Planning to visit Gates of Heaven Bali? This is the only guide you’ll need!
Pura Lempuyang Temple (also known as Penataran Lempuyang, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, or Gates of Heaven Bali) is an ancient Hindu temple that resides on the highest peak of Mount Lempuyang in Karangasem, East Bali.
Penataran Lempuyang is said to be the most Instagrammed location on the island, and it’s easy to see why!
I have put together this complete guide to visiting including how to get there, how much it costs to enter, the best time to visit, and what to expect when you arrive.
OVERVIEW – GATES OF HEAVEN BALI (PURA LEMPUYANG TEMPLE)
Let’s start this guide with all the essentials you should know before coming, such as the location, how to get there, and more.
WHERE IS THE GATES OF HEAVEN BALI?
Pura Lempuyang Temple is located in Karangasem Regency, East Bali.
Click here to see the location on Google maps.
From the main tourist hubs of Canggu, Seminyak, and Kuta, it’s approximately a 2.5-hour drive. If you happen to be staying in Ubud, it’s a shorter distance which takes around 2 hours.
I can also recommend spending a couple of days in the small coastal town of Amed when visiting Pura Luhur Lempuyang and from here, it’s only a 30-minute drive to reach the Bali Gates Of Heaven.
HOW TO GET TO LEMPUYANG TEMPLE?
The best way how to go to Lempuyang Temple is by car or by scooter.
You can rent a scooter from the main tourist areas of Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, or Ubud and make the drive out to East Bali at your own pace.
Don’t feel confident riding a scooter? Another great option for getting around Bali is to hire a private car and a driver for the day and experience all that the island has to offer.
Includes:
- Experienced driver and guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Drinking water
- Petrol
EAST BALI TOUR
Another alternative when planning a visit to East Bali is to book a full-day tour to see all the highlights.
The Best Of East Bali Tour is the most top-rated tour with great reviews and hundreds of bookings.
This tour covers some of the best highlights in East Bali including Pura Lempuyang, Ujung Water Palace, Tirta Gangga, and even the Gates of Heaven Bali entrance fee!
BEST TOUR TO GATES OF HEAVEN BALI
The BEST way to discover Pura Lempuyang Temple is by joining an East Bali Tour With Gates of Heaven!
It includes hotel transfers, lunch, entrance tickets with sarong, and a professional guide!
PURA LEMPUYANG OPENING HOURS
The temple is open 7 days a week from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
However, in my opinion, you’ll want to aim to arrive much earlier at around 5:00 am to beat the crowds.
Due to its popularity, many tourists will start queuing at the entrance to Gates Of Heaven Bali to be the first to get up to the viewpoint.
For worshipping purposes, it’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
BEST TIME TO VISIT GATES OF HEAVEN BALI
Ideally, it’s best to visit the temple in the early hours of the morning for sunrise, though as I mentioned earlier this will be the busiest time of the day.
The famed ‘Bali Gates Of Heaven’ has become an internet legend thanks to everyone’s favorite app Instagram so you can expect it to be crowded nowadays.
If you want to experience Penataran Lempuyang without the crowds, I recommend planning your visit in the late afternoon for sunset as most of the day-trippers would have been and gone by this time.
All in all, the Lempuyang Temple best time to visit is as early as possible!
LEMPUYANG TEMPLE ENTRANCE FEE
The entrance fee is 100,000 IDR ($7) and includes a shuttle bus that takes you to the summit. There is an additional fee for parking your scooter or car which is 5,000 IDR.
A sarong is also required to be worn around your legs and your shoulders must be covered when visiting this sacred Hindu temple.
If you don’t have a sarong to wear, you can rent it for 10,000 IDR at the ticket office before heading up the stairs to the Penataran Temple.
DO YOU NEED TO BOOK THE ENTRANCE TICKETS?
No, you do not need to book the Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang tickets in advance and you can get them on the spot when you arrive.
That being said, I recommend signing up for a tour which you’ll have to book ahead of time.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT GATES OF HEAVEN BALI
Mountain Lempuyang features an entire complex of 7 temples, though Lempuyang is by far the most popular with its towering white stone gates that frame Mount Agung in the background.
