Uluwatu Temple

Uluwatu Temple is located in Pecatu Village, Kuta Sub-district, Badung District, Bali. The temple is 30 kilometers to the south of Denpasar. Uluwatu Temple, also called Luwur Temple, is one of the six Sad Kahyangan Temples, the main spiritual pillars in Bali Island.

There are two different opinions concerning the history of Uluwatu Temple. Some people believe that the temple was built by Empu Kuturan in 9th AD, during Marakata’s reign. Meanwhile, other people claim that the temple was built by Dang Hyang Nirartha, a pedanda (Hindu monk) from Daha Kingdom (Kediri) in East Java. Dang Hyang Nirartha came to Bali in 1546 AD, during the reign of Dalem Waturenggong. The monk built Uluwatu Temple on Pecatu Hill. After completing a spiritual journey around Bali, the monk went back to Uluwatu Temple and died there. He moksa (died and his body vanished), leaving the Marcapada (worldly life) and entering Swargaloka (heaven). The Piodalan or ceremony commemorating the temple’s anniversary is held on Anggara Kasih day, in wuku Medangsia in Caka calendar. Usually the ceremony lasts for three days thronged by of thousands of Hindus.
   
Uluwatu Temple sits on a 70-meter-high cliff protruding above Indonesian Ocean. Because of its unique location, visitors to the temple have to take a long stone stairway to reach it. The temple heads east, unlike other Balinese temples which face west or south.

There are hundreds of monkeys roaming along the path outside the temple. Although the monkeys look tame, visitors find them a nuisance as they often grab food off a visitor’s hand and snatch visitors’ belongings. There are two doors at the end of the path, the north door and the south one, through which visitors enter the temple complex.
       
The entrance doors take the shape of stone Bentar gates. Standing across from each gate, there are two statues of elephant-headed men. The front part of the gate is decorated with fine relief sculpture picturing leaves and flowery patterns. Behind the gate, there are stone steps that lead to the inner court. Along the steps, trees are grown to provide shade.
   
The inner court is an open space paved with stone floor. There is a wooden building near the north gate. To the west, across from the entrance path, there is a Paduraksa Gate that opens the path into the next inner court. Unlike the ones found outside, this stone gate is completed with roof. The door is an arch framed with an arrangement of stones.
   
There is a sculpture of a giant head above the frame. The top of the gate looks like a crown and it is decorated with relief sculpture. The gaps between the gate and the walls are filled with a surface full of relief sculpture.
   
There is a small rectangular court to the south that stretches out above the sea. There is a wooden construction at the end of the court that seems to be a place where people can sit and watch the ocean. Uluwatu Temple has undergone several restorations. In 1999, a lightning struck the temple and caused fire.

Tanah Lot Temple

Uluwatu Temple is located in Pecatu Village, Kuta Sub-district, Badung District, Bali. The temple is 30 kilometers to the south of Denpasar. Uluwatu Temple, also called Luwur Temple, is one of the six Sad Kahyangan Temples, the main spiritual pillars in Bali Island.

There are two different opinions concerning the history of Uluwatu Temple. Some people believe that the temple was built by Empu Kuturan in 9th AD, during Marakata’s reign. Meanwhile, other people claim that the temple was built by Dang Hyang Nirartha, a pedanda (Hindu monk) from Daha Kingdom (Kediri) in East Java. Dang Hyang Nirartha came to Bali in 1546 AD, during the reign of Dalem Waturenggong. The monk built Uluwatu Temple on Pecatu Hill. After completing a spiritual journey around Bali, the monk went back to Uluwatu Temple and died there. He moksa (died and his body vanished), leaving the Marcapada (worldly life) and entering Swargaloka (heaven). The Piodalan or ceremony commemorating the temple’s anniversary is held on Anggara Kasih day, in wuku Medangsia in Caka calendar. Usually the ceremony lasts for three days thronged by of thousands of Hindus.
   
