Uluwatu temple reviews. Uluwatu Temple - death to the camera! Where the most beautiful sunsets and the most impudent monkeys in Bali. Beach holidays and sports

Quite a lot of areas for beach holidays and many resort towns. And among them there are those that have become popular for tourists recently. These include the city of Uluwatu. Here you can enjoy beautiful views of the Indian Ocean, go surfing, visit local spas, and also try delicious dishes in local cafes and restaurants. But the sunsets that can be seen here are worth special attention. They are extraordinarily beautiful, as the city stands on rocks whose height reaches 100 meters. Uluwatu is perfect for those who want to relax with the whole family by the sea.

Uluwatu is considered the youngest Bali resort. And it is true. Its location is a hundred-meter cliffs, from where a magnificent view of the ocean opens. What is the popularity of this resort? There are excellent conditions for surfers here. You can admire romantic sunsets and unique landscapes. Lots of spas, bars and restaurants. If you want to have a relaxing holiday with the whole family, you need to visit this chic, colorful place. It's perfect for this kind of vacation.

Due to its interesting location in the city, there may be problems with the usual taxi transport for tourists. The best way to get around here is by bike. You can rent them and drive safely along the winding and narrow roads of the town.

Today, the spectacle is presented as follows: approximately 100 men, bare-chested but wearing sarongs, sit in a circle and utter the words of the incantation (without emotion). And in a circle, dancing people, in very bright costumes, using the language of dance, should tell the audience about the ancient history of Sita and Rama. The performance takes place at night. Only the glow of the fire illuminates the spectacle.

At the very end of the play, Hanuman, a big monkey, who is the main character, has to jump barefoot on a hot coconut shell to put out the fire. This show runs for 60 minutes. You have to pay $5 for a ticket.

About cuisine and entertainment in Uluwatu

When sightseeing is over and you want to have a bite to eat, you can visit the fish restaurant. It is located in a romantic place, in a village, right on the ocean.

You can taste the king prawns, which the chef prepares on the grill. The menu includes: crabs, lobsters, shrimp, oysters. All dishes are delicious and fresh.

A restaurant called Warung Mak Jo is on the way to the temple. This institution has gained wide popularity, as there is a wide range and affordable prices. Most of the dishes listed on the menu are Indonesian cuisine. Visitors often order seafood, rice with chicken meat and vegetable cuts. Chicken skewers are also popular. From drinks, you can give preference to freshly squeezed juices.

Vacation with children

Surf fans can take their kids with them. Adults will enjoy the high tide, and the children will have something to do at low tide. The sea can recede so much that a natural pool is formed, the depth of which is 1.5 m. Do not count on the beach to have good infrastructure. But here the purest sand and clear water.

How to get to Uluwatu

You can bring such souvenirs from Bali: wooden and silver products, batik, sarogni.

Uluwatu is a great place for those who love the waves and enjoy watching the sunset every day. In other cases, you can come here with an excursion to see the unforgettable Kecak.

Radisson Blu Bali Uluwatu 5 stars

Situated in Uluwatu, 6 km from Uluwatu Temple, Radisson Blu Bali Uluwatu features a restaurant, bar, fitness center and free private parking. Magnificent new hotel. Very large rooms, large bath, there is a coffee machine in the room and cookies as a compliment, the breakfast is very tasty (sliced, jamon, cheeses, red fish, eggs, rice, noodles, bacon, sausages, etc., 5 types of juices and Separately, new types of freshly squeezed juices for health, pastries, fruits). A large Gatsby-style pool. There is a special bag for the beach and towels in the room. The location is good. clubs 10 min by taxi. There is a free shuttle to the beach and uluwatu temple. The staff is friendly and helpful. I recommend this hotel to everyone.

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Pink Coco Bali 3 stars

PinkCoco Bali is just 200 meters from Padang Padang Beach, which features surfing spots. A 10-minute drive from Uluwatu Temple, the resort has an Italian restaurant and an outdoor pool. Great hotel, beautiful! Everything is thought out to the smallest detail, excellent location, cozy, there are many cool cafes nearby. In the evenings you can listen to live music. The beach is 7 minutes walk, very nice beach, famous from the movie Eat Pray Love. The room is simply class, very clean, spacious, comfortable.

