Luhur Batukaru Temple
Luhur Batukaru Temple
4.5
About
Luhur Batukaru Temple is one of Bali's key directional temples (Bali attractions) and a site of pilgrimage for Hindu Balinese. The Pura Luhur Batukaru lies in solitary clearing 1,300 meters above the sea level, all around the Batukaru temple you'll find a garden of flowering frangipani and hibiscus, with a gigantic, inhabited, humid tropical forest all around it. The impressive placed Batukaru is situated on the slopes of Mount Batukaru since the 11th century, which is an especially sacred site, even by Balinese standards. That's why all visitors have to carefully read and abide the temple rules posted clearly at the entrance.The temple is high on the slopes of the mountain and the often misty, drizzly micro-climate here just adds to its undoubtedly mystical atmosphere. Due to the cool climate and high rainfall (has the highest rainfall on Bali), the shrines in this temple are covered by moss
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
17 within 3 miles
Attractions
13 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
365 reviews
Excellent
185
Very good
145
Average
29
Poor
4
Terrible
2
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Feketekek
Hungary72 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We enjoyed the drive to this place a lot as the area is wonderful. However, we found the temple itself very dissappointing. After paying 40.000 entrance fee, we realized that there is literally nothing to see for us there. As foreigners, we can't enter any of the so called holy areas and besides, there is nothing. We felt totally ripped off.
The only nice thing is the entrance gate, but a picture of that can be taken from the parking without actually entering.
I recommend the drive there, have a look from the outside, but do not buy a ticket.
The only nice thing is the entrance gate, but a picture of that can be taken from the parking without actually entering.
I recommend the drive there, have a look from the outside, but do not buy a ticket.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katy G
Roche-la-Moliere, France188 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Alone with our Guide, our sarongs and respect for places.
IDR 40,000 per person to enter
The temple is accessible to all. Respect for the place: we speak low, we do not run.
Attention, place forbidden to pregnant or indisposed women, children who have not yet lost teeth.
IDR 40,000 per person to enter
The temple is accessible to all. Respect for the place: we speak low, we do not run.
Attention, place forbidden to pregnant or indisposed women, children who have not yet lost teeth.
Automatically translated
Written August 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FactotumDellaCitta
London, UK3,980 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
Located at the foot of Mount Batukaru, Bali's second-highest volcano, this temple lies in a secluded area with its own micro-climate. It was much cooler than the Ubud area from where we came. There were hardly any tourists here and at times it felt like we had the entire temple complex to ourselves. Many of the structures hang heavy with moss and vegetation, blending into the surrounding jungle. We walked along the paths of the complex, enjoying the jungle sounds and serene atmosphere.
Written February 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tandrys
Charlotte, NC240 contributions
Mar 2014 • Solo
As others have noted, this is not a raging tourist site, and there are no stalls of folks selling sarongs and t-shirts. You do need to pay a small fee, and a sarong is provided for both men and women. If a ceremony is going on, tourists cannot enter that particular section, but it's a pretty place to walk around, and the stone carvings are beautiful, especially set in front of the mountain. Include this in a day trip - not as your sole destination, but as part of something.
Note: this also goes by Pura Luhur Batukau (note spelling of last word).
Note: this also goes by Pura Luhur Batukau (note spelling of last word).
Written March 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ayu_and_Steve
Jakarta, Indonesia66 contributions
Aug 2013 • Solo
Been twice in visiting this temple. This place is very tranquil and serene. The view is so magnificent. I felt so relax after meditating in this place.
Pura Batukaru is about 2 hours driving from Denpasar. The road was smooth (in August 2012).
Pura Batukaru is about 2 hours driving from Denpasar. The road was smooth (in August 2012).
Written October 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharad Shrimali
Ahmedabad, India404 contributions
Nov 2018 • Family
Pura Luhur Batukaru is, in my opinion, the best temple I have visited during my vacation in Bali. Nestled in the forest, high up in the mountains, with a scenic drive preceding the temple.
It is actually a temple complex, with 4-5 temples in one area. This temple is not touristy. There were very few tourists besides us who were there at the temple. This is probably because of it's location that the travel agents may not offer many packages of this temple.
This temple must be without any doubt on your bucket list while on a vacation in Bali. Besides the temples, it has an awesome lake and many paths to explore. The paths are in many places covered with moss - an indication of how less frequently visited by this magnificent temple is.
Had a truly mesmerising experience. The visit to this temple can be coupled with visits to either Tanah Lot and Taman Ayun OR with Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and Ulun Danu Beratan.
It is actually a temple complex, with 4-5 temples in one area. This temple is not touristy. There were very few tourists besides us who were there at the temple. This is probably because of it's location that the travel agents may not offer many packages of this temple.
This temple must be without any doubt on your bucket list while on a vacation in Bali. Besides the temples, it has an awesome lake and many paths to explore. The paths are in many places covered with moss - an indication of how less frequently visited by this magnificent temple is.
Had a truly mesmerising experience. The visit to this temple can be coupled with visits to either Tanah Lot and Taman Ayun OR with Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and Ulun Danu Beratan.
Written November 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karmatrendz
Jakarta, Indonesia1,180 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
Located in Tabanan Regency, this pura (temple) is one of the most sacred temples in Bali island. And when there is ceremonies, this temple will full of Balinese people from all over Bali for praying....and the atmosphere will be so mystical and holy....
