Bali, the island of Gods, is home to countless beautiful Buddhist and Hindu temples. But there are some that just take your breath away with their beauty and history – Gunung Kawi Temple is one of those!
Candi Gunung Kawi Temple in Tampaksiring is one of the largest ancient temple complexes in Bali and an important sacred place for the Balisene people.
What makes this temple unique amongst others are the ten ancient “Candi” or shrine reliefs, carved into the face of some 7-meter-high (23 ft) rock cliff niches, creating a truly breathtaking sight.
Located less than half an hour drive north of Ubud, the Gunung Kawi Temple lies in between lush river valley, surrounded by rice fields.
It’s definitely a must-visit if you’re staying in Ubud and can be combined with visiting other nearby sights like Pura Tirta Empul and the Tegallalang rice terraces.
In this guide, I’ll share with you everything you need to know about visiting the Gunung Kawi Temple. From the history and legends, to entrance fees, location and how to get there.
So let’s dive straight in!
Ultimate Guide to Visiting Gunung Kawi Temple
Where is Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring Temple?
Gunung Kawi Temple is located in Central Bali, just half an hour north east of Ubud. The temple is at the bottom of the lush river valley and rice fields, running through the little town of Tampaksiring.
Gunung Kawi overlooks the Pakerisan river, which also flows through the famous Pura Tirta Empul sacred water temple, where you can observe and experience a Hindu purification ceremony.
Note: There’s a another temple that has a similar name to this one, in the village of Sebatu. So when you search for the temple on your navigation app, make sure to search for Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring Temple for the correct location.
How to get to Gunung Kawi Temple in Tampaksiring?
• By motorbike / car
Gunung Kawi Temple is easily reachable from Ubud and surrounding area by motorbike or car. The drive from Ubud takes around 30 minutes and there usually isn’t any crazy traffic on the road to the temple.
There are a couple of steeper sections on the way to the temple but nothing too scary. Google Maps and MapsMe both work great and you’ll have no problem finding the temple. Here’s the location on Google Maps.
You can rent a motorbike from Ubud for the day for 70k-100k IDR ($4-6). Usually your accommodation will be able to arrange this for you or you can go to the nearest motorbike shop. If you prefer to rent a car, you can find the best car rental deals for Bali here.
• By booking a guided tour of Gunung Kawi Temple
To save time and effort planning your trip, you can book a full-day tour of Ubud that includes a visit to Gunung Kawi Temple.
This private customizable tour of Ubud gives you the option to pick five places to visit from Ubud’s highlights, including Gunung Kawi Temple.
It’s a great option if you have a few places in mind you’d like to visit as you have the flexibility to choose your own itinerary. It’s also amazing value for money!
✨ There is a fantastic archeology tour of Bali that includes a visit to Gunung Kawi Temple as well as other places of interest in Bali like Tirta Empul Temple, Yeh Pulu and Goa Gajah Temple (Elephant Cave) for a full-rounded tour with a local guide of Bali’s cultural and historical heritage.
What is there to see at Gunung Kawi Temple
• The Candi
The main thing there is to see at Gunung Kawi Temple in Tampaksiring are the ten Candi, carved shrines in the rock cliffs.
Once you reach the river at the bottom of the stairs, turn left and you’ll see the first four magnificent Candi in the rock side.
After you cross the bridge to the other side of the river, you’ll have the other five Candi in front of you. It’s a truly impressive view!
The tenth Candi hides to the south across the valley, but unfortunately, at the time of our visit we didn’t know, so we missed it!
This is why sometimes it’s better to visit interesting places like this with a knowledgeable tour guide who can show you all the important artefacts you shouldn’t miss.
• Pura Gunung Kawi Temple
Beside the rock shrines, you’ll see the temple courtyard complete with various shrines and two intricately decorated gates, similar to ones you’ll find in other Balinese temples.
The temple is still used today for ritual ceremonies, and if you’re lucky, you might be able to witness a ceremony or women preparing offerings.
• Rice paddies walk
On the other side of the five Candi’s, you will see some small souvenir shops. Here you’ll find a path leading you into the rice fields. Most people don’t come all the way here so it’s a very quiet and relaxing walk alongside the river.
The rice paddies are beautiful with palm trees lining the path and many butterflies and dragonflies flying around the crops.
• Waterfall
Just before we reached a sign that directed us to make a loop back to the temple, there was a very nice elderly local woman who offered to take us to a waterfall. We followed her a little further into the rice fields until we reached a small waterfall flowing into the river.
Despite it not being super impressive (compared to other waterfalls in Bali) it was still nice to see.
