Pura Taman Ayun (‘Garden Temple in the Water’) is one of the great royal temples and one of the most high profile temples in Bali. It resides just outside the town of Mengwi in southern Bali.
Pura Taman Ayun was built in the 17th century and is revered for its Mengwi Dynasty days and especially its wooden shrines (merus). It is one of the half a dozen Bali royal temples and sits beautifully on a river island with the main inner temple surrounded by a moat.
The most intriguing part of Pura Taman Ayun is the inner courtyard, which consists of more than two-dozen buildings and a large fountain. The gate to the inner temple is impressive in its own right. The temples are dedicated to the gods, with the multi-tiered pagoda pertaining to Dewi Sri. A small ferry provides access to the two museum pavilions.
Getting There
Buses and bemos run to Mengwi from where you can get local transport to the temple, or indeed walk from there. It lies at about 100m above sea level just to the north of Mengwi on Jalan Ayodya. Those who are driving need to take Jalan Singaraja from Denpasar for 16kms and turn right just after Mengwi town center. Ngurah Rai International Airport is about 30kms from Mengwi, to the south of Denpasar, and receives flights from all over. Jakarta is a 2-hour flight away and nearby Lombok only 25 minutes away.
Need to Know
- What is it? Pura Taman Ayun is one of the six revered royal temples in Bali.
- When to go? In the dry season between May and September or October.
- Nearest town: Mengwi city center is a kilometer to the south.
- Don’t miss: the inner temple complex with its many buildings and carvings.
- Trivia: Pura Taman Ayun was built in 1637 during the reign of Raja Gusti Agung Anom and was expanded in the 1930s.