The Gateway To Heaven At Pura Lempuyang
17th January 2018
Like many, I saw this temple on Instagram. I saw it on just a few Bali related pages, before its popularity completely blew up (I now hear there are locals getting paid to take pictures and 2 hour long queues).
Pura Lempuyang is one of the oldest and the most revered temples in Bali. The temple is actually a collection of several temples along the hiking path to the summit. The main temple also the highest, the Pura Lempuyang Luhur, and lies 1,175m above sea level, on the peak of the namesake Mount Lempuyang.
I decided to visit this temple after my solo stay in Amed, which, itinerary wise was the perfect plan! I had one night in Seminyak before flying home, so I left Amed fairly early at about 7.30am in order to get to Pura Lempuyang before the ‘rush’. I remember feeling incredibly sick on the winding drive up, so bear that in mind if you get easily car sick!
With my early set off I reached just after 8am, which was the perfect time as there were only THREE OTHER PEOPLE there. You need to pay a small donation to get in, and make sure you are covered (shoulders too), if not you can rent a sarong for very cheap.
I didn’t use a guide as I intended to only be there for less than an hour. There are many steps and it’s still really humid even though you’re so high up, so bear that in mind!
I’d only walked a short while up the stairs, but I was already pretty puffed out! As you can see I hadn’t quite made it to ‘The Gateway To Heaven’, but the view was already starting to be pretty spectacular. Mount Agung decided to hide behind the clouds on my visit, though.
This is a place you can spend as much or as little time as you want at. I don’t recommend coming here for the day from Seminyak, Canggu or Ubud unless you leave very very early. I have seen photos of what it’s like now, with hundreds of people queuing for their Instagram photo, and I think it completely ruins the atmosphere. The best plan would be to tag it on to the end of your stay in Amed, if you really want that Instagram shot :)
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