Perched atop the rugged Uluwatu Cliffside stands one of Bali’s most enchanting temples. Pura Luhur Uluwatu is an 11th century Balinese sea temple, located at the edge of a cliff, 70 meters above the crashing waves below, against the backdrop of nothing but the blue sky and the endless expanse of the Indian Ocean. One of the main attractions of the temple is the enigmatic “Kecak Dance,” which takes place daily at dusk.
The Uluwatu Cliff Temple, as it is often called, is one of the most visited places in Bali and should definitely be on your list of things to do while visiting the Island of the Gods. The temple is located on the Southern most tip of Bali, roughly an hour’s drive from Denpasar, the island’s capital.
When entering the temple grounds, women will be given a skirt to wrap around their waist, while men will be given a cloth sash as a way of showing respect. From the main entrance, you can continue on foot along a cliffside trail towards the temple.
Bordered on one side by lush tropical plants and on the other by a steep cliff leading straight to the ocean below, the walk to the temple is spectacular to say the least. Make sure you bring your camera, as the photo opportunities are priceless.
While exploring the temple grounds, be aware that it is inhabited by monkeys – many of which have a habit of snatching bags, hats, sunglasses and more. You have been warned.
The best time to visit the temple would be in the afternoon, giving you time to explore the grounds before catching the epic Kecak Dance at sunset.
Unlike most traditional dances, the Kecak dance is performed entirely without music. Instead, the dancers move to the rhythmic beat of dozens of men chanting ‘chaka chaka chaka,’ – and hence the name – Kecak dance.
Probably one of the best known Balinese performances, the Kecak dance combines the classic Ramayana tale with an ancient Balinese hypnotism ritual.
Professional Balinese performers bring the characters of the epic story to life with music, dance, and extravagant costumes.
The story unfolds as the sun sinks below the horizon, casting an eerie glow on the performers. Soon, the sun will set and the only light that remains will be that of the torches that surround the stage.
We’ll try not to ruin the show too much, but all that to say that Uluwatu Temple and the Kecak Dance should be on your definite to-do list while in Bali.
Entrance to the temple grounds is approximately IDR 50.000 (last I remember,) while the tickets to the dance are IDR 100.000, or less if you buy them online.
Awesome Indonesia Traveller Tips for Uluwatu
- Bring your camera. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I guess this is an 8-thousand word article!
- Respect the culture.
- Plan your day in time to catch the Kecak dance. While the temple itself is truly spectacular, you won’t want to miss the Kecak Dance if you’re in the area.
- Beware of monkeys! It’s probably safer to just take off your hat and sunglasses while in the temple grounds.
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