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Photo Tour: Bali's breath-taking Hindu temples

  • <b>Roadside Temple in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>If you think India has many shrines, think again. In Bali, Indonesia’s Hindu island, there are temples everywhere – in streets, atop mountains, clinging to cliffs, on the seashore, and in the courtyard of every home.
    1/8

    Roadside Temple in Bali, Indonesia

    Roadside Temple in Bali, Indonesia

    If you think India has many shrines, think again. In Bali, Indonesia’s Hindu island, there are temples everywhere – in streets, atop mountains, clinging to cliffs, on the seashore, and in the courtyard of every home.
    Yahoo! India Travel
  • <b>Balinese Hindus at the Mother Besakih Temple in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>The Mother Besakih temple is one of the most important temples in Bali. It is located atop Mount Agung. It is not just one shrine but a cluster of 20 temples overlooking the villages and the green slopes of the mountain. Balinese believe that the good spirits along with their deities reside here and the shrines resemble houses built for them.
    2/8

    Balinese Hindus at the Mother Besakih Temple

    Balinese Hindus at the Mother Besakih Temple in Bali, Indonesia

    The Mother Besakih temple is one of the most important temples in Bali. It is located atop Mount Agung. It is not just one shrine but a cluster of 20 temples overlooking the villages and the green slopes of the mountain. Balinese believe that the good spirits along with their deities reside here and the shrines resemble houses built for them.
    Yahoo! India Travel
  • <b>The stepwell at the Goa Gajah Temple in Bali, Indonesia</b> <br><br> Carved images of the Buddha and smaller shrines and a step-well dot the green landscape of this 11th century site, called Lwa Gajah, which was not discovered until the 1950s. This Hindu temple was believed to be the sanctuary of a Buddhist monk.
    3/8

    Bali Goa Gajah Temple

    The stepwell at the Goa Gajah Temple in Bali, Indonesia

    Carved images of the Buddha and smaller shrines and a step-well dot the green landscape of this 11th century site, called Lwa Gajah, which was not discovered until the 1950s. This Hindu temple was believed to be the sanctuary of a Buddhist monk.
    Yahoo India Travel
  • <b>Goa Gajah temple in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>Goa, I learned, is pronounced “Guha” as in many Indian languages. It refers to a 1,000-year-old cave excavated here that houses the Hindu trinity of gods and Ganesha, whom the Balinese know as “Gajah” (as in elephant). The 11th century site, called Lwa Gajah, was not discovered until the 1950s and was believed to be a sanctuary of a Buddhist monk. Carved images of the Buddha and smaller shrines and a step-well dot the green landscape here.
    4/8

    Goa Gajah Temple, Bali

    Goa Gajah temple in Bali, Indonesia

    Goa, I learned, is pronounced “Guha” as in many Indian languages. It refers to a 1,000-year-old cave excavated here that houses the Hindu trinity of gods and Ganesha, whom the Balinese know as “Gajah” (as in elephant). The 11th century site, called Lwa Gajah, was not discovered until the 1950s and was believed to be a sanctuary of a Buddhist monk. Carved images of the Buddha and smaller shrines and a step-well dot the green landscape here.
    Yahoo! India Travel
  • <b>Pura Uluwatu is one of Bali's most spectacular temples</b><br><br>Bali’s shrines are often located in the most exotic landscapes. This is Pura Uluwatu right atop the cliff. The scenery is breathtaking as you climb uphill through a small forested area patrolled by boisterous monkeys.
    5/8

    Uluwatu temple in Bali

    Pura Uluwatu is one of Bali's most spectacular temples

    Bali’s shrines are often located in the most exotic landscapes. This is Pura Uluwatu right atop the cliff. The scenery is breathtaking as you climb uphill through a small forested area patrolled by boisterous monkeys.
    Yahoo! India Travel
  • <b>Royal shrine in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>Pura Taman Ayun, literally “beautiful garden”, is the shrine of the royalty in Bali. Built in the 17th century, this temple in Mengwi, south Bali, is believed to house the ancestors of the royal dynasty and their family deities.
    6/8

