Is located in Banjar Goa, Bedulu village, Blahbatuh subdistrict, Gianyar regency, it is about 5 km from Ubud. Is easy to find using map, below is the location of Goa Gajah.

Goa gajah on map. .

Goa Gajah has been known since the reign of some kings, among others are : Sri Dharmawangsawardhana Marakatapangkajastano Tunggadewa ( 1022 AD ), King Anak Wungsu (1053 AD ), Paduka Sri Mahaguru (1324 AD).

Goa Gajah

Mpu Prapanca on his book Negarakertagama, during the reign of Hayam Wuruk king in the Majapahit era wrote that Lwa Gajah is located in Bedutu village as the hermitage place of Sang Bodadyaksa.

Goa Gajah pool

The term “Kunjarakunjapada” is also mentioned, which means “Kunjara dormitory.” In Sanskrit, “kunjara” means elephant. This dormitory refers to the one of Rsi Agastya, located in Mysore, South India, where many wild elephants lived around it. It is possible that Goa Gajah was built to remind people of the Kunjarakunjapada dormitory in India.

Ratu Brayut

The discovery of Goa Gajah began with a report by LC. Heyting, an official of the Netherlands East Indies, in 1923. He reported finding a Ganesha statue, Trilingga, and a Hariti statue to the government. Later, in 1925, Dr. W.F. Stutterheim conducted further research. In 1950, the Archaeological Sites Office continued the investigation.

Goa Gajah Temple

In Indonesia, research and excavation of ancient buildings in Bali, led by J.L. Krijgman, took place from 1954 to 1979. During this time, an ancient holy water pond was discovered, featuring six statues of women. These statues are believed to emit cleansing vibrations, which continue to attract visitors seeking spiritual purification.

Goa Gajah

There is building that holds the statue of Ratu Brayut or Hariti in front of the cave According to the archaeologists, Haritihad an evil character in the beginning but after learning Buddhi’sm her evil nature is turned into children’s lover, as seen on the statue. .

On the upper right side of the cave wall, there is a writing of “Kuman” and “Shy Wangsa” written in Kadiri Kwadrat letters which meaning could not be certainly known by the historians. According to archaeological research of the statues art from and ancient holy water pond that exist in the Goa Gajah is believed to be inherited in the ll th century, (source : BP3 Bali)

The Goa Gajah complex consists of two main sections. The northern part is linked to Shaivism, featuring the Tri Lingga and Ganesha statues within the cave. In the southern part of the complex, in the Tukad Pangkung area, a thirteen-tiered Buddhist stupa and a three-branched stupa carved into a large stone were discovered by Concrat Spies in 1931. The incomplete state of the stupas is attributed to a disaster that struck Bali in 1917.

Additionally, the Petapan Temple, located to the south above the Pangkung River, houses a Buddha statue believed to date back to the 9th century, serving as evidence of the spread of Buddhism in Bali.

The archaeological findings of both Buddhism and Shaivism at Goa Gajah reflect the religious tolerance of the past, which is still evident in Bali today.

Things To Do At Goa Gajah

At Goa Gajah, visitors can enjoy a variety of meaningful and cultural experiences:

  1. Explore the site : Take a peaceful stroll through the three main sections of the temple—Jaba Pura (outer courtyard), Jaba Tengah (central courtyard), and Jeroan (inner courtyard). You’ll find ancient architecture, intricate stone carvings, and a deep sense of history.
  2. Witness Cultural Ceremonies : If you’re lucky to visit during a religious festival or ceremony, you can witness traditional Balinese rituals, where locals offer prayers and make offerings, creating an unforgettable spiritual atmosphere.
  3. Discover the Mythology : Learn about the captivating legend of King Mayadenawa and Batara Indra, a story that adds layers of meaning to the temple and its sacred waters.
  4. Relax and Reflect : With its serene environment, lush greenery, and tranquil atmosphere, Tirta Empul is the perfect place to relax, meditate, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
  5. Shop for merchandise : Many small art shop that sell beautiful merchandise around the site.
Some caution when entering the temple

If general tourists wish to enter the temple area, there are several rules they must be aware of and follow. This is because the temple’s primary function is not as a tourist site, but as a place of worship.

