Lempuyang Temple

Lempuyang Temple — formally known as Pura Lempuyang Luhur — is one of Bali's nine directional temples, a classification that places it among the island's most spiritually significant sites. Perched on the slopes of Mount Lempuyang in the Karangasem regency in east Bali, it has been a place of Hindu worship for centuries. Most visitors know it from a single image: the Candi Bentar, a split gateway that frames Mount Agung perfectly in the background. That photograph has circulated so widely online that Lempuyang has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Southeast Asia, drawing thousands of visitors a week.

In practice, visiting Lempuyang is more of a pilgrimage than a sightseeing stop. The full temple complex climbs the hillside in a series of seven temples connected by steep stone staircases — a proper hike that takes several hours if you commit to the whole route. Most tourists, however, come for the famous gateway shot at the lowest temple, Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang. There's always a queue for the photo. Local photographers with reflective boards create the illusion of a pool of water in the foreground, mimicking an effect that social media made famous. Beyond the shot, the setting is genuinely beautiful: jungle-covered hills, misty air, stone carvings draped in ceremonial cloth, and real religious activity happening alongside the tourism.

The temple is an active place of worship, and visitors need to approach it with respect. Sarongs and sashes are required and are provided at the entrance. Come early — well before 8am if you want any chance of a manageable queue for the gate photo, which can stretch to two or more hours by mid-morning. The drive to Lempuyang from Ubud takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, making it a full-day commitment from most parts of Bali. A driver for the day is the most practical option, as public transport doesn't serve this area well.