Besakih Temple, Bali

Besakih Temple entrance fee and what's included

Since April 2024, foreign adults pay IDR 150,000 and children around IDR 80,000. That's steep by Bali standards, but it covers an electric buggy from the car park to the gate, a sarong, and a local escort who shows you the way and explains the rules.

Buy your ticket at the official counter by the car park and bring rupiah cash. Hours are roughly 8:00–18:00; on major ceremony days some courtyards close to visitors.

What is Besakih, the Mother Temple?

Pura Agung Besakih is the most important, largest and holiest temple of Balinese Hinduism, known as the Mother Temple. It sits on the southern slopes of Mount Agung, the island's highest and most sacred volcano, at about 1,000 m. Rather than one building, it's 23 temples on parallel ridges linked by stairways and gateways.

The heart is Pura Penataran Agung: six terraces, a split candi bentar gate at the entrance and the Kori Agung gate into the second courtyard. Its ritual focus is the padmasana, a stone lotus throne from around the 17th century. Some stone bases resemble megalithic stepped pyramids, and the site has been a Hindu sanctuary since at least 1284; by the 15th century it was the state temple of the Gelgel dynasty.

What you can see at Besakih

A broad stairway climbs from the gate past stone figures from the Mahabharata and Ramayana to the split gateway — on a clear morning, Agung's summit rises right behind it. Beyond are courtyards of tiered meru shrines, the most important with 11 roofs.

Inner courtyards with altars are for worshippers only, but from the stairs and side terraces you can see nearly everything. Ceremonies are frequent: families in white and gold carry offerings while a gamelan plays. Keep out of their way and don't walk in front of people praying.

Things to see at Besakih

• The main stairway of Penataran Agung with its epic-hero statues.
• The split gateway framing Mount Agung.
• Eleven-tiered meru roofs over the principal shrines.
• The padmasana, the lotus throne at the centre of the complex.
• A ceremony, if your timing is lucky.
• Views down over east Bali's valleys and rice fields from the upper terraces.

Best time to visit and how long to stay

Allow about two hours, stairs included. Come in the morning: by early afternoon Agung usually disappears into cloud and rain is common on the slopes. At 1,000 m it's cooler than the coast, so a light layer helps.

Besakih pairs naturally with the Sidemen Valley (about 24 km) and Goa Lawah temple on the way back south. For a quieter visit, avoid major Balinese festival days, when pilgrims fill the stairways and courtyards close.

Is Besakih Temple worth visiting?

Yes, if you're interested in Balinese religion as it's lived: it's the island's most important temple, huge and tiered, with the volcano behind it. Nothing in the south comes close in scale.

YesGo's take: the ticket is pricey, you can't enter the inner courtyards and the approach can feel hassly. If you're staying in the south on a short trip, the round drive eats half a day. On its own it's borderline; combined with Sidemen, it's worth it.

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How to do it right

• Leave early: by midday Agung's summit is usually in cloud.
• Buy only at the official counter — the escort and sarong are included.
• Bring a layer; at 1,000 m it's cool and showers are common.
• The best view of the volcano is through the split gateway from the main stairs.
• Carry on to the Sidemen Valley, 24 km away.

Questions