Plan to install stairlifts in Borobudur to welcome Macron draws controversy
JAKARTA: The government's plan to install stairlifts and iron ramps at Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple in Magelang, Central Java, ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit, has sparked concerns among the public.
Many have taken to social media to express worries that the installation of the stairlift, which is typically used in homes to help people navigate stairs, could harm the structure of Borobudur, especially considering the damage to the ancient temple caused by overtourism in recent years.
Hasan Nasbi, head of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), said the stairlift was necessary to accommodate both President Macron and President Prabowo Subianto, arguing that climbing Borobudur's 12-tier stairway in formal attire during a brief official visit would be both impractical and exhausting.
'The French president has very limited time to visit Borobudur, unlike us, who can spend the entire day there during holidays. His schedule is packed, so the facility is necessary to save time,' Hasan said on Monday (May 26), as reported by Tribunnews.
'Besides, climbing 12 flights of stairs would leave both presidents sweating and their suits wrinkled, which is not ideal for a state visit,' he added.
Hasan stated that the stairlift would be installed between the fifth and eighth levels of the temple.
He also assured the public that the installation would follow strict conservation guidelines, with the Culture Ministry closely overseeing the project to ensure the temple's preservation.
"There will be no nails or bolts; the stairlift will just be [...] positioned in place. Once the project is finished, it can be easily removed," he said, as reported by Antaranews.
Culture Minister Fadli Zon stressed that the stairlift was necessary to improve accessibility at Borobudur, particularly for people with disabilities.
"It's about inclusivity. Many iconic ancient sites have installed similar structures, including the Pantheon and the Acropolis in Greece, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica in Italy, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, as well as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China," he said as quoted by Kompas.
Unesco recognises Borobudur as one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world, designating it a World Heritage site in 1991.
The temple was constructed in the eighth and ninth centuries during the Syailendra dynasty. The main temple is a stupa built in three tiers around a hill.
The structure consists of a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the base a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. On its circular platforms, the temple hosts 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha.
In recent years, the Borobudur Conservation Center has conducted research on the impact of tourism on the ancient structure.
The findings revealed that constant foot traffic has eroded the temple's stone stairs, with some areas showing indentations up to 5cm deep. The centre also reported that acts of vandalism by visitors have contributed to further damage to the temple.
Following these findings, the government introduced a daily limit of 1,200 visitors allowed to climb the temple in 2023 to help preserve its structure.
Visitors are also required to wear special sandals called upanat, made from pandan leaves and coconut, with soles crafted from EVA foam to reduce friction while climbing the Borobudur stairs. Macron is scheduled to visit Indonesia from Wednesday to Thursday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Paris and Jakarta. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
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