Pura Goa Lawah is one of six temples known as the Sad Kahyangan, or the 'six temples of the world'. The Balinese believe these six temples are the pivotal points of the island; along with Pura Goa Lawah, Pura Besakih, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, Pura Uluwatu, Pura Batukaru, and Pura Pusering Jagat makeup this sacred group.
Literally meaning the 'Bat Cave Temple', Pura Goa Lawah is a rather unique site. The temple dates back to the very beginning of the 11th century and has been an active site of worship since. It sits just one hundred meters from the beach in Klungkung, and fronts a large cave home to approximately one thousand fruit bats. These bats are considered the temple's guardians and highly regarded by the Balinese.
A celebration was underway during our visit. We ambled around the surrounding gardens before quietly joining the crowd gathered at the cave's mouth. We couldn't have a very good look into the cave, but it was special to watch the ceremony take place.
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