The woman said we can jump in the water to swim here but we weren’t prepared for a waterfall adventure so we gave this a miss at this time.
If you decide to come see the waterfall, make sure you leave a small tip for the woman – sometimes even a little goes a long way and it’s a nice way to support the local community.
History of Gunung Kawi Temple in Tampaksiring
There are many theories and legends about how Gunung Kawi Temple was built. Based on dates carved on the candi (shrines), it’s suggested that they date back to 11th century AD.
It’s believed that the shrines are dedicated as burial sites to ancient kings, primarily because they are shaped like the burial towers found throughout Central Java.
This is why the Gunung Kawi temple is also known as Bali’s Valley of The Kings.
There’s also legends according to which the entire collection of memorials was sculpted from the rock face in a single industrious night by the formidable fingernails of Kebo Iwa.
Kebo Iwa was a renowned military commander from the ancient Balinese Kingdom who was said to possess supernatural abilities.
Other useful information
Path to Gunung Kawi Temple
Once you reach the entrance of the temple complex, you continue down a paved walkway that is lined with with local art and clothes shops, and small warungs where you can grab a drink or a bite.
You then have around 300 steps down, which can be quite tiring but so worth it once you reach the river, the mesmerizing candi and beautiful temple grounds.
The scenery on the way down is also not one to miss, with views of rice paddies owned by local residents.
However, keep in mind the stairs may not be suitable for people with knee problems or other forms of immobility. Unfortunately, because of this, the temple is not wheelchair accessible.
What is the entrance fee?
The entrance fee for Gunung Kawi Temple is 50,000 rupiah ($3). You can pay this at the small ticket office outside the entrance of the temple complex.
Make sure to keep your ticket safe as there’s a ticket check point once you go inside the complex.
Your ticket includes rental of a sarong (traditional scarf to wrap around your waist) which you’ll be given shortly after entering the temple complex.
What is are the temple’s opening times?
The opening time for Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring temple is every day from 8:00am until 6:00pm.
When is the best time to visit the temple?
The best time to visit Gunung Kawi temple is early in the morning to avoid the big group tours.
However, even if you visit a bit later in the day, the crowds are still not too bad as the temple is one of the lesser-visited hidden gems in Bali.
We arrived at the temple at 11am, at the same time as a big group tour.
While initially it felt like it was too busy for my liking as going down the stairs was a bit crowded. After you reach the temple, you’ve got plenty of space to explore without feeling like it’s too busy.
In fact, most tours only spend a brief time exploring the temple grounds and leave.
So if you’re visiting the temple on your own or with a private tour, you can just wait for the groups to leave and you can have the place (almost) all to yourself.
What to wear when visiting Gunung Kawi Temple?
Like any temple in Bali, it’s important to dress modestly as respect to the local culture and religion. Wearing a sarong to cover your lower body throughout the temple complex is mandatory.
Luckily, like most temples in Bali, your entrance ticket fee includes sarong rental. And these are always so beautiful and colourful!
There are also many sellers outside the temple entrance selling sarongs, so if you wanted to purchase your own, you can also do that.
They will try to convince you that you need to buy one to enter the temple, but that’s not the case as you can get a given a sarong for free after the entrance. So unless you actually want to buy one of your own, you don’t have to worry.
Where to stay near Gunung Kawi Temple
There are many great options for accommodation in Tampaksiring (near the Gunung Kawi Temple) and in central Ubud for any budget and preference.
From affordable guesthouses to luxury villas and resorts, there’s accommodation suitable for any traveller.
• Budget accommodation
I love nothing more than affordable accommodation that is still super beautiful and makes you feel like you’re staying in a luxury resort.
If you’re like me, you won’t want to miss Mirah Guest House and Aksha Riverside Ubud. Two of the many stunning properties near Ubud that offer amazing accommodation but at affordable prices.
• Luxury accommodation
For a dreamy luxury escape, amidst rice paddies and with views of Mount Agung, check out Eco Six Bali. A stunning picture-perfect bamboo jungle resort, perfectly located for exploring the nearby temples and rice fields.
If you have staying in a bamboo house on your Bali bucket-list, you should also check out the beautiful bamboo houses with private pools at Bambootel Sawah View. Once you arrive, you’d never want to leave!
Final thoughts
Gunung Kawi Temple is a gem that truly captures the essence of Bali’s rich culture and history.
Its unique shrine reliefs and serene setting make it a standout among the island’s many temples and sacred sites. Making it one of the most beautiful places in Ubud and a must-visit in Bali.
I hope this post was helpful and if you have any other questions about visiting the Gunung Kawi Temple in Tampasiring, feel free to leave a comment below or send me a message on Instagram. Happy exploring!
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