There are thousands of temples (Pura) in Bali. We visited two of the "Top 10 Must-See Temples in Bali" in a hired kijang (with driver) from the hotel tour desk for a half day tour.
Pura Taman Ayun
A Royal temple of Mengwi Empire built in 1634 by King Gusti Agung Anom in the town of Mengwi. The temple complex has three ascending courtyards - Outer, Middle and Inner courtyards, (connected but separated by gates and walls) surrounded by landscape gardens and a wide moat, giving the temple a 'floating on water' impression from afar.
Cross a bridge to the the Outer courtyard which has a spacious beautiful landscape garden. A paved footpath passed a little pond and fountain led to the Middle courtyard.
Entrance to the Middle courtyard. There is a shrine dedicated to one ancestor and other shrines dedicated to the various main temples of Bali to ensure prosperity of the nation.
Visitors are not allowed to enter the Inner (Holy) courtyard which is considered as the most sacred area of the temple. However, there is a perimeter walkway outside the walled area where visitors may take a look inside the Inner courtyard.
West side view of the Inner courtyard with rows of Bales - open sided court pavilions for musicians, cultural performances and high priests to conduct ceremonial rites and rituals.
Back side view with numerous distinctive wooden multi-tiered 'merus' (shrines) dedicated to different gods and goddess that rise up into the temple's skyline.
East side view and towards the exit of the temple.
It is indeed a place to marvel the rustic charm of this more than three centuries old temple, rich in Balinese architectural designs. After a leisurely stroll around the site and enough of picture taking, we left the temple for Pura Tanah Lot.
Pura Tanah Lot
This iconic "Temple on the Sea" is perhaps the most photographed temple in Bali. A holy place built to worship the Balinese sea gods back in the 15th century.
First stop was at Pura Batu Balong - a small temple that perched on a promontory with a natural archway under it. Follow a footpath to the cliff top temple which has a perfect position exactly overlooking the right side of Pura Tanah Lot.
At the edge of Pura Batu Balong cliff - a spot where tourists took turn to have a 'MUST take picture' with Pura Tanah Lot and the vast Indian Ocean as the backdrop.
And taking numerous zoom shots of the famous Tanah Lot that splendidly sits on a rocky island some distance off the shore, towering over the sea.
After finishing admiring the magnificent views of the temple from afar, we walked a short distance along a foot path to get a closer look at the temple.
A boy selling souvenirs along the foot path.
Some tourists playing hide and seek with little fishes in the rock pools,
while others go for more adventurous waves catChing and splaShing!
The temple ground is reachable during low tide only because it will be surrounded by the sea during high tide. Visitors are not allowed to enter the temple. According to legend, there are poisonous sea snakes at some nooks of the coral reefs guarding the temple from evil spirits and intruders. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable wandering around the mystical temple and would not be complete without watching the sunset.
The Golden Hour Sun Set that all tourists set to catch! The sun's radiant glow against the soft amber orange hue sky with clouds drifting by lazily create a gorgeous summer romance scene that anyone would long to be with their sweetheart.
Shorty after the sun went below the horizon, came the special Blue Hour with vibrant shades of blue blending into the golden sunset lights. A lovely post evening seascape to capture before it slipped silently away.
Glad to be here with good friends!
But boyfriends girlfriends may have to Beware of the 'Tanah Lot Curse'- a popular myth that unmarried couple who visited this temple will breakup shortly thereafter. Not sure for those who went there for honeymoon!!
Very nice pictures.
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