Pura Dalem Bentuyung Temple: A Spiritual Ubud Experience

Bali is well-known for its resorts and retreats, but the island’s another popular name is the Island of Gods. The place is aptly named because it is also home to many religious sites, such as Pura Dalem Bentuyung Temple, a popular sightseeing spot about 2,5 km north of Ubud Palace. This Ubud temple experience is popular with visitors and worshippers and often hosts traditional dance nights. When you stay at the Blue Karma Hotel Ubud, don’t miss out on a truly spiritual Ubud experience at this temple.

Highly known for its religious festivities including Balinese traditional dancers and fire dancers on most nights, the temple also has an aesthetically symmetric architectural style. This Ubud temple experience is great for visitors wanting to have a mix of strong cultural and spiritual Ubud experience. As a sacred site, only certain areas are open for public as inner sanctuaries are preserved for local Balinese. When visiting the temple, travelers must also ensure that they wear a sarong to cover knees and ankles, and wear an outfit with shoulders and midriffs well-covered.

Once you purchase the tickets at the Ubud tourist information center, or right in front of the temple, you will be greeted by a temple guide. They will take you on a journey of a folktale behind Pura Dalem Bentuyung Temple.

The Folktale of Pura Dalem Bentuyung Temple

The folktale tells of a pandita, or a Hindu priest, from Java, who were asked to move to Bali by Ida Bathara Toh Langkir, who resided at the top of Mount Agung. The Javanese pandita was chosen because Ida Bathara Toh Langkir found out that the pandita had heard a ‘Pawisik’ — a spiritual whisper, that he was the one who could help cleanse Bali.

Ida Bathara Toh Langkir then asks how the pandita could clean the island. First, he said that he could cleanse Bali with the water that came out of his hand. Then, he patted his hands together three times, but the water could not come out. Secondly, the pandita then said that he could cleanse it with fire. But, again, there was no fire after clapping his hands three times.

That made Ida Bathara Toh Langkir furious, and he flung his weapon, where a part of the weapon fell in a forest. In the forest, there was another pandita who needed to hide – badly. He came across a stone from the weapon’s fragment and used it as a place to hide. He vowed that he would worship the stone if it could hide him.

This was known by Ida Bathara Toh Langkir, and he came over to the pandita. He left an order that if the forest would become a place of residence, it should be named “Batu Ulung”. This name was then transformed into “Bentuyung” and the place where the stone fragments of the weapon was found has become Pura Dalem Bentuyung.

Nowadays in the modern era, Pura Dalem Bentuyung is known as the place of prayer and worship for communities around Ubud as well as other people from various villages, even though the temple is formally located in Banjar Bentuyung.

Our hotel, Blue Karma Dijiwa Ubud is located only less than half an hour away from Pura Dalem Bentuyung. The temple is definitely a fitting option for visitors who are looking to have a spiritual Ubud experience, while also enjoying a great stay at Blue Karma Hotel Ubud. Offering outdoor swimming pool, 24-hour front desk, a tropical garden, and a restaurant, the resort also offers many memorable leisure experiences: complimentary afternoon cake, daily refreshing morning walk and trek through Ubud rice paddies and jungle, as well as twice weekly classes to community yoga or Balinese dance. 

Blue Karma Dijiwa Ubud offers a blend of traditional and modern designs, with air-conditioned rooms well-fitted with seating area, a wardrobe, and a personal safe. Beautiful garden view can also be enjoyed from the room. Surrounded by rice paddy fields, this tranquil resort will be a truly calming place to call as your base and complement your spiritual Ubud experience perfectly.