Visitors to the island of Bali will quickly realize that the Indonesian paradise is not only characterized by its extensive beaches and impressive rice fields. The island’s image is also defined by its numerous temples – it is estimated that there are more than 20,000 of them. The temples are of great importance to the locals and also captivate tourists in a very special way.
One of these temples is Pura Goa Lawah, which is one of the most famous attractions in the east of Bali. It is unusual in that it is home to flocks of bats and has a number of mystical legends for visitors.
Where is the Pura Goa Lawah bat temple located?
The Pura Goa Lawah temple is located in the east of Bali, very close to the port of Padang Bai on the island’s cliffs. The bat temple is located just west of Padang Bai, near the small village of Kusamba.
Guided tours to the Pura Goa Lawah temple can easily be booked all over the island. However, those who are staying in Padang Bai or Candi Dasa can reach the temple in a short time by scooter. The temple is only ten kilometers from Padang Bai and around 18 kilometers from Candi Dasa. If the excursion starts from Sanur or Denpasar, the distance to Pura Goa Lawah is about 35 kilometers.
A visit to the temple can easily be combined with visits to other attractions in the region. For example, you could visit the Bali Aga village of Tenganan or the White Sand Beach. The salt works in Kusamba or the water palace Tirta Gangga are also worth a trip.
Bats and snakes at Pura Goa Lawah
The name of the temple Pura Goa Lawah is derived from the fact that “Lawah” is the Balinese word for bat. The bat temple can look back on a very long history, as its origin is believed to date back to the time before the beginnings of Hinduism, namely as early as the 11th century. At that time, today’s Hindu temple was still an animistic place.
The Pura Goa Lawah is located directly by the sea and is now used as a place where Hindu and Balinese ceremonies are held by the faithful. Often, for example, deceased family members are commemorated by throwing the ashes of the dead from the beach into the sea. The idyllic location of Pura Goa Lawah in close proximity to the sea makes a visit to the site worthwhile in any case. However, since the temple complex is not very large, not too much time needs to be planned for the trip there.
Flocks of bats
The actual temple is located in front of a cave where numerous bats live. This temple not only symbolizes the worship of bats, but also of snakes, which also live in the immediate vicinity of the temple. However, the bat cave is considered sacred and for this reason, tourists are not allowed to enter it.
However, the bats can be easily observed from a certain distance. They are basically the main attraction of Pura Goa Lawah. During the day, they hang in the cave temple in the form of large bunches on the cave ceiling. As soon as evening falls, the animals then go out in search of food and fly out of the cave.
Visit in appropriate clothing
To visit the temple, tourists can buy sarongs in the parking lot, but it is also possible to rent them. However, closed shoes and long trousers are recommended for visiting the Pura Goa Lawah anyway, in order to show the site the due respect. The Temple of the Bats is open to visitors every day between 8 am and 6 pm.
Legends about Pura Goa Lawah
There are different legends about the origin of Pura Goa Lawah.
The connection between the underworld and the world above
The cave is said to be only a small part of an extremely complex cave system, with the temple Pura Besakih, which is about 20 kilometers from the Bat Temple, said to be the site of a further entrance or exit to the cave complex. For the devout Balinese, the cave thus represents a mystical connection between the underworld and the upper world.
Pura Besakih, the mother temple of Bali, is located at the foot of the volcano Agung, which is regarded by the Balinese as the dwelling place of their gods. Since the temple Pura Goa Lawah, in contrast, is located directly by the sea – which in the Balinese belief represents the place where demons live – the cave system closes the circle between the two worlds.
The legends of the snakes
However, there is also the legend that two sacred snakes live in the bat cave. These are the Lord of the Snakes, Sanghyang Basuki, and Antaboga, the so-called World Snake. These snakes play an important role in Balinese mythology about the creation of the world. The origin of this idea can be traced back to the animistic belief systems of pre-Hinduism. However, in addition to the mystical snakes, real pythons are also said to live in Pura Goa Lawah, which eat the bats.
Sacred cave – access only for Brahmins
The six shrines of the devout Balinese, the Sad Kahyangan, include the Pura Luhur Uluwatu, the Pura Ulun Danu Batur, the Pura Besakih and, of course, the Pura Goa Lawah. The cave where the bats live during the day is the most sacred area of the temple. Only the believers who belong to the highest caste, namely the Brahmins, are allowed to enter the cave. Both the cave itself and the bats that live in it are considered sacred.
A visit to Pura Goa Lawah is particularly recommended at times when a ceremony is being held. These rituals in the bat temple always revolve around the topics of the afterlife and death. For example, special funeral ceremonies are on the agenda. According to belief, the probability of rebirth for the deceased is increased when priests consecrate their ashes and then transfer them to the nearby sea. It is generally possible to find out when these ceremonies take place on site.
Conclusion – Is a visit to the bat temple worthwhile?
As one of the largest shrines in Bali, the Pura Goa Lawah temple is definitely worth a visit. During the day, a trip is particularly worthwhile if a ceremony is taking place at the temple. Those who are more interested in the bats and don’t just want to see them asleep should come to the temple at dusk in the early evening. The spectacle of the animals leaving the cave in droves is truly impressive.
