Must-see attractions in East Bali

  • Exterior of Pura Besakih, the black temple.

    Pura Besakih

    East Bali

    Perched nearly 1000m up the side of Gunung Agung, this is Bali's most important Hindu temple. The site encompasses 23 separate but related temples, with…

  • Ceiling painting, Taman Kertha Gosa, Klungkung

    Puri Agung Semarapura

    East Bali

    Built when the Dewa Agung dynasty moved here in 1710, this palace compound was laid out as a large square, believed to be in the form of a mandala, with…

  • Indonesia, Bali, Tirta Gangga, Taman Tirta Gangga

    Taman Tirta Gangga

    East Bali

    This 1.2-hectare water palace serves as a fascinating reminder of the old Bali. Built for the last raja of Karangasem in 1946, it was almost fully…

  • Pura Kehen

    East Bali

    The state temple of the Bangli kingdom, Pura Kehen is a miniature version of Pura Besakih, Bali's most important temple. It's terraced up the hillside,…

  • Pura Lempuyang

    East Bali

    One of the holiest temple complexes on the island (it and Pura Besakih are the most important in east Bali), this group of seven temples has a spectacular…

  • Pura Goa Lawah

    East Bali

    One of nine directional temples in Bali, this cave in a cliff face 3km east of Kusamba is full of bats and the complex is equally overcrowded with tour…

  • Pantai Pasir Putih

    Candidasa

    The most popular 'secret' beach on Bali, Pantai Pasir Putih (White Sand Beach) lives up to its name. Once a mooring spot for local fishing boats, this…

  • Gelgel

    East Bali

    Situated about 4km south of central Klungkung, on the way to the coast, Gelgel was once the seat of Bali's most powerful dynasty. The town's decline…

  • Nyoman Gunarsa Museum

    East Bali

    Showcasing works by the late, internationally renowned Balinese painter Nyoman Gunarsa (1944–2017), this vast three-storey building on Klungking's western…

  • Bali Safari Park

    East Bali

    This theme park is filled with critters whose species never set foot in Bali until their cage door opened (tigers, lions, elephants, hippos, rhinos etc)…

  • Pura Dalem Sidan

    East Bali

    The sculpture of Durga with children by the entrance gate is one of a number of fine stone carvings at this temple of the dead. Also notable is the…

  • Kertha Gosa

    East Bali

    This open-sided pavilion in the northeastern corner of Puri Agung Semarapura was effectively the supreme court of the Klungkung kingdom, where disputes…

  • Pantai Lebih

    East Bali

    Just off the coastal highway, Lebih Beach has glittering mica-infused sand. Fishing boats line the shore and the air is redolent with the smell of BBQ…

  • Pantai Ujung

    East Bali

    This rocky beach southeast of Amlapura is home to one of the more unusual sights in east Bali – a 2m-long penis-shaped rock (lingga). Locals attribute…

  • Semarapura Market

    East Bali

    Klunkgkung's market is a vibrant hub of commerce and a meeting place for people of the region. You can easily spend an hour wandering about the warren of…

  • Puri Agung Karangasem

    East Bali

    The main residence in this palace compound is known as the Maskerdam (Amsterdam) because it was built by the Dutch as a reward for the Karangasem kingdom…

  • Pura Dalem Penunggekan

    East Bali

    The exterior wall of this fascinating temple of the dead features vivid relief carvings of evil-doers getting their just desserts in the afterlife. One…

  • Taman Ujung

    East Bali

    A hugely popular location for wedding photographs and romantic saunters, this complex five kilometres south of Amlapura dates to 1921, when the last king…

  • Pantai Masceti

    East Bali

    Masceti beach is a study in contrasts. Some 15km east of Sanur, it has a few drinks vendors and one of Bali's nine sacred directional temples, Pura…

  • Museum Semarajaya

    East Bali

    Housed in a colonial-era building on the western side of the Puri Agung Semarapura, this museum is mainly notable for its overwhelming smell of mothballs…

  • Bale Kambang

    East Bali

    Located within the palace compound, the ceiling of this beautiful floating bale (open-sided pavilion) showcases rows of paintings dealing with various…

  • Air Terjun Yeh Mampeh

    East Bali

    One of Bali's highest waterfalls (40m), Yeh Mampeh is in the hinterland at Les, near Tejakula. The entrance is about 2.5km off the main road, look for the…

  • Bias Tugal

    Padangbai

    Walk southwest from the ferry terminal and follow the trail up the hill for about 1.3km to Bias Tugal, also known as Pantai Kecil (Little Beach), on the…

  • Puputan Monument

    East Bali

    Klungkung was the last Balinese