In the mountains of East Bali, Lempuyang Temple, often called the “Gates of Heaven”, is one of the island’s most iconic and spiritually significant destinations. With Mount Agung as it’s background, the sacred temple has been one of the most visited spots in Bali.
3 hours away from Ubud, we started our trip at 3AM and was fetched by our private tour guide from our villa. If you are looking for a reliable, friendly and approachable guide, don’t hesitate to contact Artha Bali Driver. The tour cost us 950K IDR, or around 4,800 pesos.
We were among the first tourists to arrive at the place and waited a bit for the others to come, since our tour guide said it’s not worth being first in line for the photo. Yep, you read that right, just like at other tourist spots with a nice view as the backdrop, you need to line up and wait for your turn.
Good thing is you don’t have to literally fall in line but you’re given a number that they’ll call later when it’s your turn. We were number 6, which was just in time for the sunrise and a beautiful view of Mount Agung. However, after a few minutes, once the photo-taking started, the fog rolled in, making Mt. Agung no longer visible. *cries*
Anywaaaaay, although it hurt a little to miss Mt. Agung because I was really looking forward to that, the fog made the pictures look beautifully eerie, so I’m still thankful for the free effect. LOL
Well, the reflection you’re seeing, which really makes it cool and is what made this place famous, is not from water, but from a piece of glass that the guides prepare. Clever, right?
You just need to hand over your phone when it’s your turn so they can easily snap some photos of you. You’re also limited to 5–6 poses.
Once we were done, we checked out the other parts of the temple and got curious about what the other tourists were doing—which was having a photoshoot on the temple stairs, haha! We didn’t hesitate to try it too and asked one of the guides to take photos of us. We were only going to be there once, so why miss the opportunity?
The guides accept donations after the photoshoot, and any amount will do. They even instruct you on what poses to do so your photos turn out nicer. Who are we to complain? Anyway, no one knows us lol.
After the Lempuyang Temple, we went to Tirta Gangga Palace.
Tirta Gangga is a former royal water palace located in eastern Bali, known for its clear pools, stone pathways, and quiet garden setting. Built in 1946 by the Karangasem royal family, it’s a simple but well-maintained place where visitors can walk across stepping stones, see koi-filled ponds, and take photos around the fountains and statues.
We just stayed there for an hour and just took some photos. Nothing really special.
Our guide also brought us to a restaurant with a rice paddy view for lunch after the tour. So far, Indonesian food has been really great!
