A trip to Bali is nothing short of a spiritual escape from the chaos of the rest of the world. This island destination in Indonesia has slowly grown to be one of the most coveted international vacation spots for Holidays – the last two decades have launched it to a spot very few places in Asia hold. As the cherry on top, being close to India, travel packages to Bali are affordable and accessible for us and there are many temples in Bali where you can spend the spiritual time with your hubby and family. After all, these two countries have a long interconnected history of religious, economic and artistic development. In Bali, Indian tourists will find temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Saraswati and Brahma. Today, we are counting down the top Famous and Best temples in Bali that have kept the ancient heritage alive.
Ancient Temples In Bali That Capture Hearts With Their Mysterious Beauty
1. Lempuyang Temple
This Balinese Temple is known for its world-famous architecture and beautiful Island setting that is often associated with its name. Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang is a classic ‘Pura’ Shrine or Temple Gateway of The Sea. The intricately carved temples along with the gigantic pyramidal opening gates of this temple are located on the slopes of Mount Lempuyang and are counted as one of the 6 holiest Hindu temples of Bali. The temple starts at the base of the mountain which is known as the abode of Brahma. The middle of the mountain is home to Vishnu and its peak is home to Shiva. There are 3 temples on this mountain, each with an outer sanctum, middle sanctum and inner sanctum all dedicated to the highest spiritual worship.
Entry Fee: 55000 Indonesian Rupiah
Opening and Closing Timings: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Time Taken to Visit: 4-5 hours
2. Pura Tanah Lot
Close to the cliff-adorned shows of the tropical Indonesian seas stands one of the most underrated Hindu temples in Bali. Tanah Lot is a rock formation on which an ancient temple in Bali or ‘Pura’ has been called that dates back to the 16th century. Locals claim that the temple was established by none other than Dang Hyang Niratha. It is one of the seven sea temples located in the coastal regions of Bali. The holy shrine is believed to guard visitors from spirits and the island itself from unwanted visitors! An ancient immortal snake protects the island and the temple from intruders. It was renovated in the 1980s from 480 million USD that the Japanese government allotted to Indonesian authorities
Entry Fee: 60000 Indonesian Rupiah for adults & 30000 Indonesian Rupiah for children
Opening and Closing Timings: 6:00 am to 7:00 pm
Time Taken to Visit: 3 hours
3. Pura Luhur Uluwatu
Temples in Bali are unbelievably beautiful architectural wonders that bear close resemblance to the Buddhist Jakarta paintings that one will find in the Eastern Himalayas of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Pura Luhur Uluwatu, located towards the south of the province, is dedicated to the Deity Rudra Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa. It was built in the 11th century. It is said that a smaller Temple existed in its place for another few hundred years before this Shrine came into existence! Many people believe that Dang Hyang Niratha gained Moksha sitting on Dewi Danu’s petrified Barque, which is what the rocky cliff on which the temple stands actually is! The Macaque found in this area are considered sacred and holy.
Entry Fee: 30000 Indonesian Rupiah for adults and 15000 Indonesian Rupiah for children
Opening and Closing Timings: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Time Taken to Visit: 2 to 3 hours
4. Ling Gwan Kiong
A bright red and white Chinese temple close to the seaport Singaraja is one of the very few temples in Bali that can be traced back to Ancient Central Asia. The temple has been preserved beautifully and visiting it is a once in a lifetime experience. You will find old dragon masks, Chinese scripts on wall hangings, paintings of old Chinese warriors, gilded lion statues etc within the temple premises. A low ceiling, red Chinese lamps, talismans and a broad, curling roof speak directly of its auspicious lineage. It was built in North Bali around the year 1873 during the Ching dynasty and includes many other folklore murals. As a cherry on top, several turtles have often been seen roaming freely all around The Temple!
Entry Fee: No Entry Cost
Opening and Closing Timings: 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
Time Taken to Visit: 1 to 2 hours
5. Taman Saraswati Temple
Indian travellers will find the unique architectural resemblance between this gorgeous building and temples located back at home. The temple is one of the most serene and peaceful temples in Bali, Kingdom of Ubud. There are very few shrines in the world that have been dedicated to the supreme goddess of learning and excellence, Saraswati, a fact that makes the place all the more unique. It is surrounded by a hypnotic ornamental garden with a crystal-clear lotus pond in the centre. Ancient statues of goddess Saraswati, the demon Jero Gede Mecaling and local Balinese masks cover the campus. Families come to this temple to seek blessings for young children, rigorous students and excellent professionals.
