Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple

At a Glance

• Local name: Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu
• Where: Sebatu village, Tegallalang district, Gianyar Regency
• Dedicated to: Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation (a water temple)
• Founded: around the 11th century, under King Udayana
• Time needed: 30–60 minutes
• Getting there: ~30–40 minutes north of central Ubud

Gunung Kawi Sebatu (Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu) is a holy-spring water temple prized above all for its calm: the same sacred bathing pools and purification ritual as the famous Tirta Empul, but with almost none of the tour-bus crowds. Tucked into the jungle of Sebatu village, 30–40 minutes north of Ubud, it sits near the Tegallalang rice terraces.

Don't confuse it with Gunung Kawi at Tampaksiring. These are two different sites: Gunung Kawi Sebatu is a water temple with spring-fed ponds, while Gunung Kawi near Tampaksiring is a complex of 11th-century royal tombs carved into a cliff. The Kintamani tour visits the water temple at Sebatu.

Why Visit

It's a chance to experience a living Balinese water temple without queues or pressure. It suits travellers who want to soak up the atmosphere quietly, photograph the shrines mirrored in the ponds, and optionally take part in a purification ritual — while families enjoy feeding the hundreds of koi fish.

The Layout

The temple is built around a natural spring, and its whole plan follows the water. The grounds are flat and easy to wander.

• Koi and lotus ponds — still, mirror-like water reflecting the shrines and meru pagodas, alive with hundreds of koi.
• Bathing pools — separate stone basins fed by cool spring water for the purification ritual.
• **I

er courtyard (jeroan)** — the enclosed prayer area, opened to worshippers during ceremonies.

• Jungle garden — mossy stone, fe s and dense greenery that make this one of Bali's most photogenic temples.

History

The temple is dated to roughly the 11th century, during the reign of King Udayana. By tradition it is linked to the arrival on Bali of the sage Rishi Markandeya — a Hindu holy man who crossed from Java as early as the 8th century and is regarded as a founding figure of Balinese Hinduism. The shrine is dedicated to Vishnu, the god of preservation, honoured here as a patron of water and life.

Gunung Kawi Sebatu holds the status of a "Dhang Kahyangan" temple, which means worshippers come not only from Sebatu village but from across Bali — it serves all Balinese Hindus, not a single local community.

The Legend of the Holy Spring

Local lore says the spring rose in answer to a prayer. A high priest, exhausted on a hard jou ey while his companions weakened and fell ill in the punishing heat, asked the gods for relief — and a clear spring burst from the ground, restoring their strength. Ever since, the temple's water has been considered sacred and healing.

The Melukat Purification Ritual

Melukat is the Balinese rite of spiritual cleansing using water from a sacred spring. Worshippers enter the pools in tu and bow their head and body beneath the cool spouts, washing away — as belief holds — negative energy and illness. Visitors are usually welcome to take part if they respect the etiquette: a sarong, a change of clothes and a towel are needed.

Plan Your Visit

• When to go — the mo ing, while it's cool and uncrowded; it is almost always quieter here than at Tirta Empul.
• Dress code — a sarong and sash are required (provided at the entrance); cover your shoulders.
• Entry — ticketed, with a small temple donation/fee.
• Getting there — about 30–40 minutes by car from Ubud toward Sebatu village; easy to combine with Tegallalang and Kintamani.
• Tip — bring a little cash, small change for fish feed, and shoes that slip off easily before the pools.

FAQ

How is Gunung Kawi Sebatu different from Tirta Empul? It is a similar holy-spring temple with the same melukat ritual, but far quieter and greener — a fraction of the visitors.

Can tourists take part in the purification ritual? Yes, melukat is open to guests who respect the etiquette: wear a sarong, bring dry clothes, and behave calmly in the pools.

How long does a visit take? Usually 30–60 minutes to wander the ponds, shrines and bathing pools at an easy pace.

Is this the cliff with the royal tombs? No. The rock-cut tombs are a different temple, Gunung Kawi near Tampaksiring. Sebatu is the water temple with the spring and koi ponds.