Goa Gajah Temple - Elephant Cave Temple



Welcome to Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) which is located in west side of Bedulu countryside, Blah Batuh Sub district & Gianyar Regency. It is about 27 km from Denpasar town. This cave is built at crevasse edge from the federation of two rills that is called Pangkung River , where the irrigation is mixed with Petanu River flow. The federation area of rivers is called Campuhan/Mixture. It owns the magical energy on the basis of Rwabineda Concept/two different matters on this basic idea hence Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) is intentionally built among rivers.
The word of Gua Gajah is anticipated coming from the word of Lwa Gajah, the name of Buddhist Temple or hermitage for Buddhist monk. The Gua Gajah's name is written on Negarakeertagama papyrus which is compiled by Mpu Prapanca on 1365 M. Lwa or Lwah/loh mean the river & it reflect to the meaning that the hermitage is located at Gajah River or in Air Gajah. In the year inscription 944 Saka, it is mentioned with the name of  ring Air Gajah' that is meaning the Subak leader in Air Gajah. The word has mentioned that the hermitage of Lwa Gajah is located in Subak Air Gajah. 

What to see?
There is a relief which is  looking like the type of mountain on the way in of this cave. It was carved lots of designed on the relief like grove with the stick, close leaf, animal for example forest pig, tortoise & specters. The cave mouth is decorated by the bas-relief with the eye turn around to the right or west side. There is an news story letter of Kediri type from the early of 11 century was written on the wall left side or east side. There is a pool (Patirthaan) as a place to take the holy Tirtha water for Hindu ceremony which is located in the midst of the cave courtyard. This Holy Pool is historicallyin the past piled up by land & it's been found on 1954 by Krijgsman from the Ancient Department. The Holy pool is equipped by the statue douche which is parallel arranged in groups.
Tourist Destinations & Facilities
Since it is appointed as tourist location, Gua Gajah is lots of visited by tourist everyday due to it is strategically located on the main road Ubud to Kintamani. Kintamani Volcano Tour is of the famous land tour in Bali usually put this tourist location on the tour itinerary. It was well done by public facilities like toilet, parking area & memento shops available.

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