    Royal shrine in Bali, Indonesia

    Royal shrine in Bali, Indonesia

    Pura Taman Ayun, literally “beautiful garden”, is the shrine of the royalty in Bali. Built in the 17th century, this temple in Mengwi, south Bali, is believed to house the ancestors of the royal dynasty and their family deities.
    Yahoo! India Travel
  • <b>Puppets in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>The sounds of performances fill the air as you walk into any of these temples. Wayang or shadow puppetry, the Kecak or fire-dance, and various other local dances like Barong, Legong and Pendet are some of the art forms to experience while you visit these shrines.
    7/8

    Puppets in Bali

    Puppets in Bali, Indonesia

    The sounds of performances fill the air as you walk into any of these temples. Wayang or shadow puppetry, the Kecak or fire-dance, and various other local dances like Barong, Legong and Pendet are some of the art forms to experience while you visit these shrines.
    Yahoo! India Travel
  • <b>Sunset at Tanah Lot temple in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>No trip is complete without a glimpse of the spectacular sunset in Tanah Lot temple, a tourist magnet located on a rocky oceanic island. The 15th century shrine, dedicated to the sea spirits, was built under the direction of a priest and is believed to be guarded by snakes.
    8/8

    Tanah Lot Temple in Bali

    Sunset at Tanah Lot temple in Bali, Indonesia

    No trip is complete without a glimpse of the spectacular sunset in Tanah Lot temple, a tourist magnet located on a rocky oceanic island. The 15th century shrine, dedicated to the sea spirits, was built under the direction of a priest and is believed to be guarded by snakes.
    Yahoo! India Travel
<b>Roadside Temple in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>If you think India has many shrines, think again. In Bali, Indonesia’s Hindu island, there are temples everywhere – in streets, atop mountains, clinging to cliffs, on the seashore, and in the courtyard of every home.
<b>Balinese Hindus at the Mother Besakih Temple in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>The Mother Besakih temple is one of the most important temples in Bali. It is located atop Mount Agung. It is not just one shrine but a cluster of 20 temples overlooking the villages and the green slopes of the mountain. Balinese believe that the good spirits along with their deities reside here and the shrines resemble houses built for them.
<b>The stepwell at the Goa Gajah Temple in Bali, Indonesia</b> <br><br> Carved images of the Buddha and smaller shrines and a step-well dot the green landscape of this 11th century site, called Lwa Gajah, which was not discovered until the 1950s. This Hindu temple was believed to be the sanctuary of a Buddhist monk.
<b>Goa Gajah temple in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>Goa, I learned, is pronounced “Guha” as in many Indian languages. It refers to a 1,000-year-old cave excavated here that houses the Hindu trinity of gods and Ganesha, whom the Balinese know as “Gajah” (as in elephant). The 11th century site, called Lwa Gajah, was not discovered until the 1950s and was believed to be a sanctuary of a Buddhist monk. Carved images of the Buddha and smaller shrines and a step-well dot the green landscape here.
<b>Pura Uluwatu is one of Bali's most spectacular temples</b><br><br>Bali’s shrines are often located in the most exotic landscapes. This is Pura Uluwatu right atop the cliff. The scenery is breathtaking as you climb uphill through a small forested area patrolled by boisterous monkeys.
<b>Royal shrine in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>Pura Taman Ayun, literally “beautiful garden”, is the shrine of the royalty in Bali. Built in the 17th century, this temple in Mengwi, south Bali, is believed to house the ancestors of the royal dynasty and their family deities.
<b>Puppets in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>The sounds of performances fill the air as you walk into any of these temples. Wayang or shadow puppetry, the Kecak or fire-dance, and various other local dances like Barong, Legong and Pendet are some of the art forms to experience while you visit these shrines.
<b>Sunset at Tanah Lot temple in Bali, Indonesia</b><br><br>No trip is complete without a glimpse of the spectacular sunset in Tanah Lot temple, a tourist magnet located on a rocky oceanic island. The 15th century shrine, dedicated to the sea spirits, was built under the direction of a priest and is believed to be guarded by snakes.

The Indonesian island state of Bali is home to the majority of the country’s Hindus. Balinese Hinduism is characterized by the worship of the supreme god Acintya, along with the trinity in Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The art and ritual of the Balinese Hindus trace back to influences from the 4th century when Hinduism reached the island’s shores. Balinese temples are ornate, beautiful and situated in visually stunning locales. LAKSHMI SHARATH traipses through Bali and returns with these breathtaking picture postcards.

LAKSHMI SHARATH is a media professional, traveler, travel-writer, photographer and blogger. Read her story, Gods and goblins in Bali on Yahoo! India Travel.