When there's no ceremonies, this temple so quiet, still you will feel mystical and holy. Even from the entering road until you arrived at the gate (Candi Bentar) you already feel so sacred.
You'll need wearing sarong to enter the temple and small donation will be rewarded, big donation will make all local people happy. When you entered the temple, sometimes there's a small box with "Dana Punia" written, this box for donation too, it's a holy donation....you decide...
There's a big lake in the back, very relaxing and very beautiful, you can slowly walk and enjoy the atmosphere.....
When there's no ceremonies, this temple so quiet, still you will feel mystical and holy. Even from the entering road until you arrived at the gate (Candi Bentar) you already feel so sacred.
You'll need wearing sarong to enter the temple and small donation will be rewarded, big donation will make all local people happy. When you entered the temple, sometimes there's a small box with "Dana Punia" written, this box for donation too, it's a holy donation....you decide...
There's a big lake in the back, very relaxing and very beautiful, you can slowly walk and enjoy the atmosphere.....
Written February 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julian
Singapore, Singapore1,026 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
Pura Luhur Batukaru is one of the nine "directional temples" of Bali (ie one of the most religiously significant) that protect the Balinese from evil spirits. It is located on the southern slopes of Mount Batukaru, so needless to say the 'direction' of this temple is up!!
There is a very small fee for the loan of a sarong to enter the temple. Menstruating women are forbidden to enter.
The temple complex is not very large (compared to say, the "mother temple" at Besakih, but it sits in the jungle and is quite pretty. It is worth visiting on the day of a religious festival, when the colours of the local women's dresses, and the white of the men's outfits, provide a spectacular flash of colour against a background of grey rock and greenery.
It is not easy to find if you drive or ride yourself, not helped by the fact that the location is marked incorrectly on google maps/google earth. The correct location of the temple is S 8⁰ 22’ 20” E 115⁰ 6’ 9”. There is a car park near the temple, but you may not be able to use it at busy times. There is another, lower car park located at S 8⁰ 22’ 45” E 115⁰ 6’ 19” which is about 10 mins walk from the temple. Either of these locations will get you there using a satnav, there is nowhere else to go once you are on the right road (alas google has it on the wrong road!).
Joining a tour is another way to see this temple, as well as other sights nearby (the picturesque Jatiluwih rice terraces are nearby, and a bit further north is Pura Ulu Danu Bratan, another of the directional temples).
There is a very small fee for the loan of a sarong to enter the temple. Menstruating women are forbidden to enter.
The temple complex is not very large (compared to say, the "mother temple" at Besakih, but it sits in the jungle and is quite pretty. It is worth visiting on the day of a religious festival, when the colours of the local women's dresses, and the white of the men's outfits, provide a spectacular flash of colour against a background of grey rock and greenery.
It is not easy to find if you drive or ride yourself, not helped by the fact that the location is marked incorrectly on google maps/google earth. The correct location of the temple is S 8⁰ 22’ 20” E 115⁰ 6’ 9”. There is a car park near the temple, but you may not be able to use it at busy times. There is another, lower car park located at S 8⁰ 22’ 45” E 115⁰ 6’ 19” which is about 10 mins walk from the temple. Either of these locations will get you there using a satnav, there is nowhere else to go once you are on the right road (alas google has it on the wrong road!).
Joining a tour is another way to see this temple, as well as other sights nearby (the picturesque Jatiluwih rice terraces are nearby, and a bit further north is Pura Ulu Danu Bratan, another of the directional temples).
Written March 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alice O
Ottawa, Canada37 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
If you're coming from Jatiluwih, there's about 4km of truly terrible roads. We've motorbiked all over SE Asia and, other than Laos, I've never experienced roads that occasionally dissolve under your bike and potholes that you can disappear in. However, if you're confident in your skills and want a solid arm workout, this temple is absolutely worth going to. You can also approach it from the south (from Ubud) and the roads are much better. The area surrounding the temple is not detailed in google maps but it'll get you to the right area and you can ask around. The villagers there are still not used to seeing foreign faces so they'll stare at you as you go by (especially if you get lost like we did and end up in the tiny group of houses in the forest) but they're extremely friendly. The temple looks like any other but the isolation and location transforms it into a truly reverent experience. We were the only people there except for three worshipers meditating in complete silence. I found myself whispering simply out of awe. Explore the side paths, because they lead down to lakes and rivers, huge banyan trees, misty mountain top views and crumbling Hindu idols. It makes you feel like you're in Tomb Raider, or Skyrim. One of my favorite experiences in Bali
Written October 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deanne D
Wellington, New Zealand1,404 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
This temple is very special. It is in the jungle surrounded by a large pond and spring water source. You must pay to enter and wear a sarong which is loaned to you when you pay. Plan on spending about 45mins here to really appreciate the place.
Written January 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosalyn L
Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Hello
Myself and 2 friends want to visit Pura Luhur Batukaru on 17th July during our travels through Bali. This will be our first day in Bali and we are then looking at heading to Angsen Hot Springs and making our way east.
I would be really grateful for any advice or tips on the best ways to get to Pura Luhur Batukaru (from the international airport area), how much time you would recommend in spending there and if there is any nearby (ish) budget accommodation?
Lots of questions and lots of excitement for our Bali adventures!
Thank you
Written May 14, 2015
Hi,
I wonder the same as you, how can you arrive there, have u got any information?
Thanks
Written July 5, 2015
Showing results 1-3 of 3
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing