Goa Lawah Temple

Goa Lawah Temple (Pura Goa Lawah) is a sacred Hindu cave temple in Pesinggahan village, Dawan, Klungkung Regency, Bali, Indonesia. Built around a natural cave inhabited by thousands of nectar bats, it is one of Bali's six most sacred Sad Kahyangan temples and nine directional Kayangan Jagat temples. Founded in the 11th century by Mpu Kuturan, the complex features ornate shrines, meru towers and a bat-filled cave mouth opposite the sea on the main Klungkung-Karangasem road.

Visitors can expect a compact coastal temple complex centered on a large cave mouth densely covered with thousands of hanging bats. The outer and middle courtyards contain ornately carved stone gates, shrines, meru towers and bale pavilions. The cave interior is sacred and not accessible to visitors but can be viewed from the courtyard. The temple sits directly on the main road opposite Goa Lawah Beach with views of Nusa Penida on clear days, and is active with praying pilgrims, offerings and occasional ceremonies.

Founded in 1007 Saka (1029 CE) by Mpu Kuturan, a Javanese Hindu priest who established many temples in Bali. It is one of the Sad Kahyangan Jagat, the six holiest temples of Bali, and one of the nine directional Kayangan Jagat temples protecting the island.

Highly sacred to Balinese Hindus, the bat cave is believed to be the dwelling of the sacred serpent king Naga Basuki and is spiritually connected to Pura Besakih. The temple serves as a sea temple balancing spiritual forces and is used for purification ceremonies including Nyegara Gunung and ancestor worship.