Tag Archives: Temple

Three Temples in Bali

Bali is unique in Indonesia, with a Hindu population of 86.9%. One of the great pleasures of visiting Bali is touring the temples. Temples represent an important part of daily religious, social and cultural life and are meticulously maintained. On this trip, I visited three in the Ubud area, illustrated in the following photographs.1-3 Pura […]

Balinese Gamelan Ensemble Rehearsal

While walking in Seminyak, Bali, one evening I heard the strains of a gamelan ensemble. I quickly located them, practising in their temple and stood close to the stage to watch them for a half an hour or so. When they took a break, their leader came over to me and explained that they were preparing […]

Colourful Preparations for a Balinese Temple Celebration

Earlier this year, I took an early morning walk around the back streets of Seminyak in Bali, when I came across a temple I had passed and photographed several times before. Although well before nine a.m., there were several people busy decorating the building and laying tables inside. Unfortunately, I did not have a sarong […]

Tirta Empul: A Holy Spring and Temple in Central Bali

Pura Tirta Empul dates from around CE 960, when a temple was built on the site of the spring. According to legend, the ancient ruler Mayadanawa angered the gods by suppressing Hinduism and the freedom of his subjects to worship freely. An army, led by the god Indra, pursued Mayadanawa, who poisoned a nearby river making the troops […]

Temple Building Details, Seminyak, Bali

It is a special pleasure, when staying in Seminyak, to go out early and walk around the back streets to see everyday life, just minutes away from the designer shops, restaurants and bars on the main roads. All of the photographs displayed here are from the numerous temples, in daily use by local people, within […]

Bali: Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

Located in northern Bali at a height of 1200m above sea level, the journey to Lake Danau Bratan from the south passes through rice fields and then up into the mountains, towards the richly fertile fields around Bedugul. The temple of Ulun Danu Bratan, dedicated to Dewi Danu, the water goddess, is one of the most important in […]