Besakih Temple

Besakih Temple Tours

Perched nearly 1000m up the side of Gunung Agung ( The biggest mount in Bali ) is Bali’s most important temple, Pura Besakih. In Fact, it is an extensive complex of more than 20 separated temples, with the largest and most important being Penataran Agung Temple. Despite its importance to the Balinese, Besakih Temple can be a disappointment.  The precise origins of the Besakih Temple complex are not clear, but it almost certainly dates from prehistoric times. The stone bases of Penataran Agung Temple and several other temple resemble megalithic stepped pyramid, which date back at least 2000 years. There are many manuscripts mention about establishment, rituals, and the status of Besakih Temple. The central temple was added to over the years and additional temples were build for specific family, occupational and regional groups. Besakih was already very important to the Balinese by the time the Javanese Majapahits conquered Bali is 1343. After that time the temple became the central temple of the Gelgel and Klungkung courts.
Besakih Temple its best when a festival is on, and with so many temples and God represented here.  Special ceremony based on Çaka year is conducted 6 times a year. This ceremony is called ” Ngusaba “, a kind of blessing ceremony. At the other village temples in Bali this type of ceremony is also conducted in relation with rice harvesting, especially in the regency of Gianyar. During the Ngusaba ceremony in Gianyar there is a very long procession of girls dressed in Balinese traditional costumes, and women with offering on their head, followed with deafening sound of Balinese traditional musics.
A ceremony called ” Betara Turun Kabeh ” is conducted every year. ” Betara Turun Kabeh ” means all gods are presence. This is the biggest yearly ceremony. While a ceremony every 10 years called ” Paca Wali Krama”, and a ceremony every 100 years called ” Eka Dasa Rudra”. All dates for above ceremony can be known in December for the following year, when Bali calendar has been issued. It’s most enjoyable during one of the frequent festival, when hundreds, perhaps thousand of gorgeously dressed devotees turn up with beautifully arranged overings. Besakih is one of favorite Bali Tours direction in East Bali – Visit  Besakih Mother Temple Tours