Pura Luhur Batukaru stands in forest on the slopes of Mount Batukaru, Bali's second-highest volcano at 2,276 meters. It is the directional temple of the west and one of the Sad Kahyangan, the six holiest sanctuaries of the island. Together with its supporting temples and the rice terraces of Jatiluwih, it forms part of UNESCO's Cultural Landscape of Bali Province.
The temple was first built in the 11th century and was dedicated to the ancestors of the rajas of Tabanan. It is devoted to Mahadewa, god of the mountain, honored in a 7-tiered meru that is the temple's most important shrine. The temple was attacked and destroyed in 1604 by the King of Buleleng and was rebuilt in 1959.
Far fewer visitors make it here than to the coastal temples, and the setting rewards those who do. Moss covers the stone shrines, tall trees surround the courtyards, and the air is cool and damp. The quiet, broken only by birdsong and the occasional ceremony, makes it one of Bali's most contemplative temples. Allow time to linger in the courtyards.
Highlights
- Mossy shrines in mountain forest
- 7-tiered meru for Mahadewa
- Temple of the west, one of the Sad Kahyangan
- Close to the Jatiluwih rice terraces
Photos
Photos: MajaK. · CC BY 3.0 · edited / Franz-Josef Alayon Monsanto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Good to know
- Combine the visit with the Jatiluwih rice terraces on the same drive.
- Bring a rain jacket, as the slopes are often misty and wet.
- Parts of the inner compound are closed to visitors, so follow the signs and any guidance from temple staff.
On the map
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Offerings, ceremonies, temples and beliefs: 100 short chapters on what makes Balinese culture unlike anywhere else.
