A country filled with almost incomprehensible natural wonders, it's easy to ignore everything else Indonesia has to offer. The Indonesian archipelago has been inhabited for 500,000 years, with Austronesians making their way to the islands approximately 4,000 years ago.
This vast history has led to the development of some absolutely astonishing archaeological sites across the 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia. Many of the most wondrous sites can be attributed to the influences of Hinduism and Buddhism on the nation's culture starting in the 700s.
Things got really interesting in the 1200s when Islam made its first appearance followed by Europeans in the 1500s. All of this led to a combination of disparate influences that impacted every aspect of cultural development in Indonesia, giving it some amazing archaeological sites.
Explore Indonesia's past
Learning about Indonesia can go all the way back to pre-history, such as Sangiran which is regarded as one of the most important archaeological sites in the world thanks to its hominid fossils. But most excursions on the islands tend to focus on the two or three thousand years.
Many of the sites discovered in the 1800s by locals were left intact by locals thanks to superstitions in regards to disturbing them. Discovery and preservation have continued throughout the centuries since then, many of which can be experienced by visitors today.
This includes temples, cities, palaces, and so much more. No one is suggesting that you or anyone else could take in everything Indonesia has to offer in one trip. What you can do is pick the islands and sites you want to see, then go from there.
Where to go
Located in the Kedu Plain on Java, the Borobudur Temple Compounds are absolutely astonishing. It contains three Buddhist temples dating back to the eighth century. After being restored with the assistance of UNESCO in the 1970s, it is one of the most picturesque places on Earth.
Also found in Central Java are the Prambanan Temple Compounds. They contain several Hindu and Buddhist temples, mostly from the eighth and ninth centuries. The only thing that can make these architectural masterpieces better is their proximity to a number of other sites.
The Sriwijaya Kingdom Archaeological Park is an interesting site because it focuses on Srivijaya empire. Here, you'll find the remains of ancient man-made canals, moats, ponds, and artificial islands. Numerous Chinese and Buddhist artifacts have been discovered here, as well.