Entry Fee: No Entry Cost
Opening and Closing Timings: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
Time Taken to Visit: 1 to 2 hours
6. Ulun Danu Beratan
Pura Bratan is a famous Hindu temple in Bali dedicated to Lord Shiva. The unique blend of Hindu sculptures against a temple with a Japanese-style pagoda is what makes this place interesting. The temple is located on the shores of Lake Beratan, which is surrounded by gently sloping hills and a garden of tropical flowers throughout the year. Tourists can ride the elongated Indonesian boats tied to the shore and use them to go around this crystal clear water body while encircling the tiny but eye-catching Shalvite building. The place looks as if it is still out of a window wallpaper. Travellers can purchase beautiful souvenirs from the craft shops nearby, many of which look like an exact miniature version of this amazing Hindu temple.
Entry Fee: 10.000 Indonesian Rupiah
Opening and Closing Timings: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Time Taken to Visit: 2 to 3 hours
7. Tirta Empul Spring
Who doesn’t live in natural water springs? Bathing in this spiritual spring rejuvenates our bodies, brings back all our strength and also gets rid of any evil that might be impacting our lives. In one of the most popular Balinese Hindu Temples in Bali, believers from all over the world come here to dip their young and old family members in a reservoir decorated with stone carvings and sculptures of all sides. The spring pool then spills out through 30 waterspouts on the other side – a photographic sight loved by one and all! The insides of the temple are simple and carved of various stones that are light, dark and gilded in gold and silver at different places! Tirta Empul is one of the most visited water temples not only in Bali but the whole of Indonesia!
Entry Fee: 50.000 Indonesian Rupiah
Opening and Closing Timings: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Time Taken to Visit: 3-4 hours
8. Pura Gunung Kawi
The Valley of Balinese Kings is a central location for tourism in Bali and consists of a sunny, steaming landscape of ancient tropical overgrowth, broad-leafed trees and slow-moving, local streams. The temple complex includes 10 rock-cut shrines built right into the slope of the mountains. These Hindu temples in Bali are known as Candi. Close to these shrines lies the funeral grounds of Tampaksiring dedicated to King Anak Wungsu, his family and his concubines – this place is well known among adventure and history lovers for its legendary tales of the supernatural. After visiting this temple, tourists typically like to take pictures against the backdrop of a majestic horizon, often made all the more beautiful by the characteristic Bali sunsets.
Entry Fee: 50000 Indonesian Rupiah
Opening and Closing Timings: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Time Taken to Visit: 5 to 6 hours
9. Besakih Temple
In the list of Instagram-worthy Places in Bali, this monument is bound to come second, beaten only by Lempuyang. Besakih Temple is known for its unique, jam-packed temple grounds with several spindle-shaped Shikaras surrounded by lush, forest-green gardens. The grounds include 23 such Candi – the largest of these being Pura Pentarang Agung. The temple is believed to belong to prehistoric times, with new shrines built throughout history. There are several megalithic pyramids that date back to 2000 years or more! Located on the slopes of Mount Agung, travellers walk 6 levels from top to bottom while exploring each of these heritage monuments.
Entry Fee: 60000 Indonesian Rupiah
Opening and Closing Timings: 8:00 am to 6:00 am
Time Taken to Visit: 1 day
10. Sekenan Temple
The unique, conically split gateways that temples in Bali are famous for are known as Candi Bentar. Behind these gateways on the island of Serangan lies a thousand year old shrine built back in AD 1001 that has come to be divided into 2 sections and renovated several times since then. Every 210 days, the inhabitants of Serangan celebrate the anniversary of Piodalan. The stone statues are decorated with white caps, colourful garlands, incense sticks, decorative umbrellas etc. They worship idols, elephants and trees to appease the natural and supernatural. The festivals of Galungan and Kuningan are also historic, eventful festivals that tourists from around the world love to attend.
Entry Fee: No Entry Cost
Opening and Closing Timings: 7:00 am to 6:00 am
Time Taken to Visit: 5: to 6 hours
Frequently Asked Questions?
A. Lempuyang Temple is one of the oldest and most revered temples in Eastern Bali that has become popular among Instagrammers because of its majestic, symmetrical Pura gates.
A. Goa Giri Putri Temple is famous for the caves of Nusa Penida that tourists reach after climbing 100+ flights of stairs.
A. Brahmavihara-Arama located close to the Banjar Hot Springs is the largest Buddhist Temple and Monastery in Bali. It is one of the most popular temples along with Dharmayana and Vihara Dharma Giri temples.
Final Thought!!
Booking a roundabout, customized trip for Bali for you and your loved ones that covers all corners of Bali by browsing through the brand new TRISOJ Bali travel packages for Honeymoon! Bali is a land beautified by religious shrines, festivals, craftspersons, metal workers, and snake charmers all of which come together and make a magical culture come to life. Sea beaches and temple towns add multiple levels of meaning to the ancient architectural wonders of these amazing monuments.