Uluwatu Temple sits on a 70-meter-high cliff protruding above Indonesian Ocean. Because of its unique location, visitors to the temple have to take a long stone stairway to reach it. The temple heads east, unlike other Balinese temples which face west or south.

There are hundreds of monkeys roaming along the path outside the temple. Although the monkeys look tame, visitors find them a nuisance as they often grab food off a visitor’s hand and snatch visitors’ belongings. There are two doors at the end of the path, the north door and the south one, through which visitors enter the temple complex.
       
The entrance doors take the shape of stone Bentar gates. Standing across from each gate, there are two statues of elephant-headed men. The front part of the gate is decorated with fine relief sculpture picturing leaves and flowery patterns. Behind the gate, there are stone steps that lead to the inner court. Along the steps, trees are grown to provide shade.
       
The inner court is an open space paved with stone floor. There is a wooden building near the north gate. To the west, across from the entrance path, there is a Paduraksa Gate that opens the path into the next inner court. Unlike the ones found outside, this stone gate is completed with roof. The door is an arch framed with an arrangement of stones.

There is a sculpture of a giant head above the frame. The top of the gate looks like a crown and it is decorated with relief sculpture. The gaps between the gate and the walls are filled with a surface full of relief sculpture.

There is a small rectangular court to the south that stretches out above the sea. There is a wooden construction at the end of the court that seems to be a place where people can sit and watch the ocean. Uluwatu Temple has undergone several restorations. In 1999, a lightning struck the temple and caused fire.

Taman Ayun Temple

Pura Taman Ayun is situated in Mengwi Village of Badung District, around 18 km to the west of Denpasar. It is a very beautiful temple, as the name tells (Taman Ayun  means temple in a beautiful garden). In addition to its beauty, Pura Taman Ayun is also considered to have historical values, which makes the regional government of Bali suggests the UNESCO in 2002 that this temple is included in World Heritage List.

Pura Taman Ayun is a Mother Temple (Paibon) to Mengwi Kingdom. This temple was built by Mengwi King, I Gusti Agung Putu, in the Javanese year of 1556 (1634 AD). Initially, I Gusti Agung Putu built a temple to the north of Mengwi village to the worship of his ancestors. The temple was named Genter Park. When Mengwi grew into a big kingdom, I Gusti Agung Putu moved Genter Park eastward and expand the compound. The expanded temple was officially declared Pura Taman Ayun on Kliwon Tuesday - Medangsia the fourth month in the Javanese year of 1556. Until today, each Kliwon Tuesday of wuku Medangsia in Javanese calendar (Saka), a piodalan (ceremony) is held in this temple to celebrate the temple’s anniversary.

Pura Taman Ayun has gone through a number of restoration works. Large scale restoration was implemented in 1937. In 1949, restoration work was done to the kori agung (the grand room), Bentar temple. A big wantilan was also constructed during the time. The third restoration was implemented in 1972, followed by the final restoration in 1976. Taman Ayun Temple complex is 100 meters in length and 250 meters in width. The complex comprises an outer court and three inner courts. The inner courts, sided with stone fences, have different elevations, and the inner most is the highest one.

The outer court, also known as Jaba, is situated at the outer side of the pool. There is a bridge over the pool to connect the outer court to the inner ones. At the end of the bridge, on the inner court side, there is a Bentar gate followed by a pathway leading to the inner courts. There are two giant statues at each end of the bridge.

At the left side of the pathway, near the gate, there is some sort of a small guardhouse. Here, at the first inner court, there is a Wantilan (a sort of hall) at which some ceremonies usually take place, including a cockfight, which is also part the ritual ceremonies at the temple. There is a pathway lying across the first inner court and dividing it into two parts, connecting the gate into the first inner court to the one into the second inner court. To the southwest, there is a round gazebo at which one can have a rest and enjoy the beauty of the temple. There is a pond near the gazebo covered with water lilies. Right at the center of the pond, there is a small post that sprinkles water to nine different directions. To the east, there is a cluster of small temples called Luhuring Purnama Temples.
   
