Visiting Pura Lempuyang Luhur: Everything You Need To Know!

Last Updated: January 10 2024

Pura Lempuyang Luhur is one of Bali’s most famous temples and it’s not hard to see why. The temples located here are impressive enough, but it’s the jaw-dropping views that make this place so popular!

The history and culture of Lempuyang Temple are also fascinating, as this place is believed to pre-date many of the other Hindu temples in Bali.

Thousands of tourists flock to this temple every week, but we’ve got a few top tips to ensure you make the most of your visit (despite the crowds).

The magical Pura Lumpuyang Luhur is a must for any Bali bucket list. This travel guide is going to take you through everything you need to know, including how to get there, what to expect, and where to stay nearby. So let’s dive right in!

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Where is Lempuyang Temple?

Address: Jl. Pura Telaga Mas Lempuyang, Tri Buana, Kec. Abang, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80852

Pura Lempuyang Luhur is located on the slopes of Mount Lempuyang in the Karangasem Regency. Compared to the more popular areas of Bali, this regency offers a more rural and authentic experience.

This temple complex is a popular spot in East Bali, and in our opinion, it’s a must for any Bali itinerary. It’s under a 2-hour drive from Ubud and Kuta, while the touristy areas of Canggu and Seminyak are just over a 2-hour drive away!

Information about Pura Lempuyang Luhur

Pura Lempuyang Temple is located within the Pura Temple complex, Pura Lempuyang Luhur. It’s considered to be the most highly regarded temple in Bali so is a must-visit.

Pura Lempuyang Luhur is, in fact, one of the ‘Sad Kahyangan Jagad’ or ‘six sanctuaries of the world’. The ‘six sanctuaries of the world’ are the six holiest places of worship on the island.

This beautiful Hindu temple is where many people come to give offerings and worship their gods. It’s an important pilgrimage site and is highly revered by the local people.

As one of the oldest temples on the island, Pura Lempuyang really is a sight to see! Located at 1,175 metres (3,855 feet) above sea level, the views from this temple are equally as impressive, especially as Pura Lempuyang Luhur overlooks the famous Mount Agung.

Just be aware that this temple is a popular tourist attraction and it does get busy, so you’ll want to time your visit well.

What to Expect When You Get to Pura Lempuyang Temple

There are seven temples located within the Pura Lempuyang Luhur complex, although the highlight for many is Pura Penataran Agung. Also known as the ‘Heaven Gate’, this intricate part of the temple offers breathtaking views of Mount Agung.

This is where the queues form as many people want to get that iconic ‘Instagram’ shot. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s no water reflection up here as the countless images suggest. In fact, it’s just a guy with a mirror which causes the reflection!

Although we were confused (and slightly disappointed), the temple is still beautiful, and if it’s a clear day, then the views of Mount Agung more than make up for this! (As you can see from the photos, we did not get a clear day haha).

This famous viewpoint is just a 5-minute walk from the start. However, if you want to do the whole loop and see all of the temples, then you’ll need to allow around 4 hours for this.

How to get to Pura Lempuyang Luhur Temple, Bali

By Scooter

For those confident enough, driving a scooter is the most popular option. This gives you complete flexibility when it comes to planning your visit, and you’ll easily be able to get there for sunrise.

Better yet, there’s scooter parking available at the temple (around 5,000 IDR). From there, you can simply catch the shuttle up to the temple entrance.

Just be cautious when driving on the island, as the traffic and sheer volume of other vehicles on the road can be intense. You’ll also be driving in the dark if you’re heading there for sunrise!

When hiring a scooter in Bali make sure you choose a reliable operator. Don’t go for something too cheap, as you don’t want to be left with a low-quality vehicle.

Expect to pay between 50,000-70,000 IDR (£2.50-£3.50) per day for a scooter rental. This is extremely affordable which is why so many people choose to hire one in Bali.

By Private Driver

We’re not going to lie, driving in Bali isn’t for the faint-hearted. From the insane traffic to the sheer volume of cars and scooters on the road, driving here can be very overwhelming so it’s not for everyone.

While in Bali, we tend to hire a private driver as it’s inexpensive and allows you to see lots of different places in a short amount of time. In fact, on our first trip to the island, we did a tour that included Pura Lempuyang, Tirta Gangga, and Taman Ujung Water Palace.

Typically, you’re looking at a price of around 600,000-800,000 IDR (£32-£42) per day. Considering you’ll be ferried around for the day and be given a local insight into the places you visit, it’s a no-brainer!

If there’s a group of you, hiring a private driver is so cheap – you’ll be paying as low as £8 for the day if there are four of you. However, we’d recommend giving a considerable tip.

Not only that, but we’re still good friends with Tama today (who was our private driver), so you might even make a friend along the way!

By Tour

If you’d prefer to go for something that’s fully organized then why not opt for a tour instead? This way, you don’t have to get there yourself or go for a private driver.

There are tons of fantastic tour options to choose from and they all differ in duration and price. As such, read the reviews and check the tour’s itinerary to ensure you pick the option most suitable for you!

