overview
The island of Bali is nicknamed the island of the gods or the island of a thousand temples. The temple (local Balinese name Pura) is closely linked to Balinese culture, and temples can be found in every village. There should always be at least three (each designed to worship the three main Hindu gods). Some sources put the total number of temples in Bali at 20,000; others lean towards a figure as high as 50,000. However, no one can count exactly. There are temples intended for all believers, others only for residents of a particular village, or even only for members of a specific family. You can find temples in Bali literally on every corner.
The word Pura comes from the Sanskrit language, meaning city or palace. At the origin of the Balinese language, this term came to be used for a religious temple, and the word Puri for a palace.
This Guide is divided into the following sections:
Architecture
Temples consist of perimeter walls that have a gate (see below). Behind this gate, the temples are open without any other walls. They consist of a shrine (Meru), characterized by a wooden pagoda and pavilions (Bale). The layout of the entire temple follows the strict Balinese Tri Mandala concept, which determines the layout in space. The three mandala zones are arranged according to the hierarchy of their spirituality:
Nista Mandala (Jaba Pisan): The outer part that separates the temple from the outside world. It is an open space or garden used, for example, for dancing or as a place to prepare various religious ceremonies.
Madya Mandala (Jaba Tengah): The central part, where the supporting facilities of the temple are located, such as the kitchen, the watchtower with a wooden drum as an instrument of communication, the music pavilion, the meeting pavilion, etc.
Utama Mandala (Jero): The temple's most sacred and spiritual part. The highest point of the entire temple, the lotus throne of the supreme god Acintya Padmasana and the several-storeyed
Meru tower that makes Balinese temples so unique and distinctive are located here. There are also several pavilions for sacrifices and for storing spiritual relics.
Default layout of Balinese temple
Meru Towers
Each Meru or Pelinggih Meru shrine with a layered roof (pagoda) always has an odd number of roofs, but never more than 11. There can be more than one shrine in a single temple. Their height then depends on which deity it belongs to. The higher the god, the taller the tower can be. The roofs of meru shrines and towers are the most sacred and are made from the black fiber of the sugar palm.
Meru Towers in Pura Besakih
Balinese temples are often built of gray volcanic sandstone (Batu Candi) from volcanic activity. It is very durable and has interesting insulating properties. It is neither hot nor cold and difficult to scratch or stain. The temple should be reconstructed once every 50 years.
Gates
Balinese architecture uses two main types of gates:
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The divided gate (Candi Bentar) is mainly used in the outer part of the Nista Mandala temple. The gate is symmetrical in decoration on both sides. It is smooth on the inner side to highlight the division.
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The roofed gate (Paduraksa or Kori Agung) is used in the transition between the Madya Mandala and Utama Mandala and, unlike the first gate, usually has a door. Above the door is the face of the Balinese jungle god Bhoma to scare evil spirits away from entering the temple's most sacred part.
Candi Bentar Gate
Kori Agung gate with Bhoma face
Selected Pavilions
A Bale Kulkul is a structure similar to a smaller tower that may be part of a temple but often stands alone in front of the temple. A hollow wooden "bell" is suspended under its roof and can be ringed with a special hammer. The sound of the bell summons the inhabitants to ceremonies, or it may announce someone's death or the arrival of an awaited deity on selected festivals.
Bale Kulkul (left) and Bale Wantilan (right)
Bale Gong is the pavilion where Gamelan, a set of musical instruments typical of Balinese ceremonies, is usually stored.
Bale Wantilan is the largest of the pavilions and is designed for public gatherings or large ceremonies that require many people to be present at once. This pavilion is often used for cockfights.
Other pavilions include Bale Pawedan for Vedic chanting and Bale Pesandekan for rest. Then there is the Bale Perantenan pavilion which houses the kitchen belonging to the temple, the Bale Pelik pavilion for offerings, Bale Piasan for preparing offerings, and a place for the priests.
Bale Perantenan with temple kitchen
Detail of the temple kitchen
💡 Interesting fact: Tourists often confuse temples and shrines, believing that a shrine is a temple. Balinese temples are usually larger structures that serve as places of worship and ceremony for Balinese Hindus and are dedicated to a particular deity or group of deities.
On the other hand, Balinese shrines, also known as Meru or Sanggah, are smaller structures or simple spaces that can be found almost everywhere in Bali, including homes and businesses. They are usually used for daily offerings and prayers and are often dedicated to ancestral spirits or local deities. Unlike temples, shrines typically do not have priests or full-time staff and are not used for large ceremonies.
In short, temples are larger and more formal structures for essential ceremonies, while shrines are smaller and informal structures for daily sacrifices and prayers.
Types of Temples
The temples can be divided according to physical and spiritual importance, from the mountaintops to the oceans.
The following three basic types of temples (Kahyangan Tiga) are usually in every town or village in Bali.
Pura Puseh
Temples located in the north (Kaja) of the city. Kaja is the most sacred direction and always heads towards the Agung volcano, where the gods reside and from where water flows. The temples are meant to worship god Vishnu and the village's founders.
Pura Puseh, Mas
Pura Desa
Temples in the city center are dedicated to worshiping the god Brahma and serving as a center for religious activities and community events.
Pura Dalem
Temples on the lower edge of the city facing the sea or river (Kelod). Kelod is the name of the direction toward the ocean. As clean rivers flow from the mountains and through human dwellings, they gradually become impure. Kelod is, therefore, unclean. Temples are meant for worshipping the god of death and reincarnation, Shiva, Durga, and other deities. Ceremonies relating to death are commonly performed in these temples. There is often a sacred banyan tree on the temple grounds, often used as a shrine. The temple is usually near a cemetery where the remains of the deceased are placed before the Ngaben ceremony, a ritual cremation.
