Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE FAMILY COMPOUND
1 Sanggah or Merajan
Family temple
2 Umah Meten
Sleeping pavilion for the family head
3 Tugu
Shrine
4 Pengijeng
Shrine
5 Bale Tiang Sanga
Guest pavilion
6 Natah
Courtyard with frangipani or hibiscus shade tree
7 Bale Sakenam
Working and sleeping pavilion
8 Fruit trees & coconut palms
9 Vegetable garden
10 Bale Sakepat
Sleeping pavilion for children
11 Paon
Kitchen
12 Lumbung
Rice barn
13 Rice-threshing area
14 Aling Aling
Screen wall
15 Candi Kurung
Gate with roof
16 Apit Lawang or Pelinggah
Gate shrines
MAJOR TEMPLES
Bali has thousands of temples, but some of the most important are listed here, and shown on
the colour highlights map, pp2-3.
Directional Temples
Some temples are so important they are deemed to belong to the whole island rather than
particular communities. There are nine
kahyangan jagat,
or directional temples.
Pura Besakih (p216) in Besakih, East Bali.
Pura Goa Lawah (p221) near Padangbai, East Bali.
Pura Lempuyang (p233) near Tirta Gangga, East Bali.
Pura Luhur Batukau (p241) on Gunung Batukau, Central Mountains.
Pura Luhur Ulu Watu (p132) at Ulu Watu, South Bali.
Pura Masceti (p209) near Gianyar, East Bali.
Pura Sambu (p210) remotely located on Gunung Agung, East Bali.
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (p250) in Candikuning (Danau Bratan), Central Mountains.
Pura Ulun Danu (p242) in Batur, Central Mountains.
Most of these are well known and accessible, but some are rarely seen by visitors to Bali. Pura
Masceti, on the coast east of Sanur, is easily reached on the new coast road but seldom visited,
and it's a stiff walk to remote Pura Lempuyang.
Sea Temples
The 16th-century Majapahit priest Nirartha founded a chain of temples to honour the sea gods.
Each was intended to be within sight of the next, and several have dramatic locations on the
south coast. From the west, they include the following.
1
3
Kaja (toward the mountains)
2
8
5
7
4
Pura Gede Perancak (p279) - where Nirartha first landed
6
Pura Rambut Siwi (p278) - on a wild stretch of the west coast
Pura Tanah Lot (p272) - the very popular island temple
10
12
Kangin
(toward
the sunrise)
Pura Luhur Ulu Watu (p132) - spectacular cliff-top view (one of the nine directional temples)
Pura Mas Suka (p133) - at the very south of the Bukit Peninsula
11
9
Pura Sakenan (p147) - on Pulau Serangan, southern Bali
Pura Pulaki (p268) - near Pemuteran, in northern Bali
Other Important Temples
Some other temples have particular importance because of their location, spiritual function or
architecture. They include the following.
13
Kuah
(toward
the sunset)
14
15
Pura Beji (p261) in Sangsit, northern Bali, is dedicated to the goddess Dewi Sri, who looks
after irrigated rice fields.
Kelod (toward the sea)
16
16
Pura Dalem Penetaran Ped (p153) on Nusa Penida is dedicated to the demon Jero Gede
Macaling, and is a place of pilgrimage for those seeking protection from evil.
Pura Kehen (p211) is a fine hillside temple in Bangli, eastern Bali.
TEMPLES
Every village in Bali has several temples, and every home has at least a simple
house-temple. The Balinese word for temple is
pura,
from a Sanskrit word
literally meaning 'a space surrounded by a wall'. Similar to a traditional
Balinese home, a temple is walled in - so the shrines you see in rice fields
Pura Maduwe Karang (p261), an agricultural temple on the north coast, is famous for its
spirited bas-relief, including one of a bicycle rider.
Pura Pusering Jagat (p203), a temple at Pejeng, near Ubud, with an enormous bronze drum.
Pura Taman Ayun (p274), the imposing state temple at Mengwi, is northwest of Denpasar.
