Besakih Village in Rendang District in Karangasem Province is home to the sacred Hindu temple known as Pura Agung Besakih. Mount Agung, at 3,142 meters above sea level, towers over the city of Besakih and the surrounding area, and the temple that bears its name is at its base. It’s a 1 hour and 48 minute drive (65,4 kilometers). If your family is interested in learning more about Bali’s largest temple, the Pura Agung Besakih Tour is a great option.
The ancient megalithic Pura Agung Besakih is Hundreds of Years old
Besakih Grand Temple
Penataran Agung Besakih Temple, the greatest temple in Bali, is surrounded by 17 other temples including Basukian Temple, for a total of 18. Those who worship at the Basukian Temple in Bali believe that its founding by Hyang Rsi Markendya, the founder of the Hindu Dharma faith, was a divine revelation. Every other temple in Bali and even the other temples inside the Besakih Temple complex revolve around Besakih Temple.
It is claimed by Hindus that the three statues in Besakih Temple represent the Tri Murti God, the Supreme God of Creator, Preserver, and also the God of Dissolution or Reincarnation: Brahmana, Vishnu, and Shiva. Besakih Temple, located on the island of the gods, is a holy temple significant to Hindus and has been a UNESCO world historic site since 1995.
Background about Besakih Temple and How It Got Its Name
Rsi Markandeya, a famous Hindu leader in India who spent a significant amount of time in Java, is credited with constructing the temple of Besakih. After being imprisoned on Mount Hyang (Mount Dieng, Central Java), where he received a revelation instructing him to traverse the forests of Dawa Island from south to north, Rsi Markandeya established Besakih Temple. A jug containing metal and holy water was planted by Rsi Markandeya on his trek across the Dawa Island wilderness. Gold, silver, copper, iron, and bronze are just few of the metals contained in the jar. The five metal items inside the jug have a special name in the Hindu religion: Mama Pancadatu.
The history books tell us that in addition to the five metals, Rsi Markandeya also planted gems; the name of the gem he planted was Mirahadi, which may be translated as the Major Mirah, and he also planted a jug containing the five metals and pearls, which he called Basuki (which means safe). After he and his troops successfully invaded the island of Dawa in accordance with the orders or revelations obtained by Rsi Markandeya on Mount Hyang, he was given the name Basuki. And it is stated that the Bali Islands and Java Islands, as we know them today, were once an one piece of land that was not divided by the Bali Strait. Dawa Island, which means Long Island, is the progenitor of Bali and Java and was so named because of its length. (Pura Agung Besakih)
The Attraction of the Besakih Temple
Due to its widespread notoriety, this fabled temple has become a major draw for visitors from all over the world, who flock to see the temple’s historical features for themselves:
The biggest temple in Indonesia
You probably already know that Bali is home to numerous Hindu temples, which serve both as places of worship and as tourist attractions in their own right; among these is the famous Besakih Temple, the largest temple in all of Indonesia, which is characterized by a lengthy set of stairs leading up to its main gate. huge enough to rival the Besakih Temple gate in size. Besakih Temple is so large that it is considered the “mother” of all temples in Bali.
There are at least 202 structures, both great and tiny, spread among 18 distinct buildings that make up the Besakih Temple. The 300-meter trek uphill from the parking lot to the temple, where you can spend an hour taking in the temple’s splendor and the beauty of Besakih, necessitates physical fitness. (Pura Agung Besakih)
Relics of the Megalithic Age
Ancient and timeless, the notion of Tri Hita, as depicted in the decorations of the Besakih Temple, symbolizes harmony between humanity, the natural world, and the Supreme Creator, God. (Pura Agung Besakih)
The architecture and historical relics at Pura Agung Besakih, such as the menhirs, stone thrones, and the construction of the pyramid terraces, attest to the site’s antiquity and demonstrate that it dates back to the megalithic era, which lasted for hundreds of years. (Pura Agung Besakih)
The price of the entrance ticket to Besakih Temple
The morning withdrawal fee is Rp 15,000 per person, with parking costs of Rp 2,000 per motorcycle and Rp 5,000 per automobile. And while most of the city’s sights are only open to the public between the hours of 8:00 am and 7:00 pm WITA, the Hindu temple of Pura Agung Besakih is always ready to accommodate anyone who wish to do their religious rites there. (Pura Agung Besakih)
