Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)

At a Glance

• Local name: Goa Gajah (Pura Goa Gajah)
• Where: Bedulu village, Gianyar regency, about 5 km southeast of Ubud
• Hours: roughly 8:00–17:00
• Time needed: 45 minutes – 1.5 hours
• Age: the cave was carved around the 11th century
• Getting there: 15–20 minutes by car from central Ubud

Goa Gajah, the "Elephant Cave", is an ancient cave temple by the village of Bedulu, 15 minutes from Ubud, where the mouth of the rock-cut cave is framed by a huge demonic face carved straight into the stone. In front of it lie ritual bathing pools with statues of nymphs that lay buried for centuries and were only excavated in 1954. The site blends Hindu and Buddhist shrines — a rare example of the religious syncretism of ancient Bali.

Why Visit

This is one of the most atmospheric antiquities around Ubud: in an hour you take in the mysterious carving at the cave mouth, the holy spring with its stone nymphs, and a path down through a tropical ravine to the stream. It suits travellers interested in history and culture, and slots neatly into a temple route northeast of Ubud.

History and Rediscovery

Historians place the carving of the cave at around the 11th century, in the era of the Warmadewa dynasty, as a place of meditation and retreat for priests. The name "Elephant Cave" has nothing to do with real elephants: it likely comes from the elephant-headed god Ganesha inside the cave and from the old name of the nearby river, Lwa Gajah.

The ritual pools in front of the cave were buried under earth for centuries and only uncovered in the 1954 excavation. The complex now sits on Indonesia's UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.

What to See

The complex is compact but dense, and you walk it as a loop.

• The mouth-face entrance — the cave's facade is a giant demonic face with bulging eyes and a gaping mouth that you step through to go inside. Scholars still debate exactly whom it depicts.
• Inside the cave — a short T-shaped tu

el with niches holding three stone lingams and a yoni (symbols of Shiva) and a statue of Ganesha, reflecting its Hindu-Buddhist past.

• The bathing pools — rectangular basins with seven nymph statues (Widyadara-Widyadari) pouring water from vessels, representing the seven sacred rivers of Hinduism.
• The path to the stream — steps lead down through a garden of huge trees and boulders to the Petanu river, where fragments of Buddhist reliefs survive.

Plan Your Visit

• Dress code — a sarong is required and handed out at the entrance; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• When to come — near opening, around 8:00–9:00, before the tour buses and the midday heat.
• Footwear — the descent to the stream is on stone steps that can be slippery; closed shoes are easier.
• Getting there — about 15–20 minutes by car or scooter from central Ubud toward Bedulu; entry is ticketed on site.
• Time needed — an unhurried visit takes about an hour; pair it with the Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi temples nearby.

FAQ

Why is it called the "Elephant Cave" if there are no elephants in Bali? The name most likely comes from the elephant-headed god Ganesha inside the cave and from the old name of the nearby river (Lwa Gajah), not from real animals.

Do I need a sarong at Goa Gajah? Yes — it is an active temple, so a sarong is required and provided at the entrance.

How long does a visit take? Usually 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, including the walk down to the stream.

What is nearby? The site pairs well with the Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi water temples north of Ubud.