Uluwatu Temple
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Uluwatu Temple - by Paskuu (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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.
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
av. transport time:1h
est. visit time:1h
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