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Mother Temple of Besakih in 360°
Besakih Temple is one of the six royal temples on Bali, it is the biggest and the most important temple in Bali. It is thought to have originally been founded in the 8th century AD, possibly as a Buddhist shrine, since at that time Bali had not yet been converted to Hinduism.
1. What to see
According to local traditions, it was a priest of Shiva called Sri Markhadeya who founded a temple on this spot. The main parts of the present temple were probably built in the 10th century by the local ruler Kesari Warmadewa.
2. When to see
Besakih Temple Complex is open daily 7am-6:00pm except for Nyepi day. Please note that some parts of the temple are usually closed to non-Hindus. Alike in all Hindu temples in Bali, a compulsory sarong can be hired at the entrance to enter the temple.
3. Location
4. How to get there
Most tourists visit Bali on a package tour that includes an option to select from a range of excursions. If travelling on your own, probably the easiest way is to rent a car with a driver for an entire day. It is not recommended to drive on your own in Indonesia due to the general negligance of driving rules. Singposts are written with Latin alphabet, but it might be difficult to find remote places on your own.
5. Where to stay
There are plenty of hotels to stay in Bali, the best beaches can be found at Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dusa. If you prefer sightseeing, Sanur area is highly recommended since it has the best location to avoid the traffic jams of Denpasar.