Here are some great tour options:

• Bali: Full-Day Instagram Highlights Tour – This popular tour includes several iconic locations like Lempuyang Temple, Tegallalang, Tirta Gangga, and Tukad Cepung Waterfall.

• Bali: Besakih Temple & Lempuyang Temple Gates of Heaven Tour – As well as Lempuyang, this 9-hour tour includes a visit to Besakih Temple and you’ll have the option of a buffet lunch.

• Bali: Lempuyang Quick Access, Waterfall, Water Palace & More – This 10-hour tour includes a private guide, entrance tickets, transport, and hotel pickup/dropoff.

How to get to Lempuyang Temple from Ubud

Lempuyang Luhur is just under a 2-hour drive from the popular town of Ubud. As such, this is where many people choose to base themselves – understandable as there are so many gorgeous places to stay!

From Ubud to Lempuyang Temple, there’s a distance of around 70 km (43 miles), and you can get there via any of the above; scooter, private driver, or tour.

Of course, you can always visit this temple complex from other areas in Bali, such as Canggu, Kuta, and Seminyak too. However, just be aware that this may take longer!

Helpful Things to Know about Pura Lempuyang Temple, Bali

The Best Time to Arrive

Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang is one of the most popular tourist hotspots in Bali. Endless people visit every day to take photos here and the queues can get pretty awful. In fact, wait times can reach up to 3-4 hours just to take one photograph from the main viewpoint.

In our experience, it’s vital you arrive at the temple early. We set off from Ubud at around 5:30 am to ensure we got to Pura Lempuyang Luhur for sunrise before the hoards arrived.

We arrived at the temple complex around 7 am and there was hardly anyone around! Honestly, this made the whole experience so much better as we got to take photographs at our leisure.

In our opinion, you need to get here by 7:30 am at the latest. By 9 am, it was already pretty busy! Your other option is to arrive just before the temple closes, as this time also tends to be pretty quiet.

Opening Hours

There are conflicting reports of the opening hours of this temple. Going off the most recent reports, the temple seems to be open from 7 am to 7 pm for tourists.

However, there are conflicting reports from some tour companies who suggest that the temple is open from 7 am – 5 pm or 6 am – 7 pm. For those who are going with a local driver, it’s best to ask them the opening times first as they’ll have a better idea!

Of course, the Lempuyang Temple hours are 24/7 for prayer as it’s an important religious site.

Entrance Fees

The Lempuyang Temple entrance fee has recently been increased to 100,000 IDR (£5) per person. Considering how popular this place is, we’d say that’s quite a fair entry fee.

Originally, there was no entrance fee and you only had to donate. However, considering that the popularity of this place has only increased over the years, it’s no surprise to hear that you now have to pay!

Just be aware that you’ll need to pay for parking too. There’s also a shuttle that will take you up to the temple which typically costs around 50,000 IDR (£2.60).

Again, there have been contrasting reports about this since our last visit. Some people state that the entrance price includes the shuttle fee, while others say it’s an additional charge. If you’ve been recently, we’d love it if you could comment down below to help our readers out!

Top Tips for Visiting Pura Lempuyang Luhur

Pura Lempuyang Temple is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Bali (despite the crowds). We’d highly recommend that you visit although there are a few things to keep in mind.

To ensure you have a fantastic experience, here are our top tips for visiting Pura Lempuyang, Bali:

• As this temple is a religious site, you’ll need to dress appropriately. As such, ensure your upper body (including your shoulders) and knees are completely covered during your visit.

• The famous ‘Heaven Gate’ photo is done with a mirror as the reflection, rather than there being an actual pool of water here. Yes, we were really confused too but it’s a very clever trick!

• To reach parts of the temple, you’ll need to hike up a steep staircase of over 1,700 steps. It’s quite the task in Bali’s heat, so make sure you’re up to the challenge.

• Women are unable to enter Pura Lempyuang Luhur if they’re on their period so just keep that in mind. This is for cultural reasons so make sure you respect it.

• We’d recommend checking the weather forecast before you visit. If it’s forecast to be a cloudy day, then you won’t be able to see Mount Agung through the clouds!

Where to stay near Pura Lempuyang Luhur, Bali

Thanks to the temple’s location, many people choose to stay in Ubud. If that’s the case, we’d recommend Merthayasa Bungalows which is where we stayed!

However, if you’re looking to take advantage of the area’s beautiful scenery and tranquillity then there are plenty of accommodation options near Pura Lempuyang.

Here are some of our top recommendations:

Budget: Pondok Batur Indah Homestay Karangasem

This low-cost homestay is set in a beautiful area and boasts stunning views from its private terrace. If you stay here, you’ll also be just a 10-minute walk from Tirta Gangga.

The rooms at this homestay are very spacious and better yet, you’ll have breakfast included in your stay. Not to mention, there’s an on-site restaurant that serves delicious Indonesian food.

Mid-range: Villa di Bias

Villa di Bias is one of the best places to stay in the area thanks to the property’s beautiful villas, breathtaking views, and outdoor swimming pool.