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The Elementum 3 stars

Hotel in Bingin, Uluwatu

Elementum Hotel is located in Uluwatu. Features a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a bar and garden. The hotel offers concierge services, a tour desk and free Wi-Fi throughout. The hotel is wonderful. This was our first hotel in Bali and we did not regret that we chose it. The hotel can be reached within 30 minutes from the airport. It is located not near the beach but in a place with walking distance to the beach and restaurants. The rooms are very clean and stylish. Outdoor bathroom. The pool is wonderful. Breakfasts to choose from one dish from the menu plus drinks. Liked the staff very much. They speak English well, are very polite and not intrusive. We sometimes just wanted to spend the day by the pool, because. very good atmosphere. there were no unpleasant insects in the hotel compared to other places in Bali, there is parking near the hotel for a car or a bike. The very concept of the hotel includes 8 villas, 2 for each element (water, air...). Photos fully correspond to reality. We totally recommend this hotel!

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Incense Impossible Beach

Hotel in Pecatu, Uluwatu

Incense Impossible Beach Adults Only is located in Uluwatu. It features an outdoor pool, a bar and a garden. A terrace is available. Room service is available. The main advantage of this accommodation is a very beautiful, well-groomed territory and garden. As well as the picturesque Bingin Beach is a 5-10 minute walk. Outdoor shower - class. The villa will appeal to those who want to get as close to nature as possible. For those who love the comfort of an apartment - hardly. Try the banana pancakes for breakfast - we were blown away. The staff was very kind. It was possible to rent a bike from the villa (we paid 70k rupees a day, the bike was in good condition, it never let me down in 5 days)

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Origin Uluwatu 4 stars

Hotel in Pecatu, Uluwatu

Situated in Uluwatu, 6 km from Uluwatu Temple, Origin Hotel Uluwatu features views of the pool. It features an outdoor pool and a garden. The breakfast was excellent! I loved the choices and the healthy options. The overnight oats and granola were awesome. The property was enchanting, especially at night. The fire lounge is a great place to relax and the weather was just chilly enough to enjoy sitting beside a fire. I was most impressed with the staff - genuine and friendly, didn't leave me for wanting anything throughout my stay. Special mention to Roshita, Deby, Dwix and Gede and the manager Ngurah for making my stay such an enjoyable experience, my girlfriend are I are looking forward to coming back again next year.

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Casa Asia 3 stars

Hotel in Uluwatu

Casa Asia has a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a bar and shared lounge in Uluwatu. This 3-star hotel offers a garden and air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom. Good location to see Bukit if you have a scooter. Lovely, clean pool. Quiet and green. Also great food at the cafe. I liked it very much, we will be happy to stay again if we come to Bali.

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The Room Padang-padang 3 stars

Hotel in Padang Padang, Uluwatu

The Room Padang-padang is located on the beach in Uluwatu, 4.1 km from Uluwatu Temple. It features a restaurant, an outdoor pool and a garden. The hotel opened in July 2019. Fresh as a cucumber. The rooms are clean and bright. Huge showers in the rooms on the 1st floor. Responsive and pleasant staff. They helped to rent a moped for a day for 100 rupees. Delicious three-course breakfasts: eggs in different forms, pancakes with different fillings and fruits in different designs. Clean pool. Daily cleaning and change of towels. The entrance to the beach is next to the hotel. Relatively fast WI-FI

Uluwatu is a young resort on the northwestern coast of Bali, located on a high rocky shore. The very name of the area "ulu" and "watu" is translated as "peak" and "stone rock". A classic beach holiday here is difficult, as the coastline is indented with rocks, and the bottom of the sea is strewn with large stones. But steep waves attract surfers and lovers of similar water sports.

In Bali, almost 84% of citizens adhere to Hinduism in religious views, so temples are often found on the island. The temple complex in the resort of Uluwatu is one of the largest in this region of Indonesia, about 1 million visitors come here every year, and more than half of them are tourists who arrived solely for sightseeing purposes - to see, take pictures, buy souvenirs. Dozens of sightseeing buses and hundreds of cars travel daily from all over Bali to Uluwatu to get to the temple complex. It consists of three temples where the locals worship their Hindu gods.

Temple history

The temple complex Pura Luhur Uluwatu is built on a 90-meter cliff, standing above the ocean waves. Almost a thousand years ago, Mpu Kuturan, recognized as a saint, founded three temples here and built them with the help of monks. Three divine beings, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, protect the southern coast of Bali from sea demons. According to local residents, the integrity of the rock testifies to the holiness of the place, which has not collapsed with a single stone for a thousand years.

