Uluwatu Temple, beautiful sunset over the mountains

Balitraveldiary.com – Of the many temples in Bali, one that holds its own charm is Uluwatu Temple. This temple, located in the village of Pecatu, South Kuta District, does not only save strong religious power but also captivating sunset views.

This temple can be reached by traveling about 30-45 minutes from Denpasar City. Its location which is not too far from the Capital of the Province of Bali makes this temple worthy of being one of your exploration destinations on the Island of the Gods.

Uluwatu Temple is one of the houses of worship of Hinduism which has a status as ‘Pura Sad Kahyangan Jagat’ or buffer of the winds of Bali. In the Padma Bhuwana Lontar, Uluwatu Temple is a buffer temple southwest of Bali.

With this status, it means that Uluwatu Temple is a place of worship for all levels of Hinduism, without limitation of caste/clan, lineage, type of profession, and origin of the region. Other temples bearing similar status are Besakih Temple in the northeast and Goa Lawah Temple in the southeast.

As the name implies, the initial building of Uluwatu Temple was on a coral hill as high as 90 meters above sea level. Literally, “uluwatu” means a stone peak. The main temple complex is right facing the west side of the Uluwatu Peninsula.

Based on the Lontar Padma Bhuwana manuscript, this temple was built around the 11th century by Mpu Kuturan. With the increasing number of people worshiping in this temple, about 15 years ago a new complex was built at the bottom.

Initially, there was only one access to this temple, namely through the gate on the east side of the temple. As this area developed, new access was made in the north. Entering this new access, visitors will follow the cliff through the path.

The route through the north side access is approximately 1 kilometer. This path penetrates the thickets inhabited by a group of wild apes. For this reason, visitors are advised to store their valuables properly.

Panorama of the sea from the edge of the cliff looks beautiful, especially in the afternoon before sunset. Panoramic temples with a background of sky and open sea deserve to be immortalized as part of your memories on the Island of the Gods.

Towards dusk, the orange light that lights up in the sky will further add to the beauty of the panorama on this cliffside. Watching this beautiful painting created by the Creator is an unforgettable experience.

Complementing the visit to Uluwatu Temple, the Kecak dance performance in the setting of the sunset sets the perfect conclusion. This colossal dance, which is a cultural heritage of Bali, is routinely performed every day, starting around 6:00 to 19:00 WITA.

The dance, which was performed by tens to hundreds of people, was performed on a stage in the south of the temple court. Visitors who are interested in seeing the Kecak dance performance can buy tickets for Rp. 75,000.