There is a gate at the end of the pathway dividing the first inner court into two. The gate leads to the second inner court, which is situated on a higher ground than the first one. Across from the gate, on the second inner court, there is a building functioning as a partition. The partition is decorated with relief sculpture depicting nine guardian gods of compass points. To the east, there is a small temple called Dalem Bekak Temple. To the west, around the corner, there is a balai Kulkul with its roof rising high. The third inner court, which is also the inner most and the highest one, is the most sacred area. Its main door, which is called pintu gelung, is placed right in the middle and it is opened only during ceremonies. The main door, however, is flanked by two gates through which people can access the court to do daily routines at the temple. The court houses several Merus, a temple, a Gedong, a Padmasana, a Padma Rong Telu, and other religious buildings.

Temples in Bali

Unlike temples in Java, temples in Bali (called pura), become parts of the life of Balinese who mostly are Hindu. Balinese temple is a place of worship for Hindu. Each Hindu family has family temple to worship Hyang Widhi and their ancestors, so that there are thousands of temples in the island of Bali.

Kahyangan Desa Temple. Each village generally has three main temples called Pura Tiga Kahyangan or Pura Tri Kahyangan (temples of three nirvanas), i.e. temples to the worship of Sang Hyang Widi Wasa in three manifestations of power: Desa Temple to the worship of Brahma (the Creator), Puseh Temple to the worship of Vishnu (the Preserver), and Dalem Temple to the worship of Shiva (the Destroyer). Desa (village) Temple is also called Bale Agung, because the temple, which is usually located at village center, also serves as a venue for village consultative meeting.

Kahyangan Jagat Temple. Kahyangan Temple is a place where common people worship Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa in various manifestations and ancestral spirits. Included in Pura Kahyangan Jagat category is Sad Kahyangan Temple (sad = six), i.e. a temple situated in six major Kahyangan in Bali. Sad Khayangan Temples consists of: Pura Luhur Uluwatu, Pura Lempuyang, Pura Goa Lawah, Pura Watukaru, Pura Bukit Pengalengan and Pura Besakih. Pura Sad Kahyangan is believed to be the spiritual vein of for Bali and a center for religious practices. Also included in the category of kategori Pura Kahyangan Jagat, in addition to Pura Sad Kahyangan, is Pura Dhang Kahyangan, i.e. a temple built by spiritual leaders in the past. Pura Luhur Uluwatu is also a Pura Dhang Kahyangan that was built in the 15th century by Dhang Hyang Nirartha.

Pura Luhur. Nearly all districts in Bali have Pura Luhur (luhur = high), i.e. temple whose anniversary is celebrated by followers by staging a piodalan (ceremony) that involves thousands of people. Pura Tanah Lot, Goa Lawah, and Pura Uluwatu belong to this category.

Pura Kawitan. This temple is a place of worship for family or descendants of a particular leader. Temples belonging to this category are: Sanggah-Pemerajan, Pratiwi, Paibon, Panti, Dadia or Dalem Dadia, Penataran Dadia, and Pedharman.

Pura Swagina. This temple is a place of worship for people with particular livelihoods or occupations, for example Pura Melanting for merchants, Pura Subak for farmers, etc.

Underwater Temple Mystery Solved

Throughout the day appeared excited discovery of the underwater temple is said to be between the Sea of Java and Bali. In fact, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism promised lower teams to check whether or not the news despite doubts.

However, the mystery of the underwater temple has now been solved. The temple was indeed exist, precisely in the area of Pemuteran, North Bali waters. However, it is not a temple but a temple made of archaeological relics that are deliberately built in the area of coral reef conservation.

That said Paul M Turley, owner of Rover Sea Dive Center who took the controversial photos, as reported by the Jakarta Globe site. Artificial temple named Pura Park was built starting in 2005 at a depth of 15-29 meters.

The area is part of a coral reef conservation projects Reef Gardiners who got financial support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid). There there were 10 sculptures and a temple structure which is now covered reefs.