Bali is so much more than just tropical beaches where you can enjoy the water, surf, or witnessing the sunset. Bali is also called The Island of Gods because this island has so much history especially in the cultural and spiritual aspects and you can see it first hand by visiting the Hindu temples dotted around the island. Here are some of the most amazing Bali temples you should visit the next time you go to Bali.
When you go to a travel agent and want to schedule your trip to Bali, on a brochure or a poster you will probably see a gorgeous Hindu temple built on a rock facing the ocean with waves crashing around it. That temple is called the Tanah Lot Temple and is arguably the most beautiful and famous Hindu temple in Bali you can visit.
Tanah Lot Temple was built around the 16th century and has an amazing story behind it. It was said that a man called Dang Hyang Nirartha, a well-respected religious figure in Bali was spending the night on a little rock-island shaped like a bird called Gili Beo. When he was staying there, he felt enlightened and decided to build a temple right there on the rock he was staying on.
But, the village leader refused Nirartha’s request to build a shrine there, and banished him from the village because he wanted to spread Hinduism in the village. The myth said that after that, Nirartha used his magical powers to move the rock into the ocean and build the temple and then named it Tanah Lot which means Land in the Sea.
Being one of the most if not the most beautiful Hindu temples on the island, Tanah Lot has a lot of visitors each year flocking the temple, around half a million people from around the world. This is because of the location of the temple making it one of the best spots to enjoy the sunset and would be perfect to take your Bali honeymoon pictures. If you want to visit this temple with less crowd, try to head there a little early since this temple is already open to tourists at 7 AM.
Other than Tanah Lot, when you Google Bali temple, you might see a lot of pictures of beautiful Hindu style gates with water below and a volcano as a background. Those gates, known as The Gates of Heaven, are part of a Hindu temple called The Lempuyang Temple. If you want to know which temple is the most Instagrammable spot, then Lempuyang Temple with its iconic Gates of Heaven is the answer.
The gates themselves are just a small part of a huge complex of temples which consists of 7 sanctuaries, which are also divided into upper and lower part sections. To reach the famous Gates of Heaven, you only need a 5-minute walk from the parking lot but if you want to reach the crown jewel, the grandest temple sits at the top of a mountain and will take about 3 hours of hike including the return trip. With the view of Mount Agung, Lempuyang Temple is one of the most beautiful Bali temples on the island.
If you think going to the peak of a mountain to see Lempuyang Temple is not for you since you have to hike for hours, then let’s talk about another Hindu temple that has the ocean as the main view. This temple is called Uluwatu Temple which roughly translates as a rock where the land ends. Just like the name, this temple sits on the edge of a cliff with a pristine beach as a view beneath.
Similar to Tanah Lot Temple, Uluwatu Temple is also one of the most famous and favorite spots to catch the stunning view of sunset. After you see the sunset, you can stay a little bit longer to witness the Balinese signature dance, the Kecak Dance usually performed in the evening time right at the entrance of the temple. Not only beautiful, Uluwatu Temple is also important since it is one of the six main temples of Bali.
The next temple in your Bali tour is not only going to relax your eyes with the beautiful view but also your body. In Tirta Empul Temple, you can enjoy a nice bath in the sacred and blessed water from the temple. The locals believe that the water in this temple can cure a lot of things since the temple was created and blessed by Indra the God.
When you walk into this temple, you will find yourself walking through Candi Betar. At the end of the Candi, you will see a gate guarded by Dwarapala statues. After that, you will reach the main attraction which is called Jaba Tengah where you can finally see the pool with crystal clear water. Since this is a sacred site for the locals, make sure you wear the Hindu sarong before you enter the complex.
The next temple is quite unique since it doesn’t look like a regular temple in Bali since it is an ancient cave with a relic-filled courtyard that serves as a place of worship. On the entrance of the cave, you can see a big carve of Barong with two statues guarding it. In 1954, they also found a pool in the area of Gajah Cave and inside, you can see statues depicting the Hindu angels. The cave is believed to have been constructed in 11th century in the era of Warmadewa. Now, Gajah Cave serves as a place of worship for both Buddhists and Hindus, and also a great place to visit for tourists from all over the world.
So there you go, some of the most amazing Bali temples you can visit in Bali. Since Balinese people are highly religious, please be respectful while visiting these temples. Don’t forget your Hindu sarong, and behave accordingly.
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