Stock Photography Fine Art photo prints at Traveller Dreams

>> Home > Indonesia > Bali

Balinese Temples

The island of 50.000 temples

The first impression to the Bali visitors is the great number of temples, actually there are not less than 50.000 temples scattered over the island, they are everywhere: in houses, courtyards, marketplaces, cemeteries; in the rice paddies, on beaches, inside caves, within the tangled roots of a banyan trees, at road intersections, even in crossroads in the middle of jungle. There are mountain temples, lake temples, cave temples, subak temples dedicated to the rice goddess. White or yellow ceremonial umbrellas are common sights. Every village has at least three temples, one is the temple of the dead, pura dalem, located in the lowest part of the village towards the sea. The holiest temples are the six 'state temples' owned by the whole island comunity rather than by individual villages or clans.
There is always a celebration in progress somewhere: throngs of people beautifully dressed, gather along the road or in an open building presenting to the deities their offers. During big religious ceremonies the temple courtyard is literally covered in gifts to the gods, while cockfights and dances at the clanging sound of the gamelan amuse the gods during their visit to earth.

Pura Taman Ayun

multitiered merus of the jeroan

This and more photographs can be found at:

Traveller Dreams

Bali stock photographs

The typical Balinese temple is an open area enclosed by low walls, the temple do not house the deity but serves as temporary place when they descend from heaven during the ceremonies. Altough there are no tipical temple plans, in each temple we can identify some common parts:
the candi bentar or 'split gate', formed by two elaborately carved halves, always facing the sea they are guarded by the fanged guardian demons. The split gateway is the most distinctive Balinese architectural feature.
The split gates gives entrance to the the outermost courtyard used for the gamelan and dances. A second yard, the middle yard, is dedicated to the preparation of the ritual food and of the typical elaborate offerings.
The kori agung is the covered monumental gateway that gives access to the jeroan the innermost courtyard, always located at the end nearest to the mountains. This is the locus of worship, with shrines, altars and the 'seats' for deities which will be full of offerings on ritual days.

Pura Besakih

kori augung of the second terrace

This and more photographs can be found at:

Traveller Dreams

Distinctive Balinese structures are: the multi tiered merus with thatched roofs made of black sugar palm that can only be used in temples; the alarm tower (Kulkul) with a wooden split drum; various thatched-roofed open pavilions (bale) for pilgrims, worshippers and the gamelan orchestra. Not least the wantilan for the dances and cockfighting performed to please the gods.
The padmasana is an empty throne dedicated to the sun god Surya or sometimes to the Trimurti Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma. Often it is decorated with the carving of the big turtle Bedawang wrapped by the two dragons Anantaboga and Basuki or with Vishnu riding Garuda figures.

Pura Beji

the doorway richly decorated with mythical creatures and demonic guardians

This and more photographs can be found at:

Traveller Dreams

Bali stock photographs

Temples are adorned with various statues and bas reliefs. Favorite subjects are the astadikapala (the guardians of the eight directions), the dwarapala (guardians of the temple doors) and various demonic figures (raksa) in the form of dwarfs and witches. Rangda the queen of witches is depicted as a fearsome personification of the evil, a mostly nude old woman, with long and unkempt hair, pendulous breasts, and claws. The mitological turtle Bedawang which carries the earth on his back and wrapped by the two dragons Anantaboga and Basuki are figures taken from the traditional Balinese cosmology.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

temple complex on the shores of mountain lake permanently shrouded in misty clouds

This and more photographs can be found at:

Traveller Dreams

The traditional Balinese orientation system , rather then to the four cardinal directions is geared to the uphill or 'upstream' direction, the direction to the sacred mountain: the volcano Gunung Agung, the dwelling place of the gods. This is the sacred and pure direction, called kaja (uphill) while the 'downstream' direction towards the see representing the impure, the death, is called kelod. The second axis, parallel to the coast line, is termed kangin-kauh.
Numerous aspects of Balinese life are organized according to the kaja-kelod axis. Villages are typically built along a kaja-kelod line, with the main temple on the mountain side and the cemetery on the sea side. The temples are also aligned in the same way, as well as the various shrines within the temple itself.

Pura Tanah Lot

facing the sea the temple provides protection from the underworld demons

This and more photographs can be found at:

Traveller Dreams

Bali stock photographs

Related Pages
- Balinese traditional landscape
- Religion in Bali
- Balinese Dance
- Balinese Temples

Architectural stock photography	Gallery of towns, urban buildings and villages pictures
Photo archaeology sites	Hirapur Yoginis Temple stock photo gallery
Ancient Orissan Jain caves photography	Cambodia stock photography and scenic picture
India Travel photos	North Indian temples travel pictures photos of Culture and Civilization
Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh and India photos Gallery	Orissa images picture gallery, photos of Culture and Civilization
High quality Images of The Deer Park, Sarnath	Images of Bhuddist Stupas and Chaityas in India
Pictures Medieval royal citadel of Orchha photos	Temples of Khajuraho
Gallery of Religious Architecture photos	Towns and urban buildings picture photo gallery
Angkor Pictures	Buddhist Wat in Cambodia and Pagodas photos
Pictures of Daily life, Religion and Beliefs	Photos of Temples of Bhubaneswar

Stock Photography Online Digital Library

Stock Photography Online Digital Library of

Pura Taman Ayun

Pura Besakih

Pura Beji

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

Pura Tanah Lot

Fine-art Print


- Posters & Prints - Stock Photos - Web Graphics -	Information \| Stock Photography \| Photo Prints \| Contact Us