Let us try - anyway we are already here...
We are passing the big ablution pool, admiring the old, big trees, coming to the entrance - the mouth of the demon, the guardian of this place, which, according to with the legend, has to eat all of our unpleasant thoughts, a couple of steps more...
The twilight of the millennial walls surrounds the heavy smoke of the incense. A couple of monks praying to Ganesha - the host of this cave. But where are all those people we seen before?.. Here it is stifling and a bit scary, as though all the local spirits come around and observe us, analyzing the each and every little piece of our souls.
It is purgatory.
We are leaving the cave and moving away, along the forest trails overgrown with centuries-old trees. Just ten minutes of walking, and we stop hearing the human voices: we are surrounded by the jungle, full of birds singing and stream gurgling.
It is a paradise.
The monks on the tiny paths are taking the donations for the little ancients temples; it seems that even they can't tell if there are Hindu or Buddhist sanctuaries. We are coming close to one of these temples and see the old priestess making some rites on a small altar. After the short ceremony and her blessing, we are feeling the flow of serenity and thankfulness, which is filling up our souls. We are full of gratitude to this priestess, to this forest, to this mysterious island, to all this wonderful world.
It is a moment of truth.
How to get to Goa Gajah:
This place is easy to find in any map; it is 25 minutes drive from Ubud, in the Bedulu Village, so every local driver can take you there.
If you drive yourself, you can find it with your GPS navigator by the following address: Goa Gajah Temple, Jalan Raya Goa Gajah, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali.The temple is opened every day, from 8 AM till 6 PM.
To get to Ubud from the Airport, you can either rent a motorbike or a car (don't be afraid, the driving is not very hard there) or to use a local taxi. The cost of the taxi is about 12-15 EUR. Some hotels and guest houses provide the airport transfer what might be even cheaper.
Money matters:
- The entrance fee is 7,500 IRD for children and 15,000 IRD for adults (15,000 IRD is about 1 EUR, but you better check the current rate).
- Sarong rental is 3000 IRD, if you don't have your own.
- The car park is large and free of charge.
Where to stay near Goa Gajah:
There are quite a lot of the hotels, guesthouses and homestay options in Ubud. But if you want to stay as close as possible to the place, try to find accommodation in Ubud Dedari Villas, which is situated exactly at the edge of the park.
What to see near Goa Gajah:
Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali, so you better stay there for at least a couple of days. Spectacular rice fields and the famous Monkey Forest are not far from the center of the town. Inside of Ubud, you can find a countless number of art expositions, craft shops, galleries, and temples, including the beautiful Saraswati Temple.
Weather and climate in Ubud:
Bali enjoys the equatorial climate with the all-year-round temperature range from 26°C till 32°ะก. The most humid are the months from October till April.
Pieces of Advice:
There are quite a lot of the hotels, guesthouses and homestay options in Ubud. But if you want to stay as close as possible to the place, try to find accommodation in Ubud Dedari Villas, which is situated exactly at the edge of the park.
What to see near Goa Gajah:
Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali, so you better stay there for at least a couple of days. Spectacular rice fields and the famous Monkey Forest are not far from the center of the town. Inside of Ubud, you can find a countless number of art expositions, craft shops, galleries, and temples, including the beautiful Saraswati Temple.
Weather and climate in Ubud:
Bali enjoys the equatorial climate with the all-year-round temperature range from 26°C till 32°ะก. The most humid are the months from October till April.
Pieces of Advice:
- If you want to explore the whole complex, you should be prepared to walk about 1 - 1,5 hours. If you are interested just in Elephant Cave, 20-30 minutes will be enough.
- It is the sacred place, so you should observe the Temple etiquette. If you are going to visit different temples in Bali, you better buy your own Sarong, otherwise, you will have to pay for its rental every time.
- I suggest coming either at 8 AM or about 5 PM when this place is not overcrowded by the tourists coming in the big busses. Even if you come after 5 PM and found the cash close, don't worry - you will find the workers who will meet you near the gate, take your money and rent you a sarong if you don't have your own.
Useful links: