The Balinese culture is first of all defined by spirituality. Judging by the way they respect their rituals and traditions, the inhabitants of this small Indonesian island are a real example of true faith. This is why the Balinese temples are among the most famous tourist attractions in Bali.
The first temple I visited during my trip there is the Uluwatu Temple or Pura Luhur Uluwatu, the way they call it in their language.
Situated in Pecatu village, in the area of Kuta, this is one of the most important temples in Bali. In Hindu religion the Uluwatu Temple is considered the place where the three divine powers of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva become one power. Dedicated to Siva Rudra, the Balinese Hindu deity of all elements and aspects of life, the main purpose of the Uluwatu Temple is to protect Bali from evil and sea spirits.
Built in the Balinese architectural style, the temple is decorated with a variety of ancient sculptures. The name Uluwatu is symbolically chosen and it means “on the top of the rock”, referring to the fact that it is situated at the edge of a 70 meter high cliff. Thanks to its magnificent location, the Uluwatu Temple is also famous for a beautiful panorama and lovely sunsets.This is why the best time to visit this place is in the evening.
In order to get to the temple you have to go through a small forest which is home to hundreds of monkeys. According to the Balinese culture, monkeys are supposed to protect the temple against evil spirits.
The monkeys that live in this forest are famous for the fact that they snatch things from the tourists. You should be very careful with your personal belongings in case you don’t want these little thieves to steal them. It will very funny to watch these monkeys while they are trying to steal from the tourists. I really enjoyed myself seeing these monkeys drinking water out of bottles. As far as I’m concerned, these funny monkeys made my day.
As you can see, the Uluwatu Temple is not only about religion, it is also about beautiful views, sunsets and wonderful experiences. You should take a look at the following pictures and you’ll understand what I’m talking about!
