Bali︱Besakih Temple

Besakih Temple

It is not rare to see that unique candi bentar (a classical Balinese split gateway entrance) on friends’ check-in photos of Bali on social media. The entrance belongs to the Besakih Temple. The photo of a person standing on the passage in the middle of it is just spectacular. No wonder it has become a “site of pilgrimage” of photography for tourists worldwide.

The Besakih Temple is an extensive complex of 22 separate but related temples on six rising terraces along the slopes of Mount Agung. The mountain is venerated by Balinese as a holy mountain, and therefore the temple on it is revered as a sacred site by Hindus in Bali. In the past, the temple complex avoided repeatedly the lava flows at a distance of a few meters after several volcanic eruptions. The local people regarded the saving of the temple as miraculous. The Hindu temples are terraced up the slope, which leads visitors to take the stairs ascending to the main sanctuary and the world-famous split gateway entrance. There are a number of religious festivals and sacrifices taking place in the Besakih Temple every year. When planning for your visit to Bali, you can check in advance for any festive occasions in the temple so that you can be right in time to experience the amazing Hindu culture!