The Complete Visitor’s Guide to Pura Besakih Temple in Bali, Indonesia!

Set on the slope of the majestic misty mountain—Mt. Agung, Pura Besakih is the holiest of temples in all of Bali. Popularly called the Mother Temple, this is not a single shrine but a sprawling temple complex that’s easily more than 1,000 years old. Here, visitors have 23 temples to explore, plus the central temple—Pura Penataran Agung, Balinese architecture to soak in, and revel in the cultural immersion that is Pura Besakih. Plus, shutterbugs will love the location, given Mount Agung’s looming presence in the background. 

A quick history of the Mother Temple

The site where Pura Besakih stands today has always been holy to the Balinese. It began as an animistic holy site before taking on a Hindu veneer in the late 8^th century. With the rise of the Majapahit Empire in the 14^th century and Gelgel in the 15^th century, its importance grew manifold. Legend has it that the temple was founded by Rishi Markendeya, an Indian holy man who travelled to Bali with his followers to build a new home. Having failed, the great sage is said to have built a shrine to the gods, the same site where the temple complex stands today. 

Another legend has it that the name of the temple derives from that of a snake in Hindu mythology—Vasuki. In Bali, Besakih is a dragon that lives deep in the belly of the volcanic mountain Agung and watches after the temple and the surrounding areas, ensuring its peace and prosperity. When Mount Agung erupted in 1963, the lava flow missed the temple by a few meters and this was seen as an act of benevolence by the dragon god. 

Temple Architecture

 Pura Besakih’s architecture is decidedly Balinese, with Indian temple elements peppered generously. The entry is via an imposing yet ornate Candi Bentar—the iconic temple gates Bali is famous for. Once in, visitors have a staggering 24 temples to visit, learn about, photograph… and inevitably take selfies with. Given the large number of temples within the complex and the shrines, it’s not possible to see them all in a single visit. Therefore, tourists might want to focus on the more popular ones, like:

Pura Basukian Puseh Jagat – Pura Desa

This is considered to be the place where Rishi Markendeya buried five metal ingots into the ground. This is one of the three main temples and a founding temple in all of Bali. 

Pura Dalem Puri

The third main temple in the complex, and one of extreme importance to visiting Hindus. Primarily used by those who have completed the Pitra Yadnaya ritual. 

Pura Batu Madeg

This temple is said to contain the scriptures which are more than 1,000 years old, and that an offering here gifts people with rains and prosperity.

Pura Jenggala

This temple houses statues of Garuda—the mythical Hindu bird and the mount of the preserver god Vishnu. 

Pura Merajan Selonding

Here visitors will find one of the most ancient of Gamelan (Bali’s indigenous musical instrument) in all of Bali as well as the Bredah texts which are chronicles of a local king.

Pura Ulun Kulkul

Houses Bali’s most famous Kullkul—a wooden slit gong. The gong is usually used to send messages, including during times of distress. 

Pura Gua

Home to the dragon deity, but cannot be accessed since a landslide damaged the temple entrance. Still, the architecture is inspiring and locals are known to practice yoga here. 

Pura Penatara Agung

The state temple in the temple complex, features carvings on the exterior as well as tiered towers called Meru. Inside, entrants will find three dragons on the lotus throne—Anantaboga, Taksaka and Basuki supporting the cosmic order. While there are other temples in the complex devoted to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, this one is devoted to all three of them and also symbolizes the Balinese belief of Trihitakarana. 

Temple Timings

Purah Besakih opens for tourists at 7 am and winds down at 6 pm. Having said that, given its status as the holiest of temples in all of Bali, it is open 24 hours for practitioners of the Hindu faith for worship and other rituals. 

How to reach Pura Besakih Temple

The Pura Besakih temple is located in the eastern side of Bali, on the southwestern slopes of Mt. Agung. The temple is fairly accessible from most of the touristy areas of Bali, with drives taking 1.5 to two hours. The roads are well-laid but do get narrower as tourists approach the temple. There’s no public transport available to get to the temple. That’s why it is important for visitors to arrange their own transport to and back from the site. This is easily handled given the large number of taxi operators in Bali, or the resort can arrange one for you. 

Tempting as Bali’s roads and scenery might be, it’s a better idea to engage the services of a local professional driver. They have local knowledge of the routes, traffic conditions as well as local laws that the average tourist may not be privy to. Plus, they can read road signs in Bhasa Indonesia, which in our opinion is a big plus. Hiring a scooter and riding it yourself is something tourists are known to do. But before you do it, make sure you have the relevant licence, wear protective gear and understand that it’s a two-hour ride to the countryside. 

