🛕 Discover the Beauty of Taman Ayun Temple
- Warsyaan
- November 8th, 2024
- Watch Our Review
🛕 Taman Ayun Temple
If you are exploring Bali’s cultural heritage, Taman Ayun Temple is one of the most beautiful and historic temples you should visit.
Located in Mengwi, this royal temple is known for its stunning traditional architecture, peaceful gardens, and spiritual atmosphere.
Although often overlooked by international tourists, Pura Taman Ayun (Taman Ayun Temple) is a significant temple in Balinese history and culture. It dates back to when Bali was split into nine kingdoms, with Taman Ayun serving as the family temple for the King of Mengwi.
🪶 A Glimpse into Balinese Royal History
Taman Ayun Temple was built in 1634 by the King of Mengwi and served as the royal family temple. The name “Taman Ayun” means “beautiful garden”, which perfectly describes the temple complex surrounded by wide green landscapes and lotus-filled ponds.
The temple is an important cultural landmark and is part of Bali’s Subak irrigation system heritage recognized by UNESCO. It represents the harmony between humans, nature, and spirituality — a key philosophy in Balinese Hinduism.
🎟 Entrance Fee & Facilities
Here are the estimated entrance fees for Taman Ayun Temple in 2026:
Domestic Tourists (Indonesian Citizens): IDR 15,000 – IDR 20,000
International Tourists (Foreigners): IDR 30,000
Children (Indonesian Citizens): IDR 10,000 – IDR 15,000
Car Parking: IDR 5,000
Motorcycle Parking: IDR 2,000
Important Information:
Operating Hours: Generally open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM WITA.
Dress Code: Must wear a sarong and scarf (usually provided or included in the ticket at the entrance).
🌴What To Expect
To reach the temple, cross over the bridge and follow the path through the Candi Bentar (the split gates found at the entrance to all Balinese temples).
🛕 There are 10 Meru towers in total, each with thatched roofs and intricate carvings.
Each tower is dedicated to a different god or ancestor. The more tiers a tower has, the more important they are. The smaller towers are dedicated to former kings of the Mengwi Kingdom, whereas the tallest towers (those with 11 tiers) are dedicated to the highest gods in Hinduism.
After seeing the towers in the courtyard, you’ll join a woodland path that follows the moat around the temple towards the museum, which is spread across several small buildings near the exit.
👑 the King of Mengwi
The first building houses a small-scale model of the complex giving you a better understanding of the temple’s layout. The surrounding walls are adorned with old photographs of Ida Tjokorda Mengwi XII, the King of Mengwi until he died in 2001.
The second museum building has a selection of artworks depicting the temple in various styles.
In the final building, you’ll find a large cinema screen showing footage of ceremonies at the temple and an interview with those responsible for its upkeep. We recommend taking a seat and watching this as it’s the best source of information about the temple.
The final area you’ll reach is a large pavilion (known as a wantilan) that’s used by the local community for large gatherings and celebrations.
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At the centre of the pavilion is a statue depicting a cockfighting scene. This activity has long been associated with Balinese Hinduism as the bloodshed from the losing cock is said to help drive away evil spirits.
Next to the pavilion is a small warung (local restaurant) where locals purchase food and snacks to enjoy in the communal space.
In total, we spent around 40 minutes exploring Taman Ayun temple.
🔎 More About the Temple
Pura Taman Ayun, which translates to “Beautiful Garden Temple,” is a former royal temple complex in Mengwi.
It was built in the 17th century by King I Gusti Agung Putu of the Mengwi Kingdom. This was back when Bali was split into nine kingdoms.
He built it as a temple for his family to hold ceremonies and worship their ancestors. This is why many of the towers in the inner courtyard are dedicated to former kings.
The complex is in surprisingly good shape considering its age. It suffered damage from a major earthquake in 1917 but underwent renovations to restore it back to its original condition.
🌐 UNESCO Status
The temple is part of Bali’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, which recognises the island’s unique irrigation system called Subak.
Temples play an important role in managing this irrigation system as rice is seen as a gift from the gods.
When World Heritage Site status was confirmed in 2012, UNESCO specifically called out Taman Ayun Temple and Ulun Danu Batur Temple for their pivotal role in this system over the centuries.
