Baru di Bali

In every village in Bali, there are several temples and at least one small temple in each home. Therefore, you can always say that there are more temples than homes in Bali. Although many temples are quiet and uninhabited, they are transformed into colorful, active and ornately decorated places of worship when there is a festival. Offerings would be made, while performances of traditional dances and gamelan, cockfighting and gambling liven up the atmosphere. Listed below are ten temples that you should visit during your stay in Bali.

1. Kehen

   Kehen temple is one of the ancient temples in Bali that house old bronze-made manuscripts. It is a historical temple worth visiting with a long plight of steps pointing down to the south. It can be reached by any mode of transports through asphalted road, or a short walk from Bangli cultural hall. This temple is located on the southern slope of Bangli hill about two kilometers from the town.

2. Batur

   Batur temple or commonly called Ulun Danu Temple is situated at 900 meters above sea level of Batur village in Kintamani. The temple is facing west where Mount Batur and remains of its solidified black lavas serve as the backdrop. Lake Batur stretches far down the slope, enchased the beauty to nature around the temple.

3. Mekori

   Mekori temple is just on the road Antosari Pupuan located at Blimbing village, 55km from Denpasar or 32km away from Tabanan. This temple consists of many stones hidden in the forest. It does not look like an ordinary temple in Bali, but it is a place where people pray to their God.

4. Besakih

   Besakih (the holiest of all temples in Bali) is located a climb north through the astonishing landscapes of Jambul Hill, ascends over 900 meters up the slopes of Mount Agung. It was originated as a prehistoric terraced sanctuary where worship and offerings were made to the god of Mount Agung as the holiest mountain on the island. Over a thousand years, it was enlarged and added to until it grew into the present complex of about 30 temples.

5. Tanah Lot

   The waters at Tirta Empul are believed to have magic curative powers. Every year people journey from all over Bali to purify themselves in the clear pools. After leaving a small offering to the deity of the spring, men and women go either side to bathe. On the full moon of the fourth month each year, the villagers from nearby Manukaya take a sacred stone to be cleansed at Tirta Empul.

6. Tirta Empul

   Cinnamon has traditionally been used to treat toothache and fight bad breath and its regular use is believed to avoid common cold and aid digestion.

7. Taman Ayun

   Aside from being a place of worship, this royal temple also acted as a symbol of power of the Mengwi Empire back in the olden days. Today, Taman Ayun Temple is known as a tourist attraction site located in Mengwi, some 18km north of Denpasar. Its beautiful landscape surrounded by a moat with lotuses gives the feel of a beautiful garden sanctuary; thus, earning the temple quite a number of tourists visiting. Frangipanis are abundantly grown all around the wall. Within the inner court are merus (pagoda of Hindu temple), dedicated to various gods and spirits.

8. Goa Lawah

   Goa Lawah (Bat Cave), some 10 kilometers east of Klungkung, is the home of one of the most scared temples in Bali. As said on its name, Goa Lawah is inhibited by thousands of bats hangin down on the ceiling and flying around. The cave itself is also believed to channel the area to Mount Agung, but of course with many obstacles: a holy python snake (Naga Besuki) and the thousands of noisy, long-nosed bats.

9. Gunung Kawi

   Gunung Kawi is a Hindu temple complex carved into the cliff face. Local legend has it that these temple carvings were 'hand-made' back in the 11th century by Kebo Iwa, a legendary giant in Balinese folktales, using nothing but his very own fingers. Reaching this rock temple from the ancient time is through the footpath going down passing breathtakingly beautiful rice terraces.

10. Puncak Penulisan

    Bukit Penulisan is situated at 1,745m above sea level about 3km from Kintamani. Around 9th century on the peak of this Bukit Penulisan, the temple of Tegeh Koripan was constructed which is commonly called Pura Pucak Penulisan because its location is on the peak of Penulisan Hill.