You can explore the multiple tiers inside the complex by starting on the lower level and making your way up the stairs to the upper level where you can find the famous Bali Gates Of Heaven.
There are a number of stone sculptures along the path leading up to the temple which have been hand-carved by some very talented architects.
The fine detail and the number of hours that go into the creation of these religious sites around Bali are very impressive, to say the least!
In fact, during my visit, I saw construction workers doing some renovations and new carvings in the temple complex.
It was really intriguing to see the workers hand carving the stone statues leading up to the Gates Of Heaven Bali.
As you reach the top of the stairs you will be greeted by a local man in the courtyard. He will softly splash some water on your forehead as a blessing before entering the open-air temple.
Must Read: 2 Week Bali Itinerary
PURA LEMPUYANG TEMPLE COMPLEX
Pura Lempuyang Luhur is one of the most highly regarded temples in Bali and you will see just how impressive it is when you step foot into the courtyard of temples.
The Pura’s, or temples, that you will see inside the complex have been impressively hand-carved out of stone and decorated with colorful fabrics.
These often get overlooked because the main attraction is, of course, the Bali Gateway to Heaven.
Once you have got your picture taken in front of the Bali Gates of Heaven, I urge that you spend some time exploring the other sites inside the complex.
You’d be surprised that there are more Instagram-worthy spots to shoot apart from the main gates.
IS THERE WATER AT THE GATES OF HEAVEN BALI?
I am sure you have seen countless photos of this temple on Instagram which shows a reflection of the Gates Of Heaven Bali as if there were water in front of it.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this is nothing more than a bit of photography trickery with the use of a mirror.
A local Indonesian man will help you to create the perfect Instagram shot if you hand him your camera as he uses a small mirror to get the reflection of the stone gates.
He doesn’t ask for any money though a small tip goes a long way.
I just wanted to give you the heads up on this so you aren’t disappointed when you find that there isn’t actually any water in front of the gates at Pura Lempuyang.
WAITING TIMES
Pura Lempuyang Temple Bali is one of the most popular spots in Bali (if not THE most popular) and you should plan at least 2 hours to take the photo between the Gates of Heaven.
I read some Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang reviews where some people even wait 3 to 4 hours, as they arrive around 10 or 11 in the morning, and that’s when most tourists arrive too.
While this is a lot, you’ll line up under a shelter so you won’t suffer or get sunburnt. The only moment you’ll be under the sun is when you get to the front of the queue, so it should only be a few minutes.
Local Balinese people will shout “Next” to get the group moving, but do not expect people to go immediately, hence why the waiting times get so long.
HOW TO TAKE PHOTOS AT THE GATES OF HEAVEN WITHOUT WAITING?
Now, I understand that you may not have 2-4 hours to wait in line for the most Instagrammable photo in Bali.
The secret to get a photo at the Gates of Heaven is to stand next to the photographers in front of the gates, wait for a group to move, and you’ll get a short moment to take the photo with no people.
I recommend preparing the angle and other settings beforehand so you’re ready to shoot when the current group moves along.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
Most people just come to get the classic Instagram shot standing in front of the Gates Of Heaven Bali, though they don’t realize there is much more to see in the area.
If you have the time, I highly recommend going on a moderate hike to discover all 7 temples around Lempuyang Mountain which is a 4-hour round-trip circuit trail.
I haven’t done the hike myself but I am sure you will uncover some epic spots that haven’t yet been posted on social media.
Let me know if you end up hiking around Mount Lempuyang and please share with me your experience and photos. I will be happy to feature them in this blog post.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Because this temple is a sacred religious site, you have to know that there are some common rules for visiting that you must respect and abide by.
- Your legs and shoulders must be covered to enter the temple
- No kissing is allowed as it’s a Hindu temple
- No drones are permitted
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PENATARAN LEMPUYANG
Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang is the official name and it’s said to be the most highly regarded Hindu temple in all of Bali. Pretty impressive, right?!
The temples of Mount Lempuyang, represented by the highest Pura (temple) on the peak of the mountain, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, is one of the ‘six sanctuaries of the world’, the six holiest places of worship in Bali.
According to Balinese beliefs, the temples on Lempuyang Mountain are pivotal points of the island and are said to provide spiritual balance to Bali.
