Batu Karu Temple

Surrounded by pristine mountain forests, the temple lies at the bottom of holy Batukaru mountain and exudes spirituality. The sanctuary itself is quite simple; the thatched Meru blend into the surrounding environment . Watukaru or Batukaru Temple is located at Wangaya Gede countryside, Penebel District and Tabanan regency, and west part of Bali Island. It is located right on the foot of Mount Batukaru and about 1.30 hours from Denpasar Airport.

Picture 1.  the entrance gates (Meru)  of Pura Batu Karu.

Batukaru is believed to be one of the 6 temples of different directions (Sad Kahyangan) in Bali and is dedicated to the God of West direction. In Balinese belief, there are six main temples considered to be the major temples such as :

1. Pura Besakih in  Kabupaten Karangasem.
2. Pura Lempuyang Luhur in Kabupaten Karangasem.
3. Pura Goa Lawah in Kabupaten Klungkung.
4. Pura Uluwatu in Kabupaten Badung.
5. Pura Batukaru in Kabupaten Tabanan.
6. Pura Pusering Jagat (Pura Puser Tasik) in  Kabupaten Gianyar
   

Pura Luhur Batukaru is thought to have been established in the 11th century when the saint-architect Mpu Kuturan built towering meru at the base of the mountain. The temple was then consecrated by the kings of Tabanan, who made it their state temple and dedicated the shrines ancestral gods.

In the 16th century, the shrines were ransacked and razed by a rival king thought to have come from Buleleng.While manuscript of Buleleng kingdom mentions that when the kingdom of Buleleng (now Singaraja) had been very prosperous and peaceful, the king Panji Sakti wanted to extend his emporium and looked for possible attack targets. 

At last the king with their big number of soldiers arrived at Batukaru temple, and without reason, according to the manuscript I Gusti Panji Sakti attacked and damaged the temple. Soon thousand of bees coming and hit him and the soldiers casing all of them took a thousand flee. This story seems that it was created by those who did not have sympathy with Buleleng, and tried to misconstrue the situation.

Another verse of the story is about a king in Bali cited by the Usana Bali having the same attitude toward the religion with impact to the society, and at last defeated by more religious regime. The manuscript of Buleleng mentions the date of 1605 AD. While devotees continued to worship at the area, the temple was not restored to worship until 1959.

The three elements temple area of Watukaru or Batukaru is equal to other temples in Bali generally which is consisted of outside area (Nista Mandala), Middle area (Madya mandala) and Center area (Utama Mandala)

Picture 2.   

Tahtched meru standing in the inner sanctuary of the temple to honour the defiled kings of Tabanan.

Picture 3

The most important shrine is the seven-tiered pagoda, dedicated to Mahadewa, the God of Mt Batukaru.

If you are expecting to visit during the temple festival at Batukaru Temple, it is executed every six-month or 210 days which is every Thursday Umanis Wara Dungulan (Balinese Calendar), just the day after Galungan Day (the biggest Balinese Hindu Holidays). The extension day of temple festival is executed during eleven day, to give the opportunity for Hindu public society especially in Bali to come for praying. Pengempon (the society who take care of the temple) has the obligation to take care of the temple inclusive of ceremony execution.

 Come and enjoy the tranquility!