The place for the sanctuary was not chosen by chance. The monks were looking for land away from the mass habitation of people, for solitude during prayers and sacrifices. Uluwatu perfectly suited these requirements, since the locals did not settle here due to the poverty of the soil (high location above sea level, dry land, lack of rivers and moisture did not allow growing crops, especially rice). The remoteness of the temple of Pura Luhur Uluwatu from the settlements also served as some kind of test for true believers - those who wish to bow to the gods, any distance does not become a hindrance.

The building material was black coral stones. They also made a gate and a fence. Skillful carvings decorating the entrance gate serve not only for decoration, but also provide additional protection from evil spirits. In architectural terms, the temple is of no interest, it was built rather primitively. But thanks to the location and artificially fueled interest from travel companies and tour agencies, the temple complex in Uluwatu has become one of the most popular places among tourists.

A beautiful pagoda, standing on the cliff itself, appeared later than the main structures. It was built in the 16th century by the Balinese in honor of Saint Nirartha, who lived in the temple.

For many centuries, Uluwatu Temple has been a place for the elite, that is, for members of the royal family, their friends and associates. Only at the beginning of the 20th century the temple was opened for ordinary Balinese believers, and in recent decades for tourists who have nothing to do with Hinduism.

Excursions

Until now, the Uluwatu temple performs its originally intended functions: ceremonies are held here, rituals are performed, and Hindu holidays are celebrated. On the days of religious services, tourists are prohibited from entering the temples, and guides must warn tourists about this in advance. Dates of magnificent celebrations are not constant, they are replaced in accordance with the 120-day cycle.

Tours start from the entrance box office at the south gate. The price of a ticket to Uluwatu Temple is 30,000 rupees (about $3). A wide traditional sarong belt is issued free of charge with the ticket, this element of clothing is required for all those entering. Legs and shoulders must be covered. Not all sections of the complex are available for inspection, for example, visitors contemplate the courtyard only through the fence - it is available only to the servants of the temple.

Every day at 6 p.m., a theatrical performance is held on the territory of the temple - a costumed dance Kechak, accompanied by a male choir. The sacred dance is a painting from the Bhagavad Gita. This performance lasts 1 hour, during which some tourists manage to fall into a trance. Special employees carefully lead especially impressionable spectators out of it. By the way, Kecak appeared precisely as a trance ritual for men, but in the last century it was made brighter and more dynamic in order to show it to everyone. The cost of visiting the show is 100 thousand rupees (about $8).

Along the edge of the cliff around the temple area, there is a sightseeing trail, along which tourists like to walk. Guides say that on a clear day, from the high cliff of Uluwatu, the far-lying coast of the island of Java is visible. But even if you didn’t manage to see it, the views from the cliff are amazing: the endless water area merging with the horizon line, the waves crashing against the rocks and the picturesque surroundings of the island. Various angles from numerous viewing platforms attract not only idle tourists, but also professional photographers, as well as marine painters to the cliff. You can go down the steep steps, but it is unlikely that you will be able to swim, the waves hit the stones hard.

In addition to the temples themselves, sculptures and statues are interesting on the territory of the complex, for example, sculptures of people with elephant heads or a statue of a lying brahmin.

Useful information

The temple is surrounded by a forest where thousands of monkeys live. Cunning primates have recognized where they can profit from food or pretty trinkets, so they have long chosen the temple, the road to it and the parking lot. Monkeys can be very intrusive in begging for treats, and in the absence of a response from tourists, they even get into their pockets and bags. They are not averse to pulling off hats, glasses, beads or watches from visitors. Temple officials accompanying the tourists drive away the persistent "robbers", take away the stolen goods from them, but, in turn, expect a small payment for this. Focusing on the reviews of tourists, you can advise guests to hide jewelry and mobile phones in advance, and, if possible, take a stick at the entrance to scare away monkeys. But it is forbidden to beat them or offend them in any other way, Hinduism respects the monkeys, honors them. There is even a monument to them on the territory of the complex.

As a religious building, the complex is open around the clock. The opening hours of the temple as an excursion object are from 9.00 to 18.00, tickets stop selling 1 hour before closing. At the end of the excursions, the Kecak dance begins, which lasts about 1 hour. It ends after sunset. To see the Kechak dance, take a photo of the temple and its surrounding views, it is not necessary to arrive in the morning. It is enough to arrive at 15-16 o'clock to see the complex, walk along the cliff, take a photo and immerse yourself in the ritual performance. The largest number of tourists come to Uluwatu at this time.

