Pura Taman Ayun
Taman Ayung, meaning "beautiful garden", is the second-largest temple in Bali. It is a World Heritage Site as one of the five sites defined by UNESCO in the Subak cultural landscape of Bali. Taman Ayun Temple is unique, both in aesthetics and as an essential part of the local irrigation system, or subak.
The tall, multi-tiered shrines with black thatched roofs are called Meru. They are built in odd-numbered tiers (3, 5, 7, 9, or 11), symbolizing the sacred Mount Meru in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. These shrines honor different gods and ancestral spirits. Balinese temples, known as pura, are not only places of worship but also vital cultural centers. The layout often follows mandala principles, with inner and outer sanctums. Rituals, offerings (canang sari), and temple festivals are central to Balinese Hinduism, which blends indigenous animism with Indian Hindu influences.
Pura Taman Ayun
Taman Ayung, meaning "beautiful garden", is the second-largest temple in Bali. It is a World Heritage Site as one of the five sites defined by UNESCO in the Subak cultural landscape of Bali. Taman Ayun Temple is unique, both in aesthetics and as an essential part of the local irrigation system, or subak.
The tall, multi-tiered shrines with black thatched roofs are called Meru. They are built in odd-numbered tiers (3, 5, 7, 9, or 11), symbolizing the sacred Mount Meru in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. These shrines honor different gods and ancestral spirits. Balinese temples, known as pura, are not only places of worship but also vital cultural centers. The layout often follows mandala principles, with inner and outer sanctums. Rituals, offerings (canang sari), and temple festivals are central to Balinese Hinduism, which blends indigenous animism with Indian Hindu influences.