Amidst all the greenery at Gunung Kawi
Bali, Indonesia, 2012-03-15 12:00 by Laerke
While staying in our house in the rice fields we rented a car so that we could explore more of Bali. Renting a car in Ubud is competitively priced and it gave us the freedom to go where we wanted to go in our own time – and with as many photo stops as we needed :) Driving in Bali might not be for everyone, but Martin has driven here several times before and handles the narrow roads and the hustle and bustle of humans, animals, cars and motorbikes on the roads without a glitch. One day we went to Gunung Kawi, one of my favourite places in Bali. Gunung Kawi is an 11th-century temple complex in Tampaksiring north east of Ubud. It has a fantastic location in a valley along a river and surrounded by rice terraces and palm trees – Bali bliss!


To reach the complex you have to walk down approximately 315 stone steps. There are small souvenir shops along the way so you can pick up a sarong, some Balinese art or a fresh coconut on the way should you want to. Before crossing a bridge over the river at the bottom of the valley, you can see the first of the stone monuments. Another group of stone monument lies on the left side of the main temple across the river.

The complex comprises 10 rock-cut candi (shrines) carved into the cliff face. They stand in 7-metre-high (23 ft) sheltered niches cut into the sheer cliff face. These monuments are thought to be dedicated to King Anak Wungsu of the Udayana dynasty and his favourite queens and concubines.


The idea that the shrines are cut out of the rock face is pretty impressive, but what mostly captures me about this place is definitely the surroundings. It is a wonderful combination of Hinduism and spirituality and the best of the natural world - it is beautiful and lush, Bali in a nutshell :)


I’ve been to Gunung Kawi a couple of times now and it is always a great day out. Except the one time we were there and it rained so hard we had to take refuge in the temple for a whole hour, within minutes the whole temple courtyard was flooded! This time however we had wonderful weather, the sun was shining from a blue sky and the green rice paddies were shimmering in the sun and the palm leaves were rustling with the soft breeze – I really do love Bali :)