Pura Taman Ayun: Balinese Heritage In A Royal Temple

Get ready to be amazed by the grand entrance

Built in 1634 by the King of Mengwi, this temple holds a very sophisticated architectural design compared to other temples in Bali. This can be seen from the moment you enter the temple compound. A tall beautiful gate surrounded by green meadows and flower garden will welcome you. Before you could come any closer to the gate, you will see a ticket booth. The entrance fee is 10,000 IDR (0.73 USD) for domestic visitor and 15,000 IDR (1.10 USD) for international tourist. If you are not used to the tropical weather, you can rent an umbrella for free at the ticket booth.

Peak into the Royal Temple

The worship area at the heart of the temple is not accessible to public. However, you can go around it and get up close to look inside. The worship area is surrounded by a moat with native plants.

Balinese places of worship has numbers of “meru” (tower with storied roof). This is the part of the temple whereby its roof levels symbolize the congregation’s degree. In Pura Taman Ayun, you can see a meru of eleven roof levels as the royal symbol while regular temples only have up to nine roof levels.

See the cockfights event monument

Cockfight is one of the traditions of Mengwi, which has been preserved in many events. It is one of the rituals for sacrificial ceremony. At Pura Taman Ayun, there is a cockfight hall in the front area for visitors to see and experience how it feels like attending one of the events. The hall is wide, cool, and comfortable. To watch the real cockfight event, you can ask local information at the ticket booth.

Spend your afternoon picnicking here with your friends and family

Being the heritage of Mengwi kingdom, Pura Taman Ayun has the best facilities for its visitors. One of them is the public toilets. They are clean and comfortable, which is quite rare. It is also equipped with many porches and halls surrounded by gardens. These spots are very comfortable for you to spend your lunch time or afternoon tea time with your family and friends if you bring your own meals. You can also find some snacks stands nearby and convenient stores outside the temple area.