Pura Besakih

Pura Besakih is a Hindu temple complex on the southwestern slopes of Mount Agung in the Sidemen area of eastern Bali. It is a major religious site made up of several temple courtyards and shrines arranged on the mountain slope.

What you find there

The complex includes Pura Penataran Agung, the central temple, together with other temples dedicated to different gods and ancestral deities. Stone gateways, stairways, courtyards and mountain views form the main elements visitors encounter within the temple grounds.

History

Besakih is widely known as Bali’s Mother Temple. Its religious importance is connected with Mount Agung, which is regarded as a sacred mountain in Balinese Hinduism. The site has developed over centuries as a centre for ceremonies and pilgrimage.

Visiting

Visitors enter a living place of worship where ceremonies may take place. Balinese temple etiquette applies, including respectful clothing and behaviour. Public sources identify the site in Besakih, Rendang, Karangasem, on the route toward Mount Agung.