MUAROJAMBI SHRINE SITE FIGHTING FOR UNESCO RECOGNITION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 15 (Antara) - The seventh-century Muarojambi Temple site, Indonesia's largest Buddhist shrine complex of the ancient Malay Kingdom (7th-14th century AD), is now fighting to get recognition from UNESCO, as one of the world's cultural heritages.          Located some 40 kilometers (km) from Jambi City in Sumatra, the 2,612-hectare (ha) Muarojambi Temple complex in Muarojambi District was registered for recognition on the tentative list of UNESCO in 2009. However, the world body has yet to grant it recognition.          According to Zumi Zola Sulkifli, Jambi Governor, stiff competition is keeping the UNESCO from declaring the Muarojambi Temple complex as a world cultural heritage.         "Competition is spoiling Jambi temple's chance of getting recognition from the UNESCO as a world cultural heritage. There are other sites from other countries which also have the potential to be registered as world heritage," Sulkifli noted, after opening the Muarojambi Temple Festival on Thursday (May 11).          The regional government set up a team in 2016 to study and push for the recognition of the temple site as a world cultural heritage. "Along with the team, we will collect all that is needed, and this will take time, as well as sustained efforts," the governor said.

JAMBI TEMPLE OFFERS JUNGLE TREKKING TOURS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jambi, May 15 (Antara) - The Muarojambi Temple Complex in Muarojambi District, Jambi, is offering jungle trekking tours around its ancient Buddhist temple site.          Acting Head of Muarojambi District Kaliani revealed that the unique jungle trekking tour aims to explore nature and holds immense potential.          "I think this is what we need to promote and build as a tourism object, which has its own market segment. We need to cooperate with all stakeholders to develop its competitive edge and market it," Kaliani noted here on Sunday.          The local people are expected to serve as guides for the jungle trekking tour. There are local people who possess good skills and are well trained.          Several of them have undergone various training programs, both as guides and as human resources for small industries.          "Yet, limitations are also encountered with regard to the legal management aspects. This is because the authority lies in the hands of the Ministry of Education and Culture, particularly the directorate general of culture. Hence, we cannot expand our activities more broadly in the tourism sector," he explained.

JAMBI TEMPLE REVEALS TIBET'S TEACHING OF MORALITY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 26 (Antara) - Before the advent of Islam, Buddhism was flourishing in Indonesia, which continues to display numerous historical heritages, such as relics, artefacts and glorious temples.         The most popular Buddhist Temple in Indonesia is the 9th century Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, which was once included in the seven wonders of the world.          The other temple which bears historical importance, yet is not known well globally, is the      Muarojambi Temple in Jambi, Sumatra. Though little known, this temple complex is a link with the history of Tibet.          According to a noted monk, the Buddhist teaching of morality now being developing in Tibet was basically born at the Muarojambi Temple in the 11th century.          It was adopted from the teaching of Grand Buddhist teacher Atisha, who spent years studying Buddhism at the Muarojambi temple, before he returned to Tibet to spread the teaching.           "The teaching was brought back to Tibet. Up to now, the international Buddhist community in Tibet still preserves the morality teachings of Grand Teacher Guru Atisha," said Monk Jangchup Choeden, who led a delegation of seven monks from India, Nepal and Bhutan on a religious tour of the Muarojambi temple on Sunday (September 25).

JAMBI PROMOTES TOURISM THROUGH FESTIVAL AT TEMPLE SITE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 31 (Antara) - Indonesia's Sumatran Province of Jambi is holding a festival at its Buddhist temple in Muarajambi District to promote tourism and the temple compound, believed to be one of the ancient Malay Kingdom's heritage sites.          "There are several aspects that can help to effectively popularize the Muarojambi temples, one of which is designing attractive tourism packages," Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sapta Nirwandar said when opening the Muarojambi Temple Festival in Jambi on Thursday.          To be held until June 1, 2014, the four-day festival presented various local cultures, traditional arts and creative economic products.  "The ancient temples in Muarajambi keep alive very important cultural values that need to be preserved. We are now trying to get recognition from UNESCO," Sapta Nirwandar said.          He added that the Muarajambi temple site is the most unique historic site in Sumatra, although not all of the temples there have been explored. The government is developing the site and preserving it as an ancient heritage location, while tapping its economic potential.          "It offers two benefits. One, is a direct impact on the local people, and the other is indirect on business players outside the city of Jambi, such as airline operators," Sapta said.