Mountain Temples
Temples built on the slopes of volcanoes. Volcanoes are considered sacred and the seat of the gods. The
most crucial mountain temple in Bali is Pura Besakih (the mother of all temples), the holiest and the largest. It is a complex of about 80 connected temples on the slope of the highest volcano Mount Agung at about 1000 meters above sea level.
Pura Besakih (Mother temple) - biggest and holiest hindu temple
Pura Tirta
Water temples, which, in addition to their religious function, often have a role within the Subak irrigation system. The priests in these temples regulate water flow to the terraced fields around the temple. Some temples also have pools of sacred water for purification rituals, including the Melukat ritual. Examples of water temples include Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, Pura Ulun Danu Batur, Pura Tirta Empul, Pura Taman Ayun, etc.
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
Pura Tirta Empul
Pura Taman Ayun
Pura Segara
Sea temples near the sea to worship gods associated with the sea. The most important temples for the Melasti ritual. The temples are said to be built so one can always see another in the distance. This is deliberate spiritual protection of the island of Bali. Sea temples include Pura Tanah Lot, Pura Uluwatu, Pura Pulaki, Pura Rambut Siwi, etc.
Pura Tanah Lot
Pura Uluwatu
Directional temples
The directional temples, often called Kahyangan Jagat, do not belong to cities or any particular family. These are the most important state temples that all Balinese Hindus can visit. They are the most sacred places to worship deities (especially Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa) in Bali. Directional temples are built strategically to protect the island and its inhabitants from evil spirits.
💡 Interesting fact: The term Kahyangan Jagat is also generally used in Bali for all temples open to all Balinese Hindus.
Location of directional temples is said to have been precisely calculated by ancient ancestors based on the position of stars, nebulae, comets, and black holes to protect the island from all eight cardinal directions.
Directional temples locations
List of 8 directional temples:
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Pura Ulun Danu Batur - North
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Pura Luhur Andakasa - South
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Pura Lempuyang - East
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Pura Luhur Batukaru - West
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Pura Goa Lawah - Southeast
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Pura Uluwatu - Southwest
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Pura Besakih - Northeast
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Pura Pucak Mangu - Northwest
💡 Interesting fact: Different sources give different numbers of directional temples. Some sources list nine temples, including Pura Pusering Jagat and possibly others.
Entrance rules
Whoever enters the temples must wear a Kamben or Sarong. It is a cloth wrapped around the waist that reaches to the ankles. The appearance and quality of the Kamben can vary. It is most commonly used with Javanese batik. Another possible combination is black and white, representing positive and negative energy. The most sacred garments are woven. The men tie the Kamben around their waists so that the long end reaches their feet. They also tie a shorter Saput, which goes only to the knees.
Furthermore, men usually wear a white shirt and a headscarf Udeng. This is considered a gateway to heaven and can be tied in several ways. The priests (Manku) are always dressed all in white, and their hair is pulled back with an Udeng.
The Balinese Priest in the front dressed all white during a ceremony
Women wear a narrow but longer blouse Kabaya, always white, during religious ceremonies. Other colors are used on different occasions. Women often match the exact color during village festivals and gatherings.
The last piece of Balinese clothing is the Anteng waist sash, also called Selendang. It is a symbolic representation of the connection between the upper and lower worlds. People entering the temple will be able to control their emotions with it and will have only clear and pure thoughts. Anteng is compulsory for both men and women, but men often ignore it. Men tie the knot on the right side, women on the left.
Entrance to Temples for Tourists
Usually, at the entrance to the temple, you get both a Sarong and an Anteng as part of the entrance fee. If not, you have to bring your own. Also, knees and shoulders should be covered (for example, a tank top is inappropriate).
Tourists can usually only enter the outer part of the temple, the Nista Mandala. Other parts are often strictly open only to worshippers for prayer and religious ceremonies.
Common sign in outer temple area
Who is not allowed to enter
Each temple may have its restrictions for entry; we list the most common ones, which are more or less uniform and apply to most temples. For many temples, only some of these points apply.
🚫 women who are currently menstruating (are considered unclean)
🚫 women in the Puerperium
🚫 pregnant women
🚫 women who have children without a first tooth
🚫 breastfeeding women
🚫 widows grieving over a recent death
🚫 children whose first teeth have not yet fallen out
🚫 people with open fractures and cuts (so that the holy ground of the temple is not stained with blood)
Temple etiquette
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Keep quiet, and don't run 🚶♂️
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Always enter appropriately dressed (sarong, anteng, and covered shoulders) 🧥
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Turn on silent mode on your phone 🔕
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Don't stand higher than a priest 👳♂️
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The feet should not point toward the shrines. When praying, men sit cross-legged, and women kneel 🦶
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Don't stand in front of people who are praying 🙏
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Don't tread on the offerings 👣
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Don't use the flash on the camera 📸
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Don't use drones 🚁
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Don't climb the walls of temples and statues ⛔
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Always respect the locals 🫡
Buddhist temples
Although less than 1% of Buddhists live in Bali, several interesting Buddhist temples on the island are worth a visit.
Only selected ones are listed. The rest can be found on the map below.
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Brahma Vihara Arama: the largest and most beautiful Buddhist temple overlooking the sea
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Vihara Dharma Giri: a small temple with a massive statue of the sleeping Buddha
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Vihara Buddha Dharma: one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Bali, founded in 1876 and visited by the Dalai Lama in 1982
Brahma Vihara Arama Buddhist temple
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MAP
Map of Balinese temples. Red are the directional temples. Blue are other essential Hindu temples. Yellow are Buddhist temples.
Can't you see the map? Google can be stubborn. Try this link.
