The Dutch realized the full Importance of the Monument in the early Twentieth Century and initiated its reconstruction. This first attempt, executed under the responsibility of the engineer Van ERP, encountered serious technical problems and the eventual results were disappointing. In the early 1960s, the reconstruction job, delayed twice by earthquakes, was interrupted because of financial difficulties. It was relaunched in 1973, with the support of UNESCO. After 10 years of impressive work, the temple of Borobudur was eventually opened to the public. Once again, the higher levels of the massive temple, crowned by a large stupa, visitors can look over the slopes of the Merapi volcano and look down upon the rice fields of the Plain of Kedu. Borobodur is now recognized as a World Heritage Monument.
Originally, the Borobudur had three levels, each of them corresponding to a level of the Mahayana Buddhism universe: Kamadhatu, the lower level of human life, a world of passions overwhelming the human beings, is represented by the lower level of the temple, which is now partly buried.
Ruphadhatu is the second level. It is represented in the temple by the processional terrace and by the four rectangular Terraces; it is ornamented by 2.000 bas-reliefs depicting the life of Prince Siddharta before he became the Buddha. On this level can also be found statues of the Buddha representing the five mudras (or hand positions).