BALI GUIDE: Taman Ayun Temple

Taman Ayun Temple

Introduction: history/geographical info
Taman Ayun translates to Beautiful Garden and is also often addressed as Garden Temple in the water. This is addressed by the presence of ponds surrounding the temple. It is one of the royal temples in Bali as the Mengwi empire royal family used to stay here. This temple is still regularly visited by the royal family and the locals in Mengwi for prayers and spiritual ceremony.

Taman Ayun Temple was constructed in 1634 as ordered by the first King Tjokera Sakti Blambangan. The family history can be found in the temple. Taman Ayun was recognised as an UNESCO heritage in year 2012. This can be easily reasoned by their sophisticated architectural temple design compared to the others in Bali.

What to look out for:

There are several gates in Taman Ayun. The first gate (Jaba) is where you walk through the walkway that spans over the ponds. Entrance fee is payable from there. As you proceed further you will see a hall with statues of locals holding their recreational activities, and another hall affixed with a statue of Barong that is said to bring luck. The second gate is what the locals call Bale Pengubengan that is decorated with ornaments resembling their guardian Hindu Gods. The last and most sacred court is accessible only to their locals wearing traditional suits and the royal family for ceremonial purposes. Visitors are strictly not allowed. The architectural design simply represent the cosmic formation of the world.

Suggested time required
About an hour or less, unless you do spend a lot of time on perfecting your photos.

Best timing to visit
There is no best time to visit but ideally, avoid noon as the temple has minimal shelter from the hot sun.


Things to prepare: eg attire
Casual attire preferably covering up the legs, or else you will be required to wear a sarong provided by the temple.

How to get there
Bali does not have public transport so you can either book a day tour, hire a driver or even rent your own vehicle transport for a DIY itinerary. Based on our suggested itinerary this is the time you should factor to travel from Jatiluwih Rice Terrace to Taman Ayun Temple.



Opening Hours/Entrance Fee
Opens 09:00 to 17:00 daily
Entrance fee: IDR 20,000 for foreign visitors

Ladies who are on their period are not allowed to enter.

What to do:
Learn about the Balinese culture and the Mengwi empire. Don't forget your photography gear as well!

Food/stalls
There is no food stalls in the temple itself. However if you are feeling peckish, the nearest food should be within walking distances.



If you are only planning on doing daytrip you can click here to check out Wonders of Bali Tour that will bring you to Taman Ayun, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, Butterfly Park, Gitgit waterfall and the famous UNESCO heritage site Jatiluwih Rice Terrace only at an affordable $85!