Indonesia requires tourists to wear "special sandals" at the world's largest Buddhist wonder.

Mr. Rustam Efendi, Deputy Minister of the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordination, said that the Indonesian government requires tourists to wear "upanat" sandals in order to preserve the stone steps leading up to Borobudur Temple.

The "upanat" sandals are made from woven pandan leaves, specially designed to be lightweight and comfortable for the feet. According to Mr. Rustam, the "upanat" sandals use local materials and are a product of local people, therefore they are expected to bring economic benefits to the community.

In 2020, the Borobudur Conservation Authority had to temporarily close parts of the temple to assess and restore the stupas and stone steps that had been eroded or damaged by the large number of visitors. The authority also prohibited visitors from touching or stepping on the fragile statues and stupas within the temple.

Borobudur, also known as Barabodur or Ba La Phu Do, is a 9th-century Buddhist temple located in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Situated approximately 41 km northwest of Indonesia's former capital, Yogyakarta, Borobudur is one of the largest Buddhist temples and monuments in the world. In 1991, Borobudur was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

An (compiled)