In fact, one of the villas even features a private swimming pool if you don’t mind splashing the cash. There’s also a car rental service at the property and free private parking.

Luxury: MATHIS Lodge Amed

If you don’t mind spending a bit more then MATHIS Lodge Amed is the perfect luxury option. Some of the rooms here even feature a private jacuzzi and striking jungle views.

Boasting an on-site restaurant, a bar, an outdoor swimming pool, and a spa, this hotel has so much to offer. There’s also a tour desk on-site, so you’ll have no problems exploring the area.

Booking.com

Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Pura Lempuyang Luhur

What is a good budget for Pura Lempuyang Temple?

We’d suggest a budget of around 250,000 IDR (£13) to cover the entrance fee, hiring a scooter, parking, and the shuttle. Of course, if you hire a private driver then you’ll need to account for a higher cost, and this will depend on whether you’re sharing the price with other people.

If you’d rather go on a tour, then these vary from £30 to £50 depending on the duration and where else you visit. Some tours may include your entrance fee while others won’t so make sure you check this in advance!

How long do you need at Pura Lempuyang Luhur?

The whole loop of Pura Lempuyang takes around 3-4 hours to complete. Although many people choose to visit all the temples, the famous spot is just a short walk from the entrance.

If you’re limited on time, then we’d highly recommend just heading to Pura Penataran Agung. However, be prepared to queue for a while to get that famous ‘Instagram’ shot.

What to wear to Pura Lempuyang Luhur?

As Pura Lempuyang Luhur is a religious site you’ll need to dress appropriately. Make sure your upper body (including your shoulders) and knees are covered when you enter the temple.

This goes for both men and women, so your best option is to wear a T-shirt and trousers/long skirt. You can also pack a sarong too, and just wear that over shorts – it’s completely up to you!

How long is the wait at the Heaven Gate in Bali?

Unfortunately, queues at the ‘Gateway to Heaven’ can be as long as 2-4 hours. In our opinion, that’s absolutely ridiculous and luckily, that wasn’t the case when we visited.

To avoid the long waiting hours, we recommend that you get to the temple as it opens (7 am). This way, you’ll avoid the crowds and you won’t have to queue for long.

Popular Attractions Near Lempuyang Temple, Bali

Tirta Gangga Water Palace

Tirta Gangga is a beautiful water temple, located just a 20-minute drive from Pura Lempuyang Temple.

The name of this former royal palace literally translates to “water from the Ganges”, and is named after the sacred water that’s believed to flow through the Ganges.

Boasting the famous ‘Balinese stepping stones’, incredible sculptures, and beautiful ponds full of large koi fish, this gorgeous palace is a must whilst backpacking through Bali. Better yet, you can even purchase fish food to feed the koi which makes for some fantastic photographs!

Not only that but Tirta Gangga is located on 1.2 hectares of land, full of tropical gardens and charming fountains.

Taman Ujung Water Palace

This gorgeous water palace is around a 30-minute drive from Pura Lempuyang Luhur. Boasting tropical gardens, large pools, and epic sea views, Taman Ujung has so much to offer.

The water palace is set on 10 hectares of land so there’s a lot to see. In 1921, Taman Ujung first opened to the public, although it has undergone several restorations since. This is due to the damage it suffered from the 1963 Mount Agung eruption and a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that took place in 1979.

The landscaped gardens are undeniably beautiful and it’s certainly a relaxing place to wander around and take photographs!

Bukit Cinta

Just a 20-minute drive from the temple complex is Bukit Cinta, which is also located in the Karangasem Regency. This place offers arguably one of the best views of Mount Agung and is especially beautiful during sunrise and sunset.

If you visit at sunrise, you’ve got a better chance of seeing Mount Agung, as later on in the day, the volcano often becomes shrouded in clouds.

Better yet, Bukit Cinta is located right off the road so you don’t need to hike to get here! If you’re planning to hire a scooter, you can just park it up along the road.

Lahangan Sweet Viewpoint

There’s also Lahangan Sweet Viewpoint which is another of the island’s iconic viewpoints. It’s around a 12-minute drive from Lempuyang Temple in Bali, so it’s certainly worth combining a visit to both.

As the name suggests, Lahangan Sweet is a fantastic viewpoint, with it offering striking views of the towering Mount Agung. Although one of the island’s newer attractions, it’s already rising in popularity.

The views from here will take your breath away, especially if you get a clear view of the volcano. If you’re driving a scooter, just be aware that the road conditions aren’t great. However, you can always just park up and walk the rest of the way on foot if you’re not sure!

Final Thoughts on Pura Lempuyang Luhur

Pura Lempuyang Luhur is one of the most beautiful temples in Bali so don’t leave it off your itinerary. In our opinion, it’s best to visit Lempuyang Temple from Ubud. It’s only a 1.75-hour drive from there, so you can leave early in the morning and avoid the crowds!

While visiting the temple, make sure you adhere to the rules and dress appropriately. Of course, you’ll want to take plenty of photographs too, but make sure you take in the culture as well.

If you have any questions about visiting Pura Lempuyang Temple, please contact us via Instagram, Facebook, or in the comments below!

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