Jakarta, IO – After the immersive experiences inspired by artist Basoeki Abdullah and Indonesian folklore, Galeri Indonesia Kaya is back, with a new experience that blends history, culture, and technology. This time, Purwacarita Borobudur: Jelajah Sejarah dalam Ruang dan Rasa invites visitors to discover the stories behind the creation of Borobudur Temple, through eight immersive, Ethical AI-powered experiences, available for free from Sept. 1, 2026, at Galeri Indonesia Kaya.
“As a public edutainment space that combines education, digital technology and innovation, Galeri Indonesia Kaya is committed to introducing and preserving Indonesia’s cultural heritage in a fun and contemporary way. Through Purwacarita Borobudur, we bring the history of that monumental shrine to life, through immersive Ethical AI experiences and cross-disciplinary collaboration,” explained Renitasari Adrian, Program Director of Galeri Indonesia Kaya.
“We want our audience to experience and explore history – but to do so in a more contemporary manner. Preserving culture is not only about cherishing the past, but also sustaining its stories, values, and identity alive and relevant for future generations,” she added.
One of Indonesia’s most iconic cultural landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Borobudur is filled with stories about its origins, the people behind its construction, and the messages carved into thousands of relief panels. Purwacarita Borobudur offers visitors a fresh way to discover and connect with those stories.
Developed in collaboration with Bening Digital Indonesia and Curaweda, the experience is grounded in research and verified historical sources. The story of Borobudur’s origins is drawn from Kāmulan i Bhūmisambhāra, while immersive visual projections and theatrical experiences bring scenes in the temple’s stone reliefs to life.
Visitors can explore the concept of karma and cause and effect through the Karmawibhangga reliefs, as well as the love story and loyalty of Prince Sudhana and Princess Manohara through the Avadana reliefs. They can also meet two key figures from the Sailendra Dynasty: King Samaratungga and Princess Pramodhawardhani, and share a view of their daily lives and the vision behind the classical construction and inauguration of Borobudur.
The experience extends beyond history. Through motion-sensing technology, visitors can interact with flora and fauna depicted in Borobudur’s reliefs, including peacocks, Javanese deer and elephants. An interactive display also allows them to retrace the ancient sacred route from Mendut Temple and Pawon Temple to Borobudur’s Main Stupa.
Purwacarita Borobudur allows history to be explored, experienced, and felt firsthand.
Ethical AI helps bring the experience to life, by laying historical accuracy as its foundation. Historical data and dialogue drawn from inscriptions, including the Karangtengah Inscription (824 CE) and Tri Tepusan Inscription (842 CE), along with depictions of clothing and artifacts, were carefully curated and edited.
(Source: Special)
The scripts, visuals, costumes, and architectural details were academically validated by the Department of History at Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Faculty of Cultural Sciences, as well as professionally reviewed by the Museum and Cultural Heritage Agency, whose team conducted extensive field visits to Borobudur for visual reference.
“For us at Curaweda, AI is the brush, while the canvas remains the historical facts validated by experts. AI can be used ethically to support research and bring Indonesia’s cultural heritage more immediate to younger generations,” said Azhar Muhammad Fuad, Founder and CEO of Curaweda.
“Through our collaboration with Galeri Indonesia Kaya, Borobudur’s history is no longer just something to read about in a book. It becomes a visual experience where visitors can journey through time, interact, and discover the values and moral messages within it,” he added.
The experience also underwent a rigorous curation process to ensure its historical accuracy.
“As historical curators, our biggest challenge is not simply making history look interesting, but translating the complexity of Borobudur’s history into a new medium, and to do so without losing its context and nuances,” detailed Dr. Sri Margana, M.Phil., a curator from UGM’s Department of History. “Every narrative, character, costume, artifact, and visual element needs to be traced and validated against relevant historical sources.”
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Purwacarita Borobudur features eight interactive experiences:
Sapa Borobudur – A visual introduction to landscape surrounding Borobudur and the era in which the temple was built.
Karmawibhangga & Avadana – Immersive theatrical experiences bringing stories from the temple reliefs to life.
Batu Carita – An interactive encounter with four historical figures: King Samaratungga, Princess Pramodhawardhani, Sudhana and Manohara.
Mandala – Explore Borobudur through your own device while retracing the ancient sacred route, from Mendut and Pawon temples to the Main Stupa.
Jelajah Borobudur – An adventure exploring Borobudur and the temples surrounding it.
Buku Carita – Follow Princess Pramodhawardhani as she discovers her father King Samaratungga’s vision for building Borobudur.
Harmoni Borobudur – Step into Borobudur’s ancient natural surroundings, where animals such as peacocks, Javanese deer and elephants respond to visitors’ movements through motion sensors.
Asal Mula Borobudur: The Movie –The main feature screening at Galeri Indonesia Kaya’s Auditorium, taking visitors deeper into the story behind Borobudur and its iconic reliefs.
As a professional business consultant, Bening Digital Indonesia worked with Curaweda and Galeri Indonesia Kaya to develop an AI-powered immersive experience that remains firmly grounded in research and historical accuracy.
“With careful creative development, thorough research, field studies, and validation from experts and curators, technology can be used responsibly, to present Indonesian history and classical culture in a more relevant way,”said Lia Marliana, President Director of Bening Digital Indonesia.
“We hope Purwacarita Borobudur will be the beginning of many more Indonesian historical and cultural stories brought back to life through AI-powered immersive experiences,” she added. (des)
