Bali Temple Guide: 15 Sacred Temples

Tabanan Regency, southwest Bali

The most iconic sea temple in Bali — a 16th-century rock shrine rising straight from the Indian Ocean.

Tabanan Regency, Bedugul highlands, north-central Bali

The water temple floating on Lake Beratan — depicted on the Indonesian Rp 50,000 banknote and one of Bali's most photographed landmarks.

Badung Regency, Mengwi, central-west Bali

The royal Mengwi temple surrounded by a wide moat — peaceful, photogenic and rarely overcrowded.

Tabanan Regency, Mt Batukaru slopes, northwest Bali

Bali's most remote and atmospheric directional temple — deep in cloud forest on the slopes of Mt Batukaru, rarely visited and profoundly peaceful.

Badung Regency, Bukit Peninsula, southwest Bali

A clifftop temple 70 metres above the Indian Ocean — home to Bali's most dramatic sunset and the nightly Kecak fire dance.

Denpasar, Serangan Island (Pulau Serangan), south Bali

A sacred sea temple on Serangan Island, reached by causeway — important in Balinese ceremony but rarely visited by foreign tourists.

Gianyar Regency, Tampaksiring, central Bali

Bali's most sacred holy spring — a 10th-century purification temple where you can participate in a genuine melukat water ritual.

Gianyar Regency, Bedulu village, near Ubud

An 11th-century rock-cut cave shrine with carved demons at the entrance and ancient bathing pools — five minutes from the main Ubud road.

Gianyar Regency, Sebatu village, north Ubud

One of Bali's most serene water temples — clear spring pools, sacred fish and jungle-clad gorge setting near Tirta Empul.

Gianyar Regency, Padangtegal village, central Ubud

Three active Balinese temples inside a sacred forest inhabited by over 1,000 Balinese long-tailed macaques — Ubud's most visited attraction.

Karangasem Regency, slopes of Mt Agung, east Bali

Bali's holiest and most complex temple — a vast terraced complex on the slopes of the sacred volcano Mt Agung.

Karangasem Regency, Abang, east Bali

The "Gates of Heaven" split gate with Mt Agung framed behind — one of the most photographed images in all of Southeast Asia.

Klungkung Regency, Kusamba coast, east Bali

A sea-cliff cave packed with thousands of sacred bats — one of Bali's oldest and most unusual temples on the Kusamba coast.

Bangli Regency, Bangli town, central Bali

Bangli's main state temple — a dramatic terraced hilltop complex with a 1,000-year-old inscription and ancient Chinese porcelain decorating the walls.

Karangasem Regency, Abang, east Bali

The lower gateway temple of Lempuyang — where the famous Gates of Heaven photograph is taken and where Mt Agung frames the split gate.