Pura Besakih
[postlink]http://baliovguide.blogspot.com/2011/08/pura-besakih.html[/postlink]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUTI7r-GA-kendofvid [starttext]The Mother Temple of Bali is Besakih and it is located in the village of Besakih -- perched nearly 100m up the side of Gunung Agung.
The site is Bali's most important temple. Besakih is comprised of 86 or so temples within 22 temple complexes on 7 terraces. Besakih Temple is known as the Mother Temple of Bali as it houses the ancestral shrines of all Balinese Hindus. It is spectacular.
To get to Besakih, catch Bemo's from Ubud or Denpasar (Batubulan terminal) to Gianyar, then change to a bemo to Klungkung. A bemo to Besakih is generally available, but on some occasion it may be necessary to change at Rendang.
Visit Besakih early, before the crowd of tourist buses and when the weather is still clear. The temple yard is forbidden for tourist to enter. While it is not required (contrary to what you may hear!) you may want to take a guide to avoid getting lost in the intricacies of the Balinese pantheon. Be warned: Touts abound here![endtext]
The site is Bali's most important temple. Besakih is comprised of 86 or so temples within 22 temple complexes on 7 terraces. Besakih Temple is known as the Mother Temple of Bali as it houses the ancestral shrines of all Balinese Hindus. It is spectacular.
To get to Besakih, catch Bemo's from Ubud or Denpasar (Batubulan terminal) to Gianyar, then change to a bemo to Klungkung. A bemo to Besakih is generally available, but on some occasion it may be necessary to change at Rendang.
Visit Besakih early, before the crowd of tourist buses and when the weather is still clear. The temple yard is forbidden for tourist to enter. While it is not required (contrary to what you may hear!) you may want to take a guide to avoid getting lost in the intricacies of the Balinese pantheon. Be warned: Touts abound here![endtext]