VISIT GUA GAJAH TEMPLE AFTER BATUR TREKKING

During on the way Back from Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking Tour in Kintamani Village, we will pass Goa Gajah Temple if your Hotel in Ubud, Seminyak, Kuta, and Nusa Dua Area, This Temple is very unique , you also may entering this Sacred Cave. The entrance Fee only 15k per person. Below is the Description of Gua Gajah Temple.

We also would like to share our Bali Trekking Program especial for Nature and Culture Lover after this Description, Trekking to Nature is the best choice for you who would like to refresh your mine and escape from work frustration.

Welcome to Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) which is located in west side of Bedulu countryside, Blah Batuh Sub district and Gianyar Regency. It is about 27 km from Denpasar town. This cave is built at crevasse edge from the federation of 2 rills that is called Pangkung River , where the irrigation is mixed with Petanu River flow. The federation area of two rivers is called Campuhan/Mixture. It owns the magical energy on the basis of Rwabineda Concept/two different matters on this basic concept hence Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) is intentionally built among two rivers. G

Gua Gajah in Story

The name “Goa Gajah” is a bit misleading. In Balinese and Indonesian language, “Goa Gajah” means elephant cave. In fact, it is not at all dwelling full of elephants. “Goa Gajah” is an archaeological site of significant historical value that makes it a special place to visit.To arrive at the site you need to walk down some stairs less than an hour. On site you will see its relic-filled courtyard and the rock-wall carvings, a central meditational cave, bathing pools and fountains.

Goa Gajah was approximately founded in the 11th century as a spiritual place for meditation. Nowadays the main grounds are down a number of steps from the roadside and parking area, which is lined with various art and souvenir shops and refreshment kiosks. When you arrive at the site you will come across a large meeting hall called “Wantilan” and an assortment of large old stone carvings, some restored to their former full glory. The pool which was excavated in 1954 features five of supposedly seven statues portraying Hindu angels holding vases that act as waterspouts.

The structures and relics reveal Hindu influences from the 10th century and elements of Buddhism from even earlier to the 8th century. The cave is shallow; inside three are stone deities in which each of them is wrapped in red, yellow and black cloths. Black soot lines the cave’s walls as the result from the current-day incense burning. A number of curvatures show where meditating priests once sat. The northern side of the complex is dominantly Buddhist influences while south across the river is mostly Hinduism’s.

At the southern end of Goa Gajah area, there are beautiful rice fields and small streams that lead to the Petanu River. The river is another natural site which is entwined in local legends. Goa Gajah itself was founded on a hillside and as two small streams met here which form a river junction that is locally called “Campuhan”. The site has been considered sacred and was hermetically built for meditation and prayers.

Although the name of the site literally means ‘Elephant Cave’, you will not find any elephants here. Several theories suggest the origin of the name. In the past, Petanu River was originally called ‘Lwa Gajah’, that means the ‘River Gajah’. Other sources state that the ‘Gajah’ or elephant aspect came from the stone figure inside the cave that depicts the Hindu lord Ganesh, who is characterised by an elephant’s head. Archaic inscriptions also mention to the name “Antakunjarapada”, which more or less means ‘elephant’s border’. The entrance of the cave shows a threatening giant face with its wide open mouth as the door. Some themes that depict forest and animals are carved out of the outer rock face. In The giant face was considered to be an elephant’s.

The Goa Gajah complex opens every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The same rule as any temple in Bali, women during their periods are not allowed to enter the temple and wearing a “sarong” and a waist sash is a must. These fabrics are available for rent at the entrance gate of Goa Gajah. The temple of Goa Gajah celebrates its temple anniversary called “piodalan” on an ‘Anggara Kasih Prangbakat’ Tuesday on the Balinese 210-day Pawukon calendar. This corresponds to different dates on the Gregorian calendar each year. Administratively, Goa Gajah complex is located on Jalan Raya Goa Gajah main road in Bedulu village, Blahbatuh district, Gianyar Regency, Bali province, Indonesia. To get there, you just go to the east from Ubud town about 3 kilo meters towards Jalan Raya Goa Gajah.

What to see?

There is a relief which is almost looking like the form of mountain on the entrance of this cave. It was carved many designed on the relief like grove with the stick, close leaf, animal for example forest pig, tortoise and specters. The cave mouth is decorated by the bas-relief with the eye turn around to the right or west side. There is an article letter of Kediri type from the early of 11 century was written on the wall left side or east side. There is a pool (Patirthaan) as a place to take the holy Tirtha water for Hindu ceremony which is located in the middle of the cave courtyard. This Holy Pool is previously piled up by land and it has been found on 1954 by Krijgsman from the Ancient Department. The Holy pool is equipped by the statue douche which is parallel arranged in two groups.

Tourist Destinations and Facilities

Since it is appointed as tourist destination, Gua Gajah is many visited by tourist everyday due to it is strategically located on the main road Ubud – Kintamani. Kintamani Volcano Tour is one of the famous land tour in Bali usually put this tourist destination on the tour itinerary. It was well completed by public facilities like toilet, parking area and souvenir shops available.

Hope above information useful for you, and anyway we are as Bali Trekking Organizer, we would like to introduce more detail about Trekking Tour that we organize , below are the List of Bali Nature Trekking Tour