What to Expect at the Temple 

Once at the Pura Besika temple complex, visitors will need to get entry tickets. As of July 2025, international tourists pay IDR 150,000 per person for entry. This includes the rental of a sash or sarong, a security wristband, and an official tour guide. The parking is adjacent and something your driver for the day can take care of. Once in, there’s a shuttle service that ferries visitors from the entrance to the main gate of the temple complex. As of writing, the price per person is IDR 20,000 but prices can vary and it’s best to enquire about it beforehand. 

Taking the shuttle is suggested, since the way to the temple is up an incline, and the way up soon goes from pleasant to workout levels. However, it’s an easygoing stroll on the way down—one that takes between 12-15 pleasant minutes. Once at the temple gate, visitors will have to climb up the stairs to reach the temple. It’s here that the temple guards scan your wristband, so make sure to keep it safe and not discard it. 

It’s at this stage that the assigned tour guide takes over. Dressed in official Batik print orange shirts, they give you a cultural walkthrough of the temple complex, covering key temples and explaining the lore and stories attached to the place. Plus, they drop nuggets of local knowledge yet to be found on the internet. Most of the guides speak fairly good English. Patience is appreciated as well as tipping, though neither are mandatory.  

Best Time to Visit the Temple

The dry season running from April to October is considered the best time to visit the temple. It’s sunny, pleasant and the lack of fog or cloud means that Mt. Agung is ripe for an impromptu click or two. A visit during the rainy season has guests see the temple in a different light, surrounded by lush greenery and passing cloud cover. But, this is an experience reserved for those who don’t mind the rains and the increased humidity.

Speaking of days, it’s better to visit around noon on weekdays. Thin crowds means easily-available guides and there’s no queue for tickets. Also, it’s possible to quickly move from one temple to the other, and this counts given the large number of shrines in the complex. 

Festivals can be another interesting time to visit the temple, especially Galungan,  Kuningan and Bhatara Turun Kabeh. However, these festivals also see a large influx of domestic tourists. So, choose wisely. On certain other days like Nyepi, access to the temple is restricted. But that’s pretty much the case for all of Bali and you might want to check our blog on Nyepi for more.

Exercise Caution—Things to watch out for 

Any tourist destination or sight-seeing for that matter comes with its own set of challenges. Pura Besakih is no different. Fortunately, unlike Uluwatu there’s no monkey troubles here, rather it’s the people visitors need to watch out for.

Firstly, make sure to only hire approved tour guides. They can be found wearing orange batik print shirts and have an ID tag. Plus, their services are included in the price of the entry ticket. Though fewer in number, unofficial tour guides and touts roam the temple premises and will pressurise you to hire their services, if they catch you without an official tour guide. The best foot forward is to decline their service politely and move on; or catch a guard’s attention. 

Secondly, local ladies selling offerings will impress on you the need for buying one for the gods. This is simply not true. It’s entirely possible for tourists to have a tour of the temple without spending on offerings. Also, offerings are usually for Hindus. 

Temple Etiquette and Tips

Though a tourist hotspot for people on a Bali holiday, Pura Besakih is a temple of the Hindu faith, and the holiest in the land, bar none. Given its religious nature, it’s important to be mindful of one’s conduct when visiting the premises. Thankfully, most of the rules, etiquettes and tips to be followed are simply common sense. 

1. Visitors get a sash or a sarong from the ticket counter when visiting the temple. This is to cover exposed legs, arms and shoulders and is a way of showing respect to the temple deities. Practically, they help protect against sunburns and insect bites. So, win-win. 
2. Don’t enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temples, and worshipper halls. These are reserved for the faithful alone. 
3. Thirdly, and we cannot stress this enough – do not click selfies with the deities. Having one’s back to the gods is considered disrespectful, especially when taking a picture.
4. Check with the temple administration in case you want to take drone shots of the area. 
5. Don’t be loud. Remember, this is a place of worship. 
6. This is sort of left field, but – don’t enter the temple if menstruating. This is a general rule in Hinduism and applies to all temples, anywhere in the world. 

Winding up the Visit

Pura Besakih’s ambience mirrors that of the majestic mountain beyond — serene. There’s a palpable hush that blankets the temple; from the moment guests set foot, they can feel a quiet calming quietude. There are no monkeys here, no fire-dances or traditional chants of ‘cak cak’. Just the sighing of cool breezes and cars pulling away from the parking as the tropical sun sinks below the horizon.  If a quiet temple tour is part of your itinerary on a Bali holiday, our travel experts can help add make your Bali holiday that much more epic. Check out our Bali holiday deals which showcase the season’s latest and greatest deals and bonuses in Ubud accommodations. At any point of time, feel free to drop an enquiry or call us directly at 1800 991 751!