Sacred Temples & Sanctuaries of Bali
Directional sea-cliff temples, holy springs & royal mountain shrines.
Step into centuries of living spiritual devotion. Discover iconic directional sea-cliff temples, misty mountain shrines, and sacred holy spring sanctuaries—with authentic temple etiquette, dress codes, and exceptional nearby stays.
Explore Bali's Landmarks
Pura Besakih (The Mother Temple)
The holiest and largest temple complex in Bali, ascending the volcanic slopes of Mount Agung with 23 interconnected sanctuaries.
Pura Goa Lawah (Bat Cave Temple)
An ancient 11th-century Sad Kahyangan directional sea temple constructed around the dark basalt mouth of a cavern sheltering thousands of nectar-feeding bats.
Pura Kehen
The grand state temple of the historical Bangli Kingdom, renowned for its dramatic 38-step terrace staircase, intricate stone elephants, and ancient sacred banyan tree.
Pura Lempuyang Luhur (Gates of Heaven)
Iconic split candi bentar gateway framing Mount Agung in the clouds, one of Bali’s most revered Sad Kahyangan temples.
Pura Luhur Batukaru
A mystical, moss-cloaked 11th-century rainforest sanctuary resting upon the mist-shrouded southern slope of Mount Batukaru, dedicated to Mahadewa.
Pura Luhur Uluwatu
Cliffside temple crowning a sheer 70-meter limestone drop into roaring Indian Ocean swells, famous for its amphitheater Kecak fire dance.
Pura Meduwe Karang
A masterwork of North Balinese baroque sandstone carving in Kubutambahan, celebrated worldwide for its whimsical stone bas-relief of a Dutch cyclist with floral wheels.
Pura Mengening
A serene 11th-century royal holy water spring temple nestled in Tampaksiring, featuring monumental stone lingga-yoni shrines and crystal-clear turquoise purification pools.
Pura Penataran Sasih (Moon of Pejeng)
The historic royal state temple of the ancient Pejeng Kingdom, preserving the legendary Moon of Pejeng—the largest single-cast Bronze Age kettle drum in the world.
Pura Pusering Jagat (Navel of the World)
An ancient 14th-century cosmological center temple in Pejeng, sheltering the sacred Bejana Pejeng stone urn intricately sculpted with the cosmic churning of the elixir of immortality.
Pura Rambut Siwi
The premier cliffside sea temple of Western Bali, dramatically perched atop black sand ocean bluffs with sweeping vistas across the Indian Ocean toward East Java.
Pura Samuan Tiga
The 10th-century historical sanctuary where royal sage Mpu Kuturan unified Bali's warring religious sects into the enduring Kahyangan Tiga village temple system.
Pura Silayukti
An ancient 11th-century Dang Kahyangan sea-headland temple founded in 1001 CE by Mpu Kuturan, commanding turquoise oceanic vistas over Padangbai and Blue Lagoon.
Pura Tanah Lot
Iconic 16th-century sea temple perched upon an offshore rock formation carved by relentless Indian Ocean waves.
Pura Tirta Empul
Sacred water temple renowned for its holy spring water pools where Balinese Hindus and travelers perform melukat spiritual cleansing.
Pura Tirta Sudamala
A deeply venerated river gorge water sanctuary in Bebalang, famed for eleven sacred cleansing spouts spilling into the natural rock pools of the holy Sangsang river.
Pura Ulun Danu Batur
The second most sacred directional temple on Bali after Besakih, dedicated to Dewi Danu, goddess of lakes and rivers, commanding the northern rim of Batur caldera.
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
Serene lake temple floating on Lake Beratan, dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of water, lakes, and rivers.