Pura Besakih has been there for many years, decades, or even centuries. It is one of the largest Hindu temples in Indonesia. Also, it is the largest Hindu temple in Bali. Since Bali is predominantly Hindu, this temple holds an important status for the residents of the island. That is why it is considered as the mother of all temples in Bali. It is also very old, the first time its name was mentioned in our history was about in the early 10th century. Pura Besakih is named after the legendary dragon of Bali, Naga Besakih, who is believed to separate the island of Bali from the island of Java. Naga Besakih is believed to live inside the Mount Agung. Speaking of Mount Agung, do you know that the temple is located near it? Or, more precisely, the temple is located at the west slope of the mountain.
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Construction
The temple of Besakih, or Pura Besakih, is built on the slope of the Mount Agung. It is a very big temple, but actually, the size is deceiving. Do you know why Pura Besakih is very big? Because, it is constructed not as a single temple, but as a complex of several temples. How many temples are there, then? Well, there is one main temple. But also, the main temple is accompanied with several minor temples. The number of the minor temples is dazzling, there are 18 minor temples! That makes 19 buildings in total. Also, since it is located on the slope of Mount Agung, it is unsurprising that the temple is prone to earthquakes. There have been many times the temple was shaken by earthquakes. But miraculously, the temple still stands until now! Fresh and without any scratch. This is an amazing fact since it has existed for centuries.
Location and how to access
As mentioned earlier, Pura Besakih is located at the slope of Mount Agung, at the eastern part of the island. Mount Agung itself is within Karangasem regency. To reach it, use a transportation provided by local tours. Do not use a taxi because it is usually very pricey. By the way, it is somewhat tricky to reach that place without the aid of local guides. So, if you do not want to get in too much trouble in order to reach the place, it is highly advised that you better save any money to hire local guides and tour services! Don’t worry, there are very few scams reporting in the area of Karanganyar! You can trust them. You can even negotiate the price if it feels too expensive!
Accommodations found around it
After you pay a visit to Pura Besakih, you can also take a break in several hotels around it. Below are several hotels that cost the cheapest :
- The Bukit Artha, located at Banjar Tabola Street. Cost : IDR 280,000/night
- Villa Taman Sidemen, located at Pure Taman II Street no. 2, Karangasem. Cost : IDR 210,000/night
- Puri Agung Inn, located at Selat Karangasem, Sidemen. Cost : IDR 300,000/night
Tourist attractions around
If you are bored of the temple, you can also hike the Mount Agung, grab a natural bite at Green Kitchen, or visit other temples near it, such as Puri Saren Agung. You can also visit Batur Lake. All of them are located not far from the Pura Besakih.
