Uluwatu Temple, Hindu sea temple in Pecatu, Indonesia
Uluwatu Temple is a Hindu temple complex located on a steep limestone cliff at the southwestern point of the Bukit Peninsula in Bali. The site contains multiple shrines and courtyards arranged along the cliff edge, offering direct views over the ocean.
A Javanese sage named Empu Kuturan built the temple in the 11th century, and later Dang Hyang Nirartha expanded it with padmasana shrines in the 16th century. These two periods shaped the sanctuary into its current form with multiple religious structures built across the centuries.
The temple hosts nightly Kecak dance performances where performers chant and move rhythmically to present scenes from the Ramayana epic. This tradition continues to show how the local Hindu community shares its stories and spiritual beliefs with visitors.
Visitors must wear traditional sarongs and sashes, available for free at the entrance, and should protect their belongings from the resident long-tailed macaques. Wearing shoes is also required, and it helps to arrive early since the place gets crowded around sunset and during dance performances.
The temple grounds are home to a population of long-tailed macaques that regularly chase visitors and sometimes steal cameras or eyeglasses. This unusual feature makes the sanctuary a place where one must balance spiritual experience with practical caution.
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