Gates Of Heaven & Volcano View
The gigantic “Gates of Heaven” of Bali’s Pura Lempuyang Temple, which resemble a picture frame for the sky and Mount Agung volcano, have made the temple famous online.
The Lempuyang Temple is not only one of Bali’s most sought-after locations for Instagram photos, but it is also one of the oldest and most venerated temples on the island. Even if you aren’t an Instagrammer, it’s worth going because this Bali temple offers more than simply the heaven’s gate.
Pura Lempuyang Temple
Lempuyang Temple, framed by the renowned stone gate known as the “Gates of Heaven,” is located on the high slopes of Mount Lempuyang in Bali and offers stunning views of Mount Agung in the distance. Now that there is a queueing system in place, you might have to wait an hour or more to have your picture taken at the entrance unless you are lucky.
The good news is that there are 7 additional temples in the Lempuyang complex that you can visit by trekking farther up the slope, and they aren’t crowded, if you’re looking for peace and quiet. Although not quite as famous as the first gate, they too provide fantastic views of the Agung volcano. While the entire circle journey to every temple at Pura Lempuyang takes many hours, it just takes five minutes to get to the main temple with the famed gate and stairs.
Lempuyang is regarded as one of Bali’s holiest Hindu temples, and in my opinion, it’s also one of the prettiest to photograph. Pictures can be taken even from the steps (above).
The Mirror Trick
You’ve certainly seen photos of this location on Instagram, where the gate and clouds appear to be floating above water in a beautiful mirror-like reflection known as the “Gates of Heaven.”
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but this area lacks a pool of water. All of those reflection images were staged using a pocket mirror. A clever local sits here all day and takes the identical photo of each person who passes by. But, in my opinion, that doesn’t lessen how great the pictures are! Go for it, however if he assists you in taking many of beautiful pictures, think about giving him a small tip.
Lempuyang Shuttle
A new shuttle bus system is being implemented at Lempuyang as of 2022 to aid with traffic and crowding on the narrow, steep roadways. This was the greatest option because the temple’s parking lot isn’t big enough to accommodate more cars, even though it unfortunately raises the price to attend the shrine.
For a roundtrip, the transfer via minibus costs 50k Rupiah (i.e. 25k Rupiah each direction). It simply takes five or ten minutes to get there.
Best Time To Visit
Come to Lempuyang before daybreak for the greatest photos, when the Mount Agung volcano isn’t yet obscured by clouds.
You must arrive far before daybreak, most likely about 5 or 5:30 AM, because there will already be a large number of people there at that time. At 5:30 AM, the Lempuyang Temple welcomes guests.
The best time to go is in the afternoon when most of the Instagram hordes have already departed if you’re not very interested in photography and would rather just avoid the crowds and still capture some decent images.
How To Get There
The Lempuyang Temple is situated in Karangasem, in Bali’s far east.
The Amed coast is the ideal location for this, as Lempuyang can be reached in just 30 minutes by car. It takes a full two hours to drive to Lempuyang if you start from popular tourist destinations in south Bali like Ubud and Canggu.
Book a tour or getting a private car with a driver is the most effective way to get there (both of these can be booked online). Remember that the final stretch of the Pura Lempuyang road is steep and twisty, so go slowly.
What To Wear To Temples In Bali
Most Bali temples, including this one, require visitors to don sarongs in order to enter.
A sarong, a traditional skirt that you tie around your waist, is typically available for short-term rental on the spot for a charge of about 5,000 Rupiah (less than a dollar). In this instance, the cost of the temple admission includes the sarong for free.
Bali Private Driver & Tour
My top recommendation would be Gaia Bali Tour if you want to tour Bali in the convenience and safety of a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver.
For a full day of driving and touring in Bali (up to 10 hours), their cost started from 900k Rupiah ($60 USD) for 1 to 5 passengers. That is the total cost of the car, the driver, and the gas! It’s a terrific offer. Also, they provide inexpensive Bali hotel transfers from the airport.