Home
Indonesia
PLAN MY VISIT
Indonesia Destinations HotelsThings to do Transport Maps Vacations Team
  • Top Destinations
PLAN MY VISIT →
  1. Home
  2. Indonesia
  3. Destinations
  4. Bali

Besakih, Indonesia

Pura Besakih, also known as the Mother Temple, is Bali’s most important temple complex. It is built onto the southwestern slopes of Mount Agung, the island’s tallest and holiest volcano. Surrounded by breathtaking views of rice paddies and streams, Besakih is only a 1-hour drive from Ubud and a 2-hour drive from Kuta.

Similar places: Cultural  Historic  Spiritual  Volcano 
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
Besakih Indonesia
←→

Built before 1000 AD, it was originally a terraced temple dedicated to Besakih, the dragon god who lives in the sacred mountain. Five centuries later, it became a state temple of a local dynasty. Badly damaged by the earthquake in 1917, the Mother Temple was miraculously spared by the 1963 eruption of Mount Agung when the magma stopped just before it reached the complex, which the Balinese regarded as a sign from the gods. It remains a state temple today, runs and funded by the provincial and national governments.

The complex comprises more than 86 temples with countless little shrines scattered throughout the grounds, including the Great Temple of State (Pura Penataran Agung). The high-up location gives this place a mystical feel and, for the Balinese, visiting this sanctuary is a significant pilgrimage.

About a 30 minutes’ walk to the higher ground, Pura Pangubengan is the closest to the peak of Mount Agung and offers spectacular views. There are also four temples that reflect forms of Hindu gods—all located at compass points. To the north is Pura Batu Madeg, to the south is Pura Kiduling Kreteg, to the west is Pura Ulun Kulkul, and to the east is Pura Gelap. The first three represent the Hindu Trinity and are devoted respectively to Visnu, Siwa, and Brahma.

The primal center for all ceremonial activities—the Mother Temple—is Bali’s only temple open to all devotees, of all castes. You can visit many of the places in the complex, but please note that some of the inner courtyards are closed to the public or reserved for pilgrims.

As a place of worship, Besakih is open 24/7, but visiting hours for tourists and sightseeing are restricted from 8 am to 5 pm. Modesty is expected—please remember to bring your own sarong (unless you’re willing to get an overpriced one from a local seller). It’s best to visit is in the early morning or later in the evening when it tends to be less busy. There are official guides available for hire for an extra fee, but guides are not compulsory and visitors are welcome to explore at their own leisure.

When to come? There are at least 70 celebrations held each year, as each shrine has its own anniversary. Add to it the big holidays based on the 210-day Balinese Hindu calendar system, so your chances to witness a colorful ceremony are pretty high.



Excellent!
Trustpilot Rating
Based on 705 reviews
Trustpilot
Will use them again!
Communicative, helpful and honest. They stuck to my budget and accommodated my changes. My kids and I had such a good ti...
Dec 01, 2022
– Kayla C.
Trustpilot Rating
100 Stars!!
If I could give 100 stars, I would wholeheartedly. All the booked activities were excellent and pricing was unbeatable. ...
Nov 30, 2022
– Ravi D.
Trustpilot Rating
One of the best I have ever used
Having traveled a lot, I have used many travel companies. The responsiveness and efforts to meet our needs were unmatche...
Dec 08, 2022
– A. Hershe.
Trustpilot Rating
Above & Beyond in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, & Laos
Thank you to the entire team that made this trip so memorable for us. We appreciate your warmth and going above and beyo...
Jun 20, 2022
– Sapna
Trustpilot Rating
Best way to travel!
I trusted Harold from Anywhere.com to plan my family's vacation. Harold went above and beyond in making sure that our tr...
Oct 04, 2021
– Shivani P.
Trustpilot Rating
Profesionalism at its Best
My experience with Anywhere.com in Costa Rica was perfection. All of the drivers were punctual and pleasant; and all of ...
Aug 02, 2021
– Natasha I.
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere is OUTSTANDING!
My family & I have used Anywhere to organize 3 vacations- Costa Rica, Peru, & now Ecuador. I would not hesitate to use t...
Jul 29, 2021
– Kara V.
Trustpilot Rating
Awesome vacation, everything went smoothly
Our agent (Erick) planned a great trip for our family of 5. All the tours were excellent, all the transport and lodging ...
Mar 17, 2020
– David
Trustpilot Rating
Everything Anywhere said they would do…
Everything Anywhere said they would do they did. Very professional and friendly staff.
Mar 16, 2020
– Darrell
Trustpilot Rating
We were very reassured in constructing…
We were very reassured in constructing our trip using Anywhere.com as the team responded promptly to our questions in a ...
Mar 16, 2020
– Michael
Trustpilot Rating
Great service!
Great service!
Mar 15, 2020
– Kyle K
Trustpilot Rating
If I could give 100+stars, I would.
If I could give 100+stars, I would.
Mar 15, 2020
– Jerry Pos.
Trustpilot Rating
I gave Anywhere a 48hr turnaround time…
I gave Anywhere a 48hr turnaround time before our departure to provide an itineary based on what we already researched a...
Mar 14, 2020
– Thomas hi.
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere.com was so easy to work with
Anywhere.com was so easy to work with. They made booking my transfers a pleasant experience. And I even had some last ...
Mar 14, 2020
– Ashley Ba.
Trustpilot Rating
Perfectly planned
Perfectly planned. The trip went off with all (5) transfers on time and all our accommodations meeting or exceeding our...
Mar 14, 2020
– John C.
Trustpilot Rating

Let's Dream Together

Share your bucketlist to get inspiration and local connections.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.

Indonesia Vacations
  • Bali
  • Lombok
  • Ubud
  • Canggu
  • Seminyak
  • Nusa Dua
  • Benoa
  • Tanjung
  • Uluwata Temple
  • Batur Volcano
Indonesia Travel
  • Places to go
  • Things to do
  • Hotels
  • Maps
  • Getting around
  • Safety
ANYWHERE'S TOP SPOTS
  • Costa Rica
  • Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
  • Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica
  • Costa Rica Beaches
  • Machu Picchu, Peru
  • Cusco, Peru
  • Galapgos, Ecuador
  • Quito, Ecuador
  • Antigua, Guatemala
  • Ambergris Caye, Belize
  • Gladden Spit and Silk Caye, Belize
GET INSPIRED!
  • Our Safest Pick!
  • Family Vacations Made Easy
  • Best Tropical Beaches
  • Best Islands
  • Best Hot Springs
  • Cloudforests & Rainforests
  • Get into Nature
  • Mystical Destinations
  • Best Swimming Holes
  • Best Ruins
Trustpilot 5 of 5 rated service
Trustpilot "Excellent"
Plan My Visit→+1 (888) 456-3212
MessengerContact AnywhereWhatsapp ContactCall USA: +1-888-456-3212

© 2023 Anywhere Inc. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy