Pura Besakih Temple Bali - The Mother Temple Guide.

Welcome to my personal Bali travel guide about the Pura Besakih Temple and the Pura Luhur Lempuyang Temple - probably both the most important Temples here on the island.

I’m Denis: "Om Swastiastu!" and I’m a balinese driver to hire, to show you the top places to visit in Bali. At the following I’ll introduce you the ancient and majestic Pura Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung in Eastern Bali. Besakih Temple sits at an altitude of 900 meters and provides some of the most panoramic island views out of all the Bali temples. The temple complex consists of over 80 individual ancient temples dedicated to the three main gods of Hinduism: Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Also known as the Mother Temple of Bali, Pura Besakih is considered the most important Hindu temple in Bali and has been regarded as a holy site for over 1,000 years.

The history of Pura Besakih Bali dates back as far as the 10th century, when the first inscriptions that mention the temple were recorded. The temple has been added to many times over the centuries, with the current main part of the temple, Pura Penataran Agung (Great Temple of State), having been constructed in the mid-14th century. Since then this Balinese temple has become one of the most significant in Hindu culture throughout Bali. Many legends surround this temple and having survived numerous earthquakes and a massive volcanic eruption in 1963, many see the temple as protected by the gods themselves.

The temple was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, and today is one of them most popular tourist destinations in Bali.

You can reach Pura Agung Besakih by heading northeast along the main coastal highway from central Denpasar, then head north via Semarapura until you reach Mount Agung.

The journey is approximately 53 km (90 minutes) by car. The Besakih Temple entrance fee costs IDR 60,000 per adult and IDR 30,000 per child. Visiting hours are between 8am to 5pm, although the temple is open for worshippers 24 hours a day. Make sure you wear respectful clothing before visiting such as a sarong that covers your knees and shoulders. If you do not have one, you may be able to purchase or rent a sarong at the entrance for IDR 50,000-10,0000.