The Bali temple on the southernmost cliff of Uluwatu is one of the main protectors of local residents from evil spirits, closing the chain of temples around the entire island. This is one of the most visited places by tourists, because only here an unusual Kecak dance takes place every evening. And it is here that surfers from all over the world especially love to surf the waves. So Mishutka and I also couldn’t miss a trip to the Uluwatu Bali temple, and therefore, on one of the hot April days, we jumped on our scooter and rushed to the very south of the island to discover new places we had not previously explored.

We decided to go in the afternoon, at that time it was still terribly hot. As soon as they didn’t get fried on the bike, it’s not clear) But the paint from the sun’s rays again pluck out your eyes. Nowhere else have I been able to take such vivid photos as in Bali, neither before nor after.

The sea in some places decorates the turquoise color, diluting it with white foam of waves beating against the rocks. Such a beautiful color of water on many beaches in the south of Bali - Nusa Dua, Geger, Pandava and others, and these beaches, by the way, are the best for swimming on the entire island.

The rocks in Uluwatu hoo, stretch along the entire coast and seem endless. From this side, Bali is downright impregnable island!

And only lonely on the cliff rises a stepped roof, like a hat covering the temple of Uluwatu Bali.

In fact, this is not the only building, but a whole complex of various buildings and passages and squares.

Sometimes it resembles some medieval Catholic ruins. "Virgin Mary" harmoniously blended in here in a Muslim headscarf)

Lush plants of an unusual shape added to the feeling of something alien.

Near this tree, I noticed a beautifully collapsed basket of frangipani flowers. I crawled around her this way and that, trying to take a better picture. And groups of tourists passed by one after another, and all the people, seeing my interest in a lonely basket lying around, crowded around and tried to photograph it too. That is, we literally tens of people bent down and peered into the lens)

It was funny to observe some kind of herd reflex. After all, Mishutka and I sat there for quite a long time, hiding in the shade from the incredible heat, and none of us, before or after, even cast a glance at these flowers. But as soon as I jumped, a crowd of "photographers" gathered around. Direct research in the field of crowd psychology came out =) The child was watching everything from the side, the poor fellow was sweating, the heat was downright hellish.

We traveled on our own, although sometimes it’s really better to order, so we also had more than enough time to sit quietly in the shade, and therefore we could rest, hiding from the sun. I have photographed the details around.

Balinese Ganesha)

The sun is already starting to set, leaving long shadows behind.

There were monkeys all around. Before that, they also took refuge from the hell.

I have heard stories millions of times that the most vile and harmful primates live in Uluwatu, taught to steal glasses and other things, which are then thrown into the ocean. Sometimes they can be returned to you, but for an additional fee to the caretakers of the temple, to whom the monkeys calmly give everything that they “catch”. Therefore, I mentally prepared in advance for a meeting with macaques, because we have not yet forgotten the rabid monkeys in Shimla, who hissed and rushed at Misha, and the curious monkeys that inhabit the Monkey Forest in Ubud, who even tried to bite the child.

At the entrance they sell peanuts in bags for these little pranksters, especially for visitors who want to feed the monkeys. We didn't want to, so we walked past, and you should have seen our surprise when several people in a row came forward to meet us, and couples and families with children, and gave us these bags of peanuts. It turns out they didn’t see a single monkey, and no matter how much they wanted to, they didn’t manage to feed anyone. And therefore, in the hope that at least we would be able to do this, they gave these packages of food for macaques to us. As a result, by the time we got to the temple itself, we had accumulated either five or six bags of nuts)))) Damn, I didn’t want to get involved with these flea-ridden primates in general, neither feed nor come close, but I had to. We tried to give them one package, so the monkey almost tore us for it :) It’s better to immediately throw it entirely at a distance and go to hell: / So we still have the rest of the packages, and we brought some more home =)

At sunset, the monkeys became more and more, they flocked from everywhere. Many are so overweight that they can hardly move. The caretakers gave them fruit for dinner. This male over there was greedy and cursed at the cub, which here in the photo kisses its mother in the background. Such a cutie =)

After the day quickly (as it should be in the tropics) rolls into the evening, Uluwatu Temple in Bali turns into a venue for the Kecak dance. The show usually starts around 6pm. Tickets cost about 10 dollars. I will definitely tell you more about it, because there are a lot of photos and an excursion into history and culture, but for now, just the most beautiful sunset colors.

