of the Borobudur Temple's construction. "Scientifically, the existence of the lake has not been verified," he stated.

Read: A Helpful Guide to Visiting Borobudur Temple: Touching Statues Strictly Forbidden

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