Pura Besakih
The Mother Temple of Bali
Wikimedia Commons
Good to know before you visit
- A sarong and sash are required to enter (available to rent). Use the official ticket counter; unofficial 'guides' offering to take you inside often demand large tips.
About Pura Besakih
Perched on the slopes of the sacred Mount Agung, Pura Besakih is the largest and holiest temple of Balinese Hinduism — a sprawling complex of more than twenty temples that has been a place of worship for over a thousand years.
Aarti Timings
- Morning prayers08:00
- Evening17:00
Timings are indicative and may change on festival days.
Festivals & Sacred Days
Bhatara Turun Kabeh
March–AprilBesakih's greatest annual festival, when 'all the gods descend' to the Mother Temple; lasting around three weeks, it draws Balinese Hindus from across the island in flowing white for grand offerings.
Galungan & Kuningan
Every 210 days (Pawukon calendar)The celebration of dharma's victory over adharma, when temples across Bali — Besakih among them — are adorned with penjor and ancestral spirits are honoured.
Odalan (temple anniversary)
By the Pawukon calendarThe recurring consecration anniversary of the temple, marked with elaborate offerings, gamelan and ceremonial dress.
Poojas & Sevas
Persembahyangan (Tri Sandhya prayer)
The Balinese Hindu act of worship with offerings of flowers, incense and holy water before the deities, central to the daily devotional life of the temple.
Canang Sari Offerings
Daily woven palm-leaf trays of flowers and incense placed throughout the complex as a gesture of gratitude to Sang Hyang Widhi.
Melukat (purification)
Ritual purification with holy water performed by devotees, especially during major festivals at the holiest temple of Balinese Hinduism.
Travel Guide
Address
Pura Besakih, Besakih, Rendang, Karangasem Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Nearest Airport
Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS), about 60 km
Nearest Railway
Bali has no railway; visitors arrive by car, scooter or tour from Ubud or the southern resorts.
Best Season
April to October (dry season) for clear views of Mount Agung; mornings are best before the cloud and crowds build.
Dress Code
A sarong and sash are required to enter (available to rent). Modest dress; menstruating women are traditionally asked not to enter the inner courtyards.
How to reach
Roughly a 2-hour drive from Denpasar or Ubud up the slopes of Mount Agung; an entrance/parking fee applies and a shuttle runs to the temple gates.
🛫 Plan Your Visit
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