South Bali, Indonesia Travel Guide
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Bali Temples
Mount Agung & Pura Besakih
Overview: Mount Agung is a volcano and considered the holiest mountain because it seats Bali’s most sacred temple, Pura Besakih Temple. The mountain stands just over 3,100 meters and is located in northeast Bali.
Dating back to the 11th century, Pura Besakih is a sprawling sacred compound with over thirty temples spread out in the slopes of Mount Agung. As Bali’s largest temple, Pura Besakih is known as the Mother Temple and it is dedicated to the Hindu god, Besakih.
The temple’s main features are of course the temples such as the Great State Temple, known as Pura Penataran Agung and Pura Kiduling Kreteg, both of which are adorned with beautiful, streaming banners. Pura Besakih’s other features include its various courtyards, landscape and the Trinity Shrines: Brahma, Shiva and Wisnu. Because of the Pura Besakih’s location, the temple compound, though Bali’s most sacred, is not (and not surprisingly) wheelchair accessible.
Caution: You’re in Bali and “donations” are asked by the temple “officials” at every turn. Yet the temple compound is fascinating and beautiful enough to push forth.
Location: two hours northeast of Ubud, Bali
Cost: The cost is donation based but, as Bali is predominantly a tourist town, the staff will ask high. You can negotiate the price of admittance (about 50 percent).
Accessibility: The temple grounds are spread out over a slope on Mount Agung. You’re looking at terraces and staircases. There’s an initial steep hill. Then, staircases make the Pura Besakih inaccessible.
Getting There: Definitely hire a driver for a day. It’ll take a few hours from south Bali to reach Pura Besakih.