  1. Just like in other places of worship, there are sacred objects in the temple that should not be touched or handled carelessly. Never touch any buildings, items, or objects in the temple without permission from the temple’s caretaker or your guide. Some items, like stones on an altar, may seem ordinary, but to the locals, they are considered very sacred. Avoid touching them, and never sit on them.
  2. It’s also important to refrain from using foul or disrespectful language in the temple, as it is a sacred space.
  3. When entering the temple, travelers must wear appropriate clothing. This means covering areas that should remain private, such as the chest, hips, thighs, and similar parts of the body.
  4. Women are not allowed to enter the temple or sacred areas within the temple grounds during menstruation. This rule is important for maintaining the temple’s sanctity and ensuring personal safety.
  5. It is recommended to have someone accompany you in the temple, or you can hire a local guide to provide accurate information about the temple. Be sure to ask about their rates and agree on the price beforehand.
Entrance Fee

The entrance fee to this site is IDR 50,000 for adults and IDR 25,000 for children. The site is open for tourist and traveler from 08:00 AM until 18:00 PM. the exception for prayers is allowed for 24 hours to enter the temple. Sarongs to wear to the temple is borrowed for free including ticket purchases. 

That is the point and information to visit Goa Gajah. Below are more heritage place around Gianyar that interesting to visit.

Other Heritage Temple you can visit :  Yeh PuluTirta EmpulGunung Kawi TampaksiringGunung Kawi SebatuPura MengeningGoa GarbaCandi Tebing Tegallinggah.

Follow this link to show the map from other Heritage place nearby : 7 most visited heritage Places

 

Goa Gajah
4.2
Based on 7931 reviews
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AntonioAntonio
15:03 18 Sep 24
Ik KaraIk Kara
15:39 17 Sep 24
I thought it was okay but nothing special.
Sai Teja MalladiSai Teja Malladi
14:26 16 Sep 24
Nothing is there inside to see. Not worthy going. Overrated.
Júlia ErraJúlia Erra
14:10 16 Sep 24
A place that is too touristy in the sense that they try to sell you everything at exorbitant prices.As soon as you arrive they try to sell you in a sarong and a top garment saying that the clothing you are wearing is not allowed. That's a lie, they give you a sarong to enter and we even saw women with suspenders.It is true that I was thinking of buying a sarong in Bali and there I found very beautiful motifs. If you know how to haggle you can buy one at a good price.
Yuk Ming FongYuk Ming Fong
23:55 09 Aug 24
A temple with a cave with unique curving. The cave is not very big but it is a unique experience.Apart from the well-known elephant cave, there are many other amazing things to see like those giant trees, waterfall, river, forest, stones and other curving.
Nat T.Nat T.
13:10 26 Jun 24
A meaningful historic and religious site to visit. Entrance fee is 50k IDR and sarong require though it is provided as part of entrance fee. The ground is expansive with interesting natural landscape to explore. The place also offer small shopping complex and sell clothes and beverage outside temple.
G Krishnan NairG Krishnan Nair
05:20 10 Jun 24
We visited Goa Gajah on our second day in Bali. The temple itself was nice but not amazing. But we saw that there was a path which led down to a rivulet(I guess) which was quite picturesque and great for taking photos.Because of the natural beauty that you get to see, I think this is a place worth visiting.
The cave carvings are kinda cool but there isn't much else to see here and there are better temples to see if you are on a tight schedule. The temple itself is located in a valley so you need to climb some stairs to go down. There are a bunch of shops selling souvenir items before the descent to the temple. Don't be pressured into buying a sarong at the parking lot, you get one for free at the point where they check your tickets.Parking is adequate and is available for both two and four wheeler vehicles.
J MJ M
16:43 13 Apr 24
Large temple grounds highlighting the amalgamation of the Hindu and Buddhist religions within Balinese culture.A beautiful scenic and peaceful walk to be had within the gardens which eventually lead to a river.Before purchasing tickets, there are multiple stalls with vendors that will harass you and can be quite persistent.As previous reviews have mentioned, sarongs are provided for free at the entry point.Tickets are 50k pp for entry. Parking costs 2k per motorbike.
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