Deep in the forest of ‘Ubud Monkey Forest’ is the Padangtegal Great Temple of Death situated in Padangtegal, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. The Temple can be found in the south part of the forest sanctuary and is dedicated to the worship of Hyang Widhi, a personification of Shiva. It is a structure built in the year 1350 and from then on has been a place of worship and of spiritual meaning to the local community. Adjacent to it are also two other temples making it a complex of temples which have a long history too. Tourists who want to visit the complex can opt for Ubud, Bali, accommodation options including upscale establishments like the COMO Uma Ubud, Bali which allow convenient access to the site.
The temples are decorated with Asian style architecture including statues of all sizes and shapes. Each of them signifies a certain task or story. There are crocodile carvings engraved onto some of the walls along with flowers and leaves, then there are two tall statues of creatures at the entrance of the temple complex and on the pillars are many more others, all signifying the religious and spiritual characters of this community. There is also a complete row of monkey carvings to be observed which is quite spectacular. All the carvings and statues, which are now covered in bright green moss come together in this magnificent ancient temple and tell a hidden story. The temple is truly an archaeologist’s gold mine!
It’s best to start the trip to this lovely sanctuary early in the morning to avoid the bustle and feel the calm of the dawn. The jungle itself is serene with tropical trees, flowers and waterfalls. Furthermore, it is also home to many monkeys who are now familiar with humans and interact by accepting food from pilgrims and tourists; although it is advised to be cautious. The other curious creature is the stone Komodo Dragon, who is shy and feeds mostly on plants. And of course for those who are adventurous, white water rafting at the Ayung River should make a great addition to any itinerary.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
