Mount Agung and Besakih Temple, Bali
Mount Agung is highly sacred to the Balinese. Photo
Michael Schmid.
View of the volcanic Mt. Agung. Photo
lizamber.
Sunset from the peak of Bali's sacred Mt. Agung. Public domain.
Besakih Temple just before a storm. Photo
Sean McGrath.
Rooftops of Pura Besakih. Photo
Galvin.
Besakih Temple's anniversary in April. Photo
Verena Fuchs.The volcanic Mount Agung (Gunung Agung) is the most sacred mountain in Bali. It is home to the important Mother Temple of Besakih, the largest and holiest temple in Bali.
History
An active volcano, it last erupted in March 1963. The lava flows narrowly missed the Mother Temple of Besakih on the mountain's slopes, which the Balinese regarded as a miraculous sign from the gods.
Built before 1000 AD, Besakih Temple was originally a terraced temple dedicated to the dragon god Besakih who is believed to inhabit the sacred mountain.
In the 15th century, Besakih became the state temple of the Geigel-Kiungkung dynasty, whose rulers built several small temples to honor their deified kin. It remains a state temple today, run and funded by the provincial and national governments.
What to See
The great Mount Agung rises to an altitude of 3,148 meters (10,308 feet) in eastern Bali. Perched on its slopes about 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) in altitude is the holy Besakih Temple, Mother Temple of Bali.
Besakih is said to be the only temple where a Hindu of any caste can worship. Surrounding three main temples dedicated to Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu are 18 separate sanctuaries belonging to different regencies and caste groups.
Stairs ascend through a monumental split gate to the courtyard of the main temple, Pura Panataran Agung, where the central shrine dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu is wrapped in cloth and decorated with flower offerings.
Two other important temples further up the slope join with the Pura Panataran Agung to symbolize the Hindu trinity: the Pura Panataran Agung in the center flies white banners for Shiva, Pura Kiduling Kreteg to the right flies red banners for Brahma; and Pura Batu Mddeg, on the left, has black banners for Vishnu.
There are many other temples to explore at Besakih, but many of their inner courtyards are reserved for worship and closed to visitors.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Gunung Agung (Mount Agung); Pura Besakih (Besakih Temple) |
| Type of site: | Hindu temple; sacred mountain |
| Faith: | Balinese Hinduism |
| Status: | Active |
| Dates: | c.1000 AD |
| Location: | Eastern Bali, Indonesia |
| Tip: | If not traveling as part of a tour, try to arrive at the temple before 9am, when the tourist buses begin to arrive. |
Travel Resources
- Bali Hostels - budget lodgings from HostelBookers
- Bali Hotel Reviews - candid reviews at TripAdvisor
- Bali Tours and Cruises - sightseeing tours from Viator
- Bali Travel Forums - advice from fellow travelers at TripAdvisor
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Mt. Agung. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Indonesia Map or get our free Google Earth download.
References and Sources
- Bali Temples Guide - Asia Web Direct
- Besakih Temple - Bali Vision
- Mount Agung - Wikipedia
