Bali Temples

Why the temples and ceremonies of Bali are special
Bali is nicknamed The Island of the Gods because it has over 10,000 temples dedicated to an array of spirits. Each year the Balinese hold countless temple ceremonies and make frequent offerings to please the good spirits and appease the evil ones. The fascinating upbeat aura of these ceremonies is unsurpassed anywhere in the world.

Bali temples
The four best and most popular temples
Each is a Hillman Wonders Bronze Medal winner.

• Tanah Lot
  Famous for its tiny, quaint island setting (reachable during low tide). Bursts with tourists during its vaunted sunset.
  
• Besakih
  Bali's largest and holiest temple is Pura Besakih (see photo). It's popularly known as the "Mother Temple".
  
• Ulu Watu
  Dramatically perched on high promontory overlooking the breaking surf.
  
• Ulu Danu
  Photogenic. On Lake Bratan

Religion
Religion runs deep in Bali
About 95% of the Balinese practice Hindu-Dharmaism, a local variant of India's Hinduism. The faithful interweave their religion into their daily lives.

Spirits
To the Balinese, every living thing -- from a lowly weed to a human being -- has a spirit.

And the Balinese believe that there are both good and evil spirits -- and that this eternal duality exists in balance.

More Bali temple tips & insights
Temple ceremonies
No trip to Bali is fulfilled without observing a festive temple ceremony.

• Frequent events
  Because there are so many temples in Bali with different ceremony schedules, there should be at least one event taking place on any given day during your visit.
  
• Dissimilarities
  Some ceremonies are grander and more festive than others. Some have traditional dances and music.

Consult your concierge or the local government tourist office for the latest schedules and recommendations when you arrive in Bali. Also ask them to brief you on temple etiquette (for instance, you as a visitor should don a sarong and leave a small monetary gift for the upkeep of the temple). 

Temple processions
A major adjunct of the temple ceremony is the procession of traditionally attired women walking single file down a country road to the temple. The participants gracefully balance on their heads tall colorful towers of neatly arranged fruits, flowers and other offerings (see photo).

Daily offerings
The Balinese make offerings to the good and evil spirits on a daily basis with tiny tray baskets (called bantens) made of woven coconut palm fronds. Each contains simple gifts such as flowers and rice.

You will see a plethora of these baskets. They are placed nearly anywhere including on altars and, to enhance and protect a business's prosperity, on the sidewalk near a shop's doorway. I've even seen a banten parked on a computer as the operator entered data into a spreadsheet.