Discover 4 famous temples in Bali

Indonesia - Bali is famous for its many ancient temples, each with its own unique charm and offering fascinating experiences for Vietnamese tourists.

Besides its beautiful beaches, Bali is also famous for its sacred temples, showcasing a blend of Buddhist and Hindu styles. Nguyen Tran Hieu and Tai Pham, from Ho Chi Minh City, had a trip to experience these temples on the island in March.

The Tanah Lot temple pictured is one of Bali's cultural and tourist landmarks, located on a rocky island off the Pacific coast. At high tide, it is isolated in the middle of the ocean.

According to local legend, around the 15th century, the Indian monk Danghyang Nirartha came to Bali and persuaded the people to build a temple to spread Hinduism. To protect Tanah Lot, he transformed his headscarf into a giant snake that coiled around the temple. Today, people believe the place is still protected by the divine snake, and they flock here to pray during major annual festivals. It is also a popular spot for daily visitors due to its ideal sunset viewing location.

From Kuta City, visitors can get here by bus or taxi, a distance of about 20 km, Hieu said.

Featured on the 50,000 rupiah banknote (approximately 80,000 VND), Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple, built in 1633, is dedicated to the water goddess Dewi Danu. The temple is located on the shores of Lake Bratan, the second largest lake in Bali, formed from the crater of an ancient volcano at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level.

The 12-story pagoda within the temple was built by King Mengwi of Bali. When the water level in the lake rises, the temple appears to float on the water. This has made it a popular photo spot, and every tourist is advised to visit it when in Bali.

The moss-covered walls further enhance the ancient and sacred atmosphere of the temple. Hieu noticed that the temple was quite cool inside due to its elevated location next to a lake. Visitors can tour the temple for an entrance fee of 75,000 rupiah (approximately 120,000 VND) from 7 am to 7 pm daily.

On their way back, tourists can stop to buy local handicrafts as souvenirs, such as Buddha face statues, and bronze or wooden figurines of monkeys, snakes, and cats.

Located about 20 km from the center of Bali, Tirta Empul Temple is said to have been built in the 10th century. The temple is unique because it is surrounded by a stream flowing from the mountaintop, which never dries up. Local people often come here to participate in the sacred bathing ritual, also known as Melukat. They bow before one of the 12 holy water spouts to wash away bad luck and seek healing.

Locals and tourists are required to wear a sarong (a type of skirt-like garment consisting of a large piece of fabric wrapped around the body and tied at the waist), the traditional Indonesian attire, when entering the temple. Hieu rented a sarong at a shop outside the temple gate. The rental price ranged from 30,000 to 50,000 rupiah depending on the type.

The temple is located right at the foot of the Tampaksiring Presidential Palace, one of Bali's most important palaces. Hieu suggests that visitors combine a visit to this temple with other experiences.

Pura Luhur Uluwatu, located southwest of Bukit in Bali, is one of the six main and sacred temples dedicated to Acintya, the supreme deity of Hinduism. As its name suggests, "Temple on the Cliff," Pura Luhur Uluwatu sits atop a cliff approximately 70 meters above sea level. The spacious temple grounds offer breathtaking views of the vast, turquoise Indian Ocean. This location provides visitors with a unique experience of both nature and culture, especially when witnessing a Kecak Dance performance.

Kecak Dance is frequently performed in many places on the island of Bali, but only Pura Uluwatu offers the most impressive setting under the sunset. The dance is a combination of the Sanghyang ritual, an ancient Balinese practice to ward off evil spirits, and scenes from the Ramayana Saga, the famous Sanskrit epic of India. The epic tells the story of the white monkey Hanoman (pictured) searching for and rescuing Prince Rama's wife Shinta from a giant.

Kecak Dance is among the top 100 exciting travel experiences in Southeast Asia (according to the Vietkings organization's website) and attracts a large number of tourists to Pura Uluwatu temple to admire it.

Towards the end of the performance, as the sun set, the torches were the only remaining source of light. The sight of the golden flames erupting right before his eyes, the sudden burst of light and heat, filled Tài with both fear and delight, while the white monkey character leaped into the midst and "played" with the flames through dances.

Every day, Pura Uluwatu Temple has two performance times: 5:45 PM and 7:00 PM. Tai recommends visitors choose the first performance to watch the sunset. The entrance fee to the temple is 50,000 rupiah (approximately 80,000 VND) per person. A ticket to watch the Kecak Dance costs 150,000 rupiah (approximately 240,000 VND) when purchased directly, or around 139,000 rupiah (approximately 220,000 VND) online.

(According to 24h)

Source: https://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/111236/Kham-pha-4-ngoi-den-noi-tieng-o-Bali