Saraswati Temple
Bali, Indonesia
Goa Gajah, Bali
i
Photo: DerGenaue Allrounder, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- ≈ IDR 50,000
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Opening hours
- Daily, roughly 8:00–17:00 (some sources say 18:00)
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
i
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Entrance fee
- ≈ IDR 50,000 foreign adult; sarong included
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Stairs
- Steep steps lead down to the cave — and back up
- Inside
- The cave is small, dark and smoky with incense
- Location
- Bedulu; ≈ 5 km from Ubud, ≈ 35 km from Kuta
Key facts
'Elephant Cave'the meaning of Goa Gajah
Sourcei
English Wikipedia11th centurythe likely date of the sanctuary, judging by its style
Sourcei
English Wikipedia1365Goa Gajah is mentioned in the Javanese poem Desawarnana
Sourcei
English Wikipedia1923Dutch archaeologists rediscovered the cave
Sourcei
English Wikipedia1954the bathing pool and fountains were excavated
Sourcei
English WikipediaGaneshaa statue of the elephant-headed god stands inside the cave
Sourcei
English Wikipedia2 faithsthe site has both Hindu and Buddhist imagery
Sourcei
English Wikipedia≈ 5 kmto Ubud Palace
Sourcei
OSRM routeGoa Gajah entrance fee and hours
There's no official price list online. Most 2026 guides quote IDR 50,000 for a foreign adult, sarong included. Parking costs a few thousand rupiah. Pay cash at the ticket booth.
It's open to visitors roughly 8:00–17:00, with some sources saying 18:00; for worshippers the sanctuary is open around the clock.
What is Goa Gajah?
Goa Gajah is an ancient sanctuary in the village of Bedulu, 5 km from central Ubud. The name means 'Elephant Cave'. Its origins are uncertain: the carving style suggests the 11th century, while legend says the giant Kebo Iwa scratched it out with a fingernail. It was most likely a place of meditation.
It's mentioned in a Javanese poem of 1365 but was later forgotten; Dutch archaeologists rediscovered the cave in 1923, and the bathing pool wasn't excavated until 1954. Hindu and Buddhist imagery sit side by side: Shiva's symbols and a Ganesha statue in the cave, carved stupas by the stream.
What's inside the Elephant Cave
A steep stairway leads down from the ticket booth into the courtyard. On the left is the bathing pool, fed by water pouring from jars held by female figures said to represent India's holy rivers. On the right is the main sight: the cave entrance, carved into the rock as a vast grimacing face with bulging eyes, thought to ward off evil spirits.
Inside, the T-shaped cave is shallow: Ganesha in one niche, three lingams in another, the air hazy with incense. Beyond the pool, a path drops into the jungle to a stream, a small waterfall and fragments of Buddhist reliefs — quieter and prettier than the courtyard suggests.
Things to see at Goa Gajah
- The cave entrance — a carved demon's mouth.
- Ganesha and the lingams in the cave niches.
- The bathing pool with its water-bearing female figures.
- The jungle path down to a stream and small waterfall.
- Buddhist reliefs by the stream.
- Huge trees with hanging aerial roots in the courtyard.
How to get to Goa Gajah
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- From central Ubud — about 5 km south-east, 10–15 minutes by taxi, Grab, Gojek or scooter.
- From Sanur — about 25 km; from Kuta or Seminyak — about 35 km, 1–1.5 hours in normal traffic.
- From Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) — about 38 km.
- The ticket booth and car park are on Jl. Raya Goa Gajah; from there it's stairs down.
- Tegenungan Waterfall is 8 km away and Tirta Empul 14 km.
When to go and how long to stay
The cave, pool and path take about an hour. Arrive at opening time: by 10 am tour groups arrive and the cave gets crowded. After rain the steps and path are slippery, so wear decent shoes.
Goa Gajah makes an easy short stop near Ubud: the cave in the morning, then Tegenungan Waterfall or Tirta Empul, and back in town for lunch.
Is Goa Gajah worth visiting?
