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Uluwatu Temple

Jalan Pura Uluwatu, Pecatu, Bali

Description

Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu in Balinese) is a clifftop Balinese Hindu sea temple located at the western tip of Uluwatu, in the south of Bali. "Ulu" means "edge" and "watu" means "cliff" or "rock" The temple was founded in the 11th century and is dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa (or Acintya, the equivalent of Brahman in Indian Hinduism) in his manifestation as Rudra (a deity associated with the wind and the hunt). It is famous for its daily Kecak dance (based on the Ramayana) and its monkeys who have learnt the art of stealing and then bartering in exchange for food.

Access & Transport

The temple is on Jl Pura Uluwatu, 14km southwest of Jimbaran beach, 20km west of Nusa Dua and 25km from the Kuta/Legian/Seminyak area.

Instructions & Recommendations

Late afternoon is the best time to visit but also the most crowded because of the good sunset views and to attend the Kecak dance held at 18h00 (ticket go on sale around 17h). Around the temple, we strongly advise visitors to keep all food, water and sunglasses in a bag to avoid having them stolen by the monkey.

Meta review

The temple is a mainstay of Bali travel guides and blogs, not without reasons according to reviewers who find the setting truly amazing and enchanting at sunset. Some point out though that the temple itself isn't the most impressive on the island. The clear drawback of the place is the "monkey scam" which has the potential to ruin one's visit.

Environmental & Social

Theoretically environmentally green but there is a lot of waste left by tourists and vendors alike. It is unclear what the fees are used for and tourism is having some negative impact on behaviours.

Conclusion

The Uluwatu area has a spectacular coastline, and the temple is the icing on the cake from a visual perspective. However, purely as a religious building there are far more enjoyable complexes on the island. Most people rave about the sunset there, but you can get beautiful sunsets anywhere on the peninsula so if the crowds bother you feel free to go at any other time of the day.

Key positive

Picturesque cliff top setting

One of the best places to watch a Kecak dance

Key negative

Can be crowded in the evenings

Very aggressive monkeys

Suitability

There are few steps to get into the temple so wheelchair users will require some assistance. No religious determination restriction

About this Rating

TYPE

Onsite

RESEARCHED IN

June 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:1h

est. visit time:1h

Regulated hours

Monday07:00 - 18:00

Tuesday07:00 - 18:00

Wednesday07:00 - 18:00

Thursday07:00 - 18:00

Friday07:00 - 18:00

Saturday07:00 - 18:00

Sunday07:00 - 18:00

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
IDR 50,000
Adult
12 - 64
IDR 50,000
Child
3 - 11
IDR 30,000
Infant
0 - 2
IDR 0
It is unclear what the child age threshold is. Price for Indonesian nationals is lower

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