The famed Bali Gates Of Heaven is known as a candi bentar (split gate) which marks the entrance to the main temple and a passageway into the religious compound.
Puja Wali Festival (Pura’s anniversary) of Lempuyang is held once every 6 months on a Thursday, typically one day after the Galungan festival.
TIPS FOR VISITING THE GATES OF HEAVEN IN BALI
There are a few tips to keep in mind when visiting Pura Lempuyang Temple:
- Book a car or a day tour ahead of time
- Come as early as possible to avoid waiting times
- Don’t skip the Bali Gate inside Pura Lempuyang, another great photo spot
- Be respectful and follow the rules, this is not only a tourist spot, it’s a religious site
SUMMARY
Despite the popularity of this attraction, I am sure you will be able to enjoy it with or without the crowds as this is truly one of the most incredible places to see in Bali.
It’s not something you get to see every day, especially due to its unique location sitting right in front of Bali’s highest and holiest peak, Mount Agung!
I have visited on two occasions and each time I was lucky enough to witness insane colors across the sky at sunrise with Mount Agung sitting prominently in the backdrop.
If you’re looking for a day trip away from the main tourist hubs such as Canggu, Seminyak, and Ubud, then definitely make the effort to travel out to Karangasem and check off this temple from your Bali bucket list!
WHERE TO NEXT?
Ubud is not too far away from this location and boasts many amazing things to do such as rainforest yoga retreats, traditional arts and crafts, other-worldly rice terraces, raging waterfalls, monkey forests, and much more.
Ubud is the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature for a few days away from the rat race.
Whether you want to unwind and relax or adventure and explore, Ubud offers the best of both worlds.
Click on the links below to discover awesome things to do in Ubud:
- Tegallalang Rice Terraces
- Ubud Elephant Sanctuary
- 10 Best Restaurants In Ubud
- Yellow Waterfall
- Hideout Bali Jungle Villa
WHERE TO STAY NEAR GATES OF HEAVEN BALI
I would recommend spending a couple of days in the small coastal town of Amed when visiting Pura Lempuyang Luhur.
From Amed to the Bali Gates of Heaven, it’s approximately a thirty-minute drive.
Amed has hundreds of accommodations to choose from so I have narrowed it down to a few of my personal favorite places to stay in Amed to suit the needs of luxury travelers, budget backpackers, and everyone in between.
LUXURY: GRIYA VILLAS & SPA
MID RANGE: BAYU COTTAGES
BUDGET: TITI SEDANA HOMESTAY
FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN AMED, SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
BEST TOURS IN BALI
WHAT TO PACK FOR BALI
When visiting Bali, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:
Must-Have Travel Essentials
Hidden Money Wallet
Keep your cash and other valuables safe with this anti-theft hidden money wallet!
Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best reusable bottle that allows you to purify water from anywhere!
Travel Backpack
The Nomatic Travel Backpack has 20+ innovative features, perfect for everyday use!
Quick-Dry Travel Towel
The most compact, lightweight, and quick-dry towel for traveling!
Portable PowerBank
Keep your phone, laptop, and accessories charged while you’re on the go with the Anker PowerBank!
More Bali Travel Guides
Click the button below to view all articles related to Bali!
FINAL THOUGHTS – PURA LEMPUYANG TEMPLE
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions about the Bali Gates of Heaven, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can!
For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.
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THANKS FOR READING
Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!
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Many thanks!
Hello : What time interval is needed to take photo with reflection early April ?
I learn a lot from your website. Thank You very much. Bonnie
It is best to go early to the temple and there will be fewer people to get the photo you are after! Enjoy
Hi can I ask what time did you all visit the temple for the shots? I am afraid if i reach before sunrise, there won’t be any photographer there to help me take the reflection shot.
Hello, I went at sunrise and there were already locals there to take the reflection shot photos. Enjoy!
After reading the reviews I was a bit skeptical… but the ride from Ubud, the money ( you do pay for everything) and the wait in line (ours was less than 20 mins) were worth these amazing photos. Yes, there is a bit of camera trickery but you give your phone to the official temple photographer and he delivers amazing shots… and he helps keep the line moving. I almost didn’t go and I am so glad I did!!
Glad you enjoyed it!