Gunung Kawi Temple in the village of Tampaksiring, a beautiful temple complex surrounded by ricefields.
It is a complex of ten candis carved into the rocks that date back to the 11th century. There are several lectures about what Guning Kawi is, according to many the 7 meter high statues were built in honour of King Anak Wungsu and his many wives. It is also thought that they were burial monuments in honour of the royal family of the Udayana dynasty.
To get to the statues you first have to walk down a steep staircase of 371 steps (the way back up is quite tough due to the temperature, make sure to take a bottle of water with you and it may be clear that this is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or a bad physical condition. The entrance fee is IDR 50.000.
On the way to the temple you have a beautiful view of the valley and the rice fields.
Along the stairs you will find quite a few souvenir shops, but the people are not intrusive as with other temples.
In addition to the sculptures carved from stone, the natural environment of rice fields is beautiful. The picture below shows only the main area, when you would go up you will find many temples on higher levels.
The complex is really beautiful and is surrounded by nature, there is a small river flowing and it is a place of peace and quiet.
It is a remarkable place, not only the temple complex is something special but also the location and surrounding ricefields makes it a special place and certainly worth a visit if you can accept the challenge of taking the stairs.
Rundung #Megae 