Uluwatu Temple

Pura Luhur Uluwatu is one of Bali's important Sad Kahyangan temple, one of the nine major temples revered by the Balinese. It was erected by Danghyang Dwijendra, a great Balinese priest who established the present form of Hindu-Dharma religion in Bali. It is said that Dwijendra achieved maksa (enlightenment, or oneness with the godhead) while meditating in Uluwatu.

Most of Bali's regencies have pura luhur, high temples that are the focus of pilgrimages during the three or five-day Odalan anniversaries. Among these include Pura Tanah Lot and Goa Lawah, the bat cave temple. While not all pura luhur are situated on the coast, all are built in awe-inspiring location, often overlooking large bodies of water. One of the most picturesque pura luhur in Bali is Pura Luhur Uluwatu

Uluwatu Temple

The temple is perched 70 meters (230ft) above the ocean on a sheer promontory. Some of the rocky precipices drop almost 100m (330ft) into the raging ocean below. Visitors to Uluwatu are provided with a ceremonial yellow sash to wear around their waist (after paying the entrance fee). The proper attire requires that the knees are not exposed. Those wearing shorts are required to wear a sarong. Visitors are also warned to put away any shiny objects including spectacles, jewellery, and so on, as these attract the monkeys that infest the area. (One of the people in our group lost her glasses to the monkeys.)