Yes, if you're staying in Ubud: it's one of the island's oldest and most unusual sanctuaries, close to town and inexpensive. The demon's face over the entrance is impressive in person.
YesGo's take: the cave itself is tiny, and anyone expecting a grand temple may be underwhelmed. The best part is the path down to the stream, which many people skip. It's not worth a special trip from Kuta on its own.
Bali temples compared
Temples on Bali rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Saraswati Temple | 45 | 30 min | free; dance ≈ IDR 100,000 | 3.3 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubud Monkey Forest | 36 | 1 h 15 min | IDR 130,000 | 3.1 km |
| Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)you are here | 35 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 | — |
| Batuan Temple | 29 | 45 min | donation or ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000 | 6.6 km |
| Tanah Lot Temple | 26 | 1 h 30 min | IDR 75,000 | 24.5 km |
| Taman Ayun Temple | 26 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000 | 12.7 km |
| Gunung Kawi | 25 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 | 11.5 km |
| Tirta Empul Temple | 24 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000 | 12.3 km |
| Ulun Danu Batur Temple | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 35,000 | 30.4 km |
| Goa Lawah Temple | 24 | 45 min | ≈ IDR 30,000 | 20.3 km |
| Uluwatu Temple | 23 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–60,000 | 40.6 km |
| Ulun Danu Beratan Temple | 23 | 1 h 15 min | IDR 100,000 | 31.0 km |
| Besakih Temple | 22 | 2 h | IDR 150,000 | 24.7 km |
| Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven) | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttle | 40.6 km |
| Geger Beach | 20 | 2 h 30 min | free or ≈ IDR 5,000–10,000 | 33.7 km |
A morning around Ubud
Ubud Palace in town, then Goa Gajah and Tegenungan Waterfall. Add it to your trip — YesGo will set the timings and transfers.
- Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)30 min · Free
- 55 min walk from the previous stopGoa Gajah (Elephant Cave)you are here1 h · ≈ IDR 50,000
- 100 min walk from the previous stopTegenungan Waterfall1 h · ≈ IDR 20,000–30,000
3 places · about 5 h 5 min with walks · 155 min on foot in total
How to do it right
- Skip the sarong sellers — one comes with your ticket.
- Take the path past the pool down to the stream — it's the best part.
- After rain, wear shoes with grip: the steps get slippery.
- Arrive at opening, before the cave fills up.
- Tegenungan Waterfall is about 8 km away.
Questions
How much is the Goa Gajah entrance fee?
About IDR 50,000 for a foreign adult, sarong included.
Why is it called the Elephant Cave?
The carved face over the entrance was once thought to be an elephant; another explanation is the Ganesha statue inside.
What's inside Goa Gajah?
A Ganesha statue and three lingams in niches; the cave is small and dark.
What are Goa Gajah's opening hours?
Roughly 8:00–17:00, with some sources saying 18:00.
How far is Goa Gajah from Ubud?
About 5 km — 10–15 minutes by taxi, Grab, Gojek or scooter.
How long do you need at Goa Gajah?
About an hour, including the pool and the path to the stream.
Is Goa Gajah worth visiting?
Yes if you're in Ubud — it's old and atmospheric; the cave itself is small.
Do I need a sarong at Goa Gajah?
Yes, one is provided with your ticket.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia — Goa Gajah: name, dating, Kebo Iwa, Ganesha and lingams, Buddhist reliefs, 1365, 1923 and 1954
- baliholidaysecrets.com, balicheapesttours.com, balibuddies.com (2026) — fee, sarong, hours, parking (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q2037360 — coordinates; OSRM routing — distances
Top YesGo picks: Bali
Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)
Bali, Indonesia
Ubud Art Market
Bali, Indonesia
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Bali, Indonesia
Blanco Renaissance Museum
Bali, Indonesia
Ubud Monkey Forest
Bali, Indonesia
Luwak coffee plantations
Bali, Indonesia
Bali Swing
Bali, Indonesia