Bali Temples Guide: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Lempuyang and More

Bali is often called the Island of a Thousand Temples, and with good reason: there are thousands of temples (pura) across the island, from family shrines to great sea temples and mountain sanctuaries. Balinese Hinduism shapes daily life, with offerings placed on doorsteps every morning and colourful ceremonies throughout the year, and many Indian visitors find the temples and their rituals both familiar and fascinating.

This guide covers the most beautiful temples to visit in Bali, how to time your visit, the dress code and temple etiquette, and which temples are included in our packages.

Pura Luhur Uluwatu sits on the edge of a sheer cliff about 70 metres above the Indian Ocean, at the south-western tip of the Bukit peninsula. It is one of Bali's six great directional temples, guarding the island from the spirits of the sea. The inner temple is reserved for worshippers, but the clifftop paths offer breathtaking views, especially at sunset.

Kecak dance: every evening at sunset, the Uluwatu Kecak dance is performed in an open-air amphitheatre on the cliff. A circle of men chanting "cak" tells the story of the Ramayana, with Rama, Sita and Hanuman, ending in a fire scene as the sun goes down. Tickets are sold separately and sell out in peak season, so arrive early. Keep sunglasses, hats and phones secure: the temple's monkeys are famous for snatching them.

Tanah Lot, on the west coast, is Bali's most photographed temple: a shrine perched on a rock in the sea, reachable on foot only at low tide. Legend says it was founded by the 16th-century priest Dang Hyang Nirartha, and sea snakes in the caves below are believed to guard it. Visit in the late afternoon and stay for the sunset, when the temple is silhouetted against the sky. A market of shops and cafés lines the path. Non-Hindus cannot enter the shrine itself, but can receive a blessing with holy water at the spring at its base.

In east Bali, about 2.5 to 3 hours from the southern beaches, Pura Lempuyang Luhur is one of Bali's oldest and holiest temples. Its lower courtyard has the famous split gate known as the Gates of Heaven, framing Mount Agung on a clear morning. The "reflection" in many photos is created with a mirror held below the camera, not a lake. Queues for the photo can be one to three hours in peak season, so go very early. Climbing to the upper temples involves around 1,700 steps.

Tirta Empul, the holy spring temple near Ubud, has been used for purification rituals for over a thousand years. Worshippers move along a row of carved spouts in the pool, praying and bathing at each. Visitors may join if they wear the proper sarong and follow the ritual respectfully, or simply watch. See our Ubud guide.

In the cool highlands of Bedugul, Ulun Danu Bratan is dedicated to the goddess of the lake. Its tiered shrines seem to float on Lake Bratan, with mountains behind, making it one of Bali's most romantic sights. It is often combined with the Jatiluwih rice terraces and a waterfall on a full-day tour.

Besakih, on the slopes of Mount Agung, is Bali's mother temple, a vast complex of more than 80 temples. Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave near Ubud, has a carved demon-mouth entrance, and Taman Ayun in Mengwi is a graceful royal temple surrounded by a moat.

Not a temple but a cultural park on the Bukit peninsula, GWK is home to a giant statue of Lord Vishnu riding Garuda, about 121 metres tall including its pedestal and one of the tallest statues in the world. The park hosts daily Balinese dance performances. GWK is included in our Bali Adventure, Island & Spa Holiday.

• Cover up: shoulders and knees should be covered. A sarong and sash are required at most temples and are provided or rented at the entrance.
• Respect worshippers: do not walk in front of people praying, and never stand higher than the priest.
• Do not step on offerings on the ground.
• Women who are menstruating are traditionally asked not to enter temples.
• Entry fees: most major temples charge a modest entrance fee for foreign visitors, with Kecak and dance shows ticketed separately.

Every temple holds an anniversary festival called an odalan, usually every 210 days by the Balinese calendar, when worshippers in white and gold bring towering offerings of fruit and flowers, and gamelan music fills the air. If you see a ceremony, you may watch quietly from the side, dressed respectfully. Big island-wide festivals such as Galungan and Kuningan decorate every street with tall bamboo penjor, a beautiful time to visit. Some temples close to visitors on major ceremony days, so your driver may adjust the route.

Almost all our Bali tour packages include a full-day Tanah Lot and Uluwatu temple tour, timed so you reach Uluwatu for sunset and the optional Kecak dance. Packages such as the Ubud Culture & Seminyak Beach Holiday and the Bali Beach, Volcano & Temple Escape include both. We can add Lempuyang, Tirta Empul, Ulun Danu Bratan or Besakih as a private full-day tour on request.