Malavika Mohanan's sunrise pilgrimage to Borobudur: 'Nothing short of magical'
Synopsis
Malavika Mohanan's predawn pilgrimage to Borobudur wasn't just tourism — it was a spiritual reckoning. Waking at 4 AM to witness the ninth-century temple emerge from darkness, surrounded by volcanoes and rainforest, she discovered what few travel experiences deliver: genuine transcendence. Between 'Pocket Novel' with Vijay Sethupathi and 'Sardar 2' with Karthi, the actress is carving a path beyond conventional Tamil cinema.
Key Takeaways
Malavika Mohanan visited Borobudur , one of the world's largest Buddhist temples, located in Indonesia .
She woke at 4 AM to witness the temple at sunrise, describing the experience as 'nothing short of magical.' The temple, dating to the ninth century , is surrounded by lush rainforests and multiple volcanoes.
She is currently filming 'Pocket Novel' with Vijay Sethupathi , directed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja , releasing this year.
She recently wrapped 'Sardar 2' , a spy thriller co-starring Karthi , with portions shot in Bangkok .
Actress Malavika Mohanan has shared a deeply personal account of her recent visit to Borobudur, the ninth-century Buddhist temple complex in Indonesia, describing the experience as transformative and otherworldly. Taking to Instagram, the Chennai-based performer detailed how she woke at 4 AM — despite being a self-proclaimed non-morning person — to witness the temple at sunrise, when crowds are sparse and the atmosphere remains serene.
The sunrise experience
Mohanan recounted the moment the temple emerged with the first light, surrounded by lush tropical rainforests and framed by multiple volcanoes on nearly all sides. "What I saw that morning was nothing short of magical," she wrote, describing the topography as surreal and unlike any landscape she had encountered in her extensive travels. She reflected on how few destinations had come close to matching the visual and spiritual impact of that dawn encounter.
Spiritual and historical resonance
The actress underscored how learning that Borobudur dates back to the ninth century, and that each level represents a journey toward enlightenment, deepened the experience. Walking through the temple at that early hour with virtually no other visitors present created an intimate, personal connection that she described as difficult to articulate. She has bookmarked the visit as one of her most cherished travel memories.
Current film projects
On the professional front, Mohanan is currently shooting director Thiagarajan Kumararaja's Tamil-language film 'Pocket Novel', co-starring Vijay Sethupathi. She has praised Kumararaja as one of the finest contemporary filmmakers and expressed enthusiasm about the project, which is slated for release this year. The actress has also wrapped filming on the spy thriller 'Sardar 2', directed by P.S. Mithran and co-starring Karthi, with portions shot in Bangkok. She thanked both her co-star and director, describing the experience as unlike anything she had previously undertaken and calling it a special project.
Point of View
Her reflection on the temple's spiritual architecture and her deliberate choice to experience it in solitude suggests a more thoughtful engagement with travel. Professionally, her dual commitment to Kumararaja's experimental storytelling and Mithran's mainstream spy thriller reveals an actress consciously balancing artistic credibility with commercial visibility — a rare balance in Tamil cinema.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Borobudur and where is it located?
Borobudur is one of the world's largest Buddhist temple complexes, dating back to the ninth century, located in Indonesia. It is surrounded by lush tropical rainforests and framed by multiple volcanoes.
Why did Malavika Mohanan visit Borobudur at sunrise?
She visited at sunrise because it is considered the most magical time to experience the temple, before tourist crowds arrive and when the atmosphere remains calm and serene. She woke at 4 AM despite being a self-proclaimed non-morning person to witness this.
What is 'Pocket Novel' and when will it release?
'Pocket Novel' is a Tamil-language film directed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja, co-starring Malavika Mohanan and Vijay Sethupathi. The film is slated to release this year.
What is 'Sardar 2' and who stars in it?
'Sardar 2' is a spy thriller directed by P.S. Mithran, co-starring Malavika Mohanan and Karthi. Portions of the film were shot in Bangkok, and filming has recently wrapped.
