Pura Gunung Kawi – The Guide
During ourEast Bali Itinerarywe were fascinated by this temple immersed in rice terraces and jungle, a dreamlike setting worthy of the bestHollywoodmovies! If you’re planning your trip to the island of Bali, you can’t skip theGuide to Pura Gunung Kawi!
Pura Gunung Kawi
This temple complex is one of the most fascinating we came across on the island ofBali, helped along by the fact that we were lucky enough to visit it nearly deserted. Completely immersed in the jungle andhidden by the rice terraces of the Tampaksiring region, in the central area nearUbud.
How to Get There:
As with most areas of Bali, it’s better torely on a Driverfor excursions and day trips:getting around in Bali is a bit trickyand without a sat nav or a guide you risk getting lost. That said, if you’ve rented a car and want to get there on your own:
- Starting from Ubud, the easiest route to Pura Gunung Kawi definitely passes first through theMonkey Forest(Jalan Monkey Forest), theGoa Gajah(Jalan Raya Goa Gajah), then heads north towards Pejeng and Sanding.
Distance from Ubud:15km
How Much It Costs:
The entrance ticket, as with most temples, costs15,000 Rupiah, roughly€1.
Duration:
Pura Gunung Kawiis a very large complex and deservesat least 2 hoursto see a good part of it.Seeing it all would take a good half day, but if you’ve only dedicated a few days of your holiday to Bali, you can make do with the main complex and skip a few areas: they’re fascinating to say the least, but reaching them takes a bit more walking.
What Awaits You:
The entrance to thePura Gunung Kawicomplex is at the end of the road where you can park the car. During the short walk from the car park to the entrance you’ll find, as you’ll be used to by now, many vendors offering sarongs and souvenirs of every kind. If you can resist the urge to shop, you’ll be at the entrance within a few minutes.
Once you’ve got your ticket and passed the entrance, a long staircase of 371 steps going downhill leads you to the main temple: from here on, you won’t stop taking photos!
Ahead of you the view opens onto the famousrice terraces of Bali: green, so green! Almost surreal. Backdropped only by the jungle. At some point you’ll forget you even came here to see a complex of temples and altars,among the most famous and fascinating in all of Bali.
Note:the rice terraces you’ll see here are actually not the most famous, UNESCO-listed ones, which are those of theTegalalang and Jatiluwihregions, but if you ask us, they really should add these too!
If you manage to get past the wonder of the rice terraces and remember to also see theGunung Kawitemple itself, you’ll find what you’re looking for at the bottom of the staircase.
Pura Gunung Kawi:
Pura Gunung Kawi is thought to be afunerary complex for King Anak Wungsu, his wives and his numerous concubines. The complex is made up of a total of10 shrines(5 larger and 5 smaller)carved directly into the rock and over 10 metres tall. Once you reach the bottom of the staircase you’ll find the first group of shrines on your left, the smaller ones, dedicated to the wives.
To reach the main body and the shrines dedicated to the King, you’ll need to crossa striking bridge immersed in jungle vinesand suspended over theParkisan River, a waterway that feeds the rice terrace canals. We recommend taking some time to soak in the spirituality of the place and the surrounding environment.
If you’re a photography lover you’ll stop constantly to capture every corner, every glimpse and every ray of sunlight filtering through the vines.
If you’re a hiking and trekking lover, this area has plenty in store for you, and mud for your shoes. Starting from Pura Gunung Kawi and heading south, after almost 1km you’ll reach another funerary complex completely hidden by palm trees: thePura Bukit Gundul.
Warnings:
Be careful around the rice terraces! They’re beautiful and fascinating, an almost unreal green! But remember that the banks have a precarious balance, and if they’re not properly dry they act like quicksand, so a scene like this:
Can turn into this in a heartbeat:
