Bali

Goa Gajah Ubud Temple, The Oldest Temple in Bali

Goa Gajah Ubud Temple is indeed one of the oldest rows of temples on the island of Bali. Not only that, Goa Gajah Temple is also worthy of being called one of the temples with the most phenomenal design on the Island of the Gods. Moreover, this temple also has a high historical value in Bali.

Goa Gajah Temple does have a unique shape, and is very much different when compared to other temples on the island of Bali. As the name implies, Goa Gajah Temple has a shape like a cave. Because of its uniqueness, UNESCO also included Goa Gajah as one of the tentative lists of world heritage sites that must be protected.

With its unique architectural form, it is not surprising that Goa Gajah Bali Temple has become a destination that has successfully attracted the attention of many tourists. The visitors can walk along the temple complex which consists of two main areas. The first area is located in the north which is the location of the inheritance of Shiva’s teachings. This is evidenced by the existence of statues of Ganesha and Trilingga. This area is also a place of worship for Hindus on the island of Bali.

Meanwhile, the second area located in the south is a place of worship for Buddhists. The area, which is called Tukad Pangkung, houses a Buddhist stupa in the attitude of Dhyani Buddha Amitabha. This stupa is a three-pronged stupa made with carvings on a stone wall.

In addition, at the front of the temple there are also several statues such as the Hariti statue, the Ganesha statue and the Giant statue. There is also a sacred bathing pool discovered by J.L Krijgman which can now be witnessed firsthand by tourists. Inside the holy bathing pool, there are two statues, namely the WIdyadara and Widyadhari statues.

The Origin of Goa Gajah Ubud Temple

This cave is known as one of the temples that have a very high historical value on the island of Bali. Goa Gajah Temple was a sacred location for Balinese Hindus and Buddhists during the reign of the Warmadewa Dynasty. The Warmadewa dynasty is known to have controlled the Island of the Gods in the 10th to 11th century AD. And even though it is very old, the condition of Goa Gajah Temple is still well maintained.

The existence of Goa Gajah Bali Temple is also recorded in several inscriptions. However, there are no inscriptions that clearly refer to this place as Goa Gajah Temple. The Additional Songan Inscription and the Cempaga Inscription named this temple as Er Gajah. Furthermore, the Pandak Badung Inscription calls this place the name Antarakunjarapadda. In addition, there is also the Negarakertagama book in 1365 AD which includes the names of Ba predecessor and Lwa Gajah in Bali as Majapahit’s territory.

History of Goa Gajah Bali Temple

The discovery of this place originated from a report by a high-ranking Dutch East Indies official in 1923 who mentioned the existence of statues of Ganesha, Trilingga and Hariti. By the Dutch East Indies Government, the report was followed up by bringing in Dr. WF. Sutterhiem who conducted research in Bali in 1925.

Goa Gajah Ubud Temple, The Oldest Temple in Bali

Research related to the existence of Goa Gajah Bali Temple continued in the post-independence period, precisely in 1950. The research was carried out by J.L Krijgman along with other staff from the Indonesian Antiquities Service. They carried out a process of research and excavation in the range between 1954 to 1979. As a result, they managed to find the existence of six statues of women and an ancient lightning.