Bat Cave Klungkung

Posted by Komang Muliarsana | 10:17 PM

bat cave
BAT CAVE Klungkung
Goa Lawah means ‘bat cave‘ in Balinese, and in Bali, Goa lawah is a famous tourist attraction, as well as a place of religious importance to the Balinese people

Goa Lawah means ‘bat cave‘ in Balinese, and in Bali, Goa lawah is a famous tourist attraction, as well as a place of religious importance to the Balinese people. The temple was founded in 1007, by Empu Kuteran. Though the temple is small, it is considered very auspicious and is one of the 9 kayangan jagat (directional temples) that protect Bali from evil spirits The cave is also said to lead all the way to Pura Goa in Besakih, some 30 km away, but nobody in recent times has volunteered to confirm this since the fruit bats provide sustenance for the legendary giant snake, Naga Basuki, which is also believed to live in the cave. This ancient reptile is believed to be the caretaker of the earth's equilibrium, a belief which stems from pre-Hindu animism. In the 17th century the temple was used as a place of worship by the King of Klungkung and the Bat Cave was also used to test the innocence of people found guilty of breaking the law. When within the kingdom of Mengwi, a dispute ensued between two of the king's descendants, I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung and I Gusti Ketut Agung. The latter was not accepted as the descendant of the King of Mengwi, so he agreed to enter the Bat Cave and if he came out alive he would be recognised as a descendant. The cave at that time also housed, as well as bats, big snakes and other wild animals. According to legend I Gusti Ketut Agung accepted the sentence, entered the cave and finally emerged at Besakih. Goa Lawah is located on the main road between Kusamba and the turn off for Padangbai. Its on the mountain side of the coastal road and you will notice a parking area, souvenir vendors and tourists milling around. From Kuta take the Bypass to Sanur, lookout for the sweeping turnoff to the right, just north of Sanur, that heads along the coast to Kusamba. The driving time will be 1.5 -2 hours, depending on how the traffic is in the Kuta area. At the end of the ever-extending coastal highway, you’ll turon off towards Klungkung, before swinging back towards the coastal road that goes to Candi Dasa.