Muaro Jambi Temple Compounds, Buddhist temple complex in Jambi, Indonesia
Muaro Jambi Temple Compounds is a sprawling archaeological site along the Batanghari River in Jambi province, Sumatra. The complex stretches across eight villages and includes dozens of brick structures, among them temples, shrines, and foundations of former religious buildings.
The temple complex was built between the 7th and 12th centuries during the Srivijaya and Malay kingdoms. European travelers rediscovered the ruins in the early 19th century after they had been overgrown by jungle for centuries.
The name Muaro Jambi refers to the river mouth, where trade routes met and pilgrims from across Southeast Asia gathered. Visitors today see remains of altars and platforms that show how monks and scholars lived and taught here.
The site is open daily from morning until evening, and visitors can rent bicycles or motorbikes to travel between the widely spaced temples. Most structures are exposed to the sun, so sun protection and water are important.
Some of the temple structures stand partly underwater because the course of the river has shifted over the centuries. Archaeologists have also uncovered canals and water basins that once connected the religious center with the river.
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