People, monkeys, monkeys, people - everything is mixed up on this cliff)

Getting to Uluwatu Temple in Bali is easy. There are signs everywhere, and I rode a scooter with a small child from the center of Kuta without any problems. Moreover, back in pitch darkness, and part of the way on three-lane highways in Asian traffic. I had to spin only in Kuta itself, but after a couple of laps I got my bearings and found our hotel =)

I am often asked about where you can find knowledgeable people with whom it is much more convenient and easier to travel around Bali. In this case, I recommend paying attention to . This often saves you time and money, and most importantly - you will plunge deeper into the culture of Bali!

A couple of days earlier, we went to the temple of Pura Tanah Lot on our own and got lost there, there is less travel and the road is without confusion among the villages. I marked the temple of Uluwatu Bali on the map so that I could even make a route using the mark.

Our Bali travel guide will help you plan your trip to this paradise island, providing you with information about weather, money, visa, accommodation and places of interest.

Uluwatu is a unique place that appeals to people with completely different interests, as it is a cultural, natural and party area at the same time.

Connoisseurs of Balinese traditions and art will surely enjoy the ancient temple
Pura Luhur Uluwatu, which stands right on the edge of a picturesque cliff that goes into the sea, where you can watch monkeys play during the day, and watch the Kechak dance in the evening.

Photographers will certainly appreciate the sunset in these places, as well as fall in love with the panorama of the ocean and rocks.
For advanced surfers, this place can be called paradise - it is here that extreme people catch cool waves, but there are a lot of party places where surfers gather at the end of the day.

In these parts, on Padang-Padang Beach, in a small bay (where the episode "Eat, Pray, Love" was filmed), you can enjoy the sea and get a good tan for beach lovers. Such versatility makes Uluwatu very popular among tourists.
And now about everything in order.

Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple

Entrance to the temple is paid (however, like all popular temples in Bali) - 20 thousand rupees ($ 2), and for foreign tourists a ticket costs more than for locals, but not ten times as in and. In order to get into the temple you need a sarong (you can rent it at the entrance)

Uluwatu Temple is one of the six most important temples of the island (as well as)


It stands on the edge of a huge cliff and rises 90 meters above the sea.


This is a holy place for the Balinese, here they offer their prayers and worship two goddesses: Rudra - the patroness of hunting, wind and storm, and the goddess of the sea - Devi Laut


The temple of Uluwatu can also be called the temple of monkeys - there are not as many of them here as in, but judging by their habits, it is clear that the monkeys feel like masters here


They do what they want


Someone's phone was taken away


Guess why the monkey has such a happy face

From the cliff on which the temple is located, a breathtaking view of the sea and rocks opens.




You can endlessly watch how huge waves break against stones with force


In good weather, you can even see the east coast of the island of Java.
The panoramic view of the sea and the rock that goes into it, with a temple on the edge, is really amazing

The path along the edge of the cliff is always filled with tourists, at sunset you can watch the sun set into the ocean

Our advice: come here in the afternoon, around four or five. Firstly, it’s not so hot to walk around the temple, secondly, you will get indescribable pleasure from the sunset and, thirdly, you will have a chance to watch one of the three most popular Balinese national dances - Kechak (about another, no less popular dance Legong can be read).

Uluwatu Beach

To get to the beach, you need to go down the steep steps winding among the numerous cafes. At high tide, the beach is flooded and it is impossible to approach it


The beach is the main location for surfers on the Bukit Peninsula, it has all the infrastructure - surf schools, shops, equipment rental, bars, cafes and restaurants.
Here we saw the largest number of photographers with telephoto lenses (long lenses). Since the waves here are big and mostly professionals ride, shots can turn out to be very spectacular.

There is an interesting cafe-beach, with sun loungers right on the rock that goes into the sea, but for some reason it is empty - apparently, there are not so many sunbathers in full view, and even without the opportunity to swim in the sea.

There are very beautiful views from above.



But for a relaxed holiday, Uluwatu Beach is not at all suitable. Lovers of sunbathing and swimming in the sea without waves will suit the neighboring Padang-Padang beach, located 2 km away.

Padang Padang Beach

Once this beach was "secret" and not known at all, but after the filming of Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love here, its popularity has grown significantly - during the tourist season, there is nowhere for an apple to fall




Down to the beach, a steep stone ladder leads through a gorge between two rocks.

There are no sunbeds here, but there are umbrellas and a sheer cliff under which both locals and tourists hide from the sun




Since the beach is framed by rocks, big waves do not reach here, and this place is well suited for those who like to swim or splash in the water.






There are a couple of cafes on the beach where you can get juice or a simple meal, as well as several stalls where you can buy light dresses, pareos, caps and towels.