The Island Paradise Of 1,000 Temples – Part I

Beautiful Bali has been called the famed island of the Gods. With its varied landscape of sandy beaches, hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and cliffs, gorgeous waterfalls, as well as lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides, some people claim that Bali is a paradise on earth. But Bali also has a colorful and deeply spiritual culture, which is why it is known as the “island of a thousand temples.” There are sea temples, directional temples and so many others so that 1,000 is an understatement. In fact, everywhere you go, you see a temple. “There are so many temples that the Government does not bother to count them.” There are also monkeys guarding the temples, monkeys in the rain forest, and even bats in a cave temple. Here’s a look at the sea temples, some wonderfully cute wildlife like monkeys, and some other stunning temples on the paradise on earth known as beautiful Bali.

A Bali sunset and Tanah Lot Temple, one of seven sea temples

After being inspired by a gorgeous photo of Tanah Lot, a sea temple in Bali, we looked up more information. There are seven sea temples, but in trying to find them all, we kept bumping into images of directional temples. Then even more temples, until we found out that beautiful Bali is known as the “island of a thousand temples.” According to the CIA World Fact Book, Indonesia is “slightly less than three times the size of Texas.” Bali is the largest tourist destination in the whole country . . . and everywhere you go there is a temple. “A Bali sunset and Tanah Lot Temple,” one of seven sea temples.

Aerial photo of Uluwatu Temple

Uluwatu Temple is situated at an altitude of 1997 meters (6551.8 feet) above sea level. It is also a sea temple. In front of the temple there is a small forest called kekeran base, serves as a support of the sanctity of the temple. Each of the seven Balinese sea temples are said to be visible from the next, forming a ‘chain’ around the coast of Bali. Many of the most important sea temples are along the south-west coast of the island.

Rainbow over Bali temple for the sea goddess

“While in Bali, why not visit a temple? They have lots. This is a temple for the sea goddess,” wrote the photographer. “The lake in which it stands is a volcanic lake filling the crater of a monster volcano. Bali has several active volcanoes. One of them is  Gunung Agung.

Boutique Hotel Ubud Hanging Gardens in Bali2 sweet design infinity pool 2012

Bali, the famed Island of the Gods, with landscapes of lush rice terraces, volcanic hillsides, mountains, rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and wonderful waves for surfing. That is what people might think of for a vacation to Bali. But even from this sweet infinity pool at the Boutique Hotel Ubud Hanging Gardens, there is a temple in the background. In fact, after looking around a bit, there is little wonder why Bali is also called the “island of a thousand temples.”

Ulun Danu Temple, beautiful Bali temple, an island of one thousand temples

Mystical setting at Ulun Danu Temple complex. Ulun means heart, Danu means lake. This Temple is dedicated to the Goddess of The lake. This lake supplies water to the rice field.

Mother temple or Pura Besakih on the slopes of a Volcanic mountain is the largest and Holiest temple of Bali

According to the photographer, This is “the mother temple or Pura Besakih on the slopes of Volcanic mountain “Mount Agung” in eastern Bali. The largest and Holiest temple of Bali. This temple is made up of twenty-two shrines sitting on parallel ridges.”

Bali Tanah Lot

“Bali Tanah Lot. Taken at arround 19.00, long exposure 30 seconds. No, that’s not a dead pixel, but they’re some stars :D,” wrote the photographer. This is one of the hotspots for tourists and photographers from all across the globe.

Pura Pulaki at Pulaki

Temple Pulaki at Pulaki, another one of the seven sea temples at Bali. In explaining why Bali is the island of a thousand temples, it was said that a mere thousand is a tremendous understatement. “It is not surprising that Bali is called the island of the thousand temples. Everywhere you see a temple. There are so many temples that the Government does not bother to count them. There are small temples, very small temples with only a very few shrines; there are large temples, very large temples with more than 50 shrines, such as the Temple of Besakih, the mother temple of Bali.”

Pura Gere Perancak

Pura Gere Perancak, stone crocodiles at another one of seven Balinese sea temples. Pura is another name for temple. More explaining Balinese temples: Bali. “There are even lonely shrines on the oddest places where one does not expect them at all. Every family, every compound, every clan or society has a temple; you mention a society or organization and has a temple. In the compound where the family lives there is the family temple. The desa, village itself must have at least three temples.”

Monkey at Uluwatu Temple

A monkey at Uluwatu Temple.

 

https://ift.tt/2MEefaM

No comments:

Post a Comment