Borobudur temple, Java, Indonesia 29 Dec 2024

Imagine a colossal puzzle made from over 2 million stone blocks—that"s Borobudur, seen in today"s image. Built during the 9th century in the reign of the Shailendra dynasty—an influential ruling family in Southeast Asia—it"s the world"s largest Buddhist temple, standing tall on the island of Java, Indonesia. This ancient sanctum has withstood centuries of natural challenges, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, thanks to its advanced interlocking stone system. Historically, Borobudur was an important pilgrimage site. After being abandoned for centuries, it was rediscovered in the 19th century by the English lieutenant governor Thomas Stamford Raffles.

© Robertharding/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

The butterfly effect
29 Dec 2023Happy Hogmanay!

More Desktop Wallpapers:

A glowing square of squares
21 Apr 2025International Dark Sky Week
29 Sep 2025Rainbow houses, Houten, Netherlands
22 May 2024International Day for Biological Diversity
18 Oct 2023Canary Wharf tube station, London
Magnificent moss, magnified
6 Oct 2023Taughannock Falls State Park, New York
29 Jun 2024Pride in London
7 Aug 2024Vineyards above the Moselle River, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
4 Apr 2025National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, DC, United States
Crowning jewel of London
18 Oct 2024Autumn in Central Park, New York, United States
Big rocks, big heads
25 Aug 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Shark Awareness Day
What’s your favorite colour?
29 Mar 2025Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States
Portable portals into our imagination
Sep 9, 2023Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
Green shoots
Doves of peace
19 Dec 2023Castle Square, Warsaw, Poland
23 Jun 2025Elbe river in Dresden, Saxony, Germany
Purple mountain majesties
15 May 2025Palace of Westminster, London, England
A flashy, frigid waterfowl
Sanctuary among the trees
An old bridge in a new light
30 Oct 2023Common raven
18 Sep 2023Milky Way over Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park