Balinese Architecture: Besakih

"The Mother Temple": Bali's largest and most holy temple

Pura Besakih is made up of three temples, Pura Penataran Agung, Pura Kiduling Kreteg, and Pura Batu Madeg, and each is dedicated to a component of the Hindu trinity. Pura Penataran Agung has white banners for Shiva, Pura Kiduling Kreteg has red banners for Brahma, and Pura Batu Madeg has black banners for Vishnu.

Pura Besakih has been restored multiple times due to earthquakes and Mount Agung’s series of eruptions. The volcano is active to this day, and many of the temple buildings have a blackened color from the ash.

Pura Penataran Agung, the largest temple in the complex, has seven different areas for each of the seven layers of the universe.

A statue positioned at the entry to one of the main temples. The figure's smiling expression indicates that it represents a good spirit.

This statue, also located at a main temple's entry, is an evil spirit as indicated by its bared teeth.