Curious about the astounding cultural riches of Bali? We have developed a "Temples of Bali" tour specially for such people among the tourists, and it includes some of Bali's top 10 destinations!
First we will head for the Tanah Lot temple. The name means "earth in the sea," and the building is located on a rock away from the shore. Only at low tide can it be accessed; when tide returns, the temple becomes an island. The temple dates back to the 15th century, when the first priest settled on the cliff.
The entrance is through a traditional temple gate. Tourists are only permitted on the base of the cliff – nobody but Hinduists are allowed to enter the holy grounds and ascend to the top tiers. All the same, even the exterior of the temple is very picturesque, and you will be able to snap up a ton of remarkable pictures on the seaside.
The Taman Ayun temple, which we will visit next, draws tourists in droves with its glorious architecture. The name means "majestic garden," and rightly: the temple stands in a landscaped garden with numerous fish ponds, turrets, gazebos, fountains and statues. Entering the grounds by a bridge and passing through a fountain courtyard, you will find yourself on the road to the temple itself, before which you will be able to examine the belfry and the entrance tower. There is no entrance for tourists through the heavy gate to the temple. The temple was built in 1634, and the outside shows Chinese influence. In the middle of the ensemble stands the main temple, with numerous pagodas around it.
After this visit we will drive to the attractive waterfall Beji, take a dip there and take great pictures at observation decks.
The last location of interest for us will be the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple. A temple complex has been built for the worship of the goddess of lake Bratan – a natural reservoir of water shared with the nearby rice fields. This is a place of special significance for the people of the island, pictured even on the 50,000 rupies bank note. Standing in the midst of mountains and tropical exuberance, it is one of the symbols of Bali. Its tiered pagodas blend harmoniously with the landscape. It is sometimes called a water temple, because at high tide the lake's water rises to the very base of the buildings, producing an illusion of floating. The complex comprises five temples, all built in the Hindu architectural tradition. This is considered a holy place, rites and weddings are performed here, prayers are recited and offerings made. Tourists may enter all but the central temple.
Balilook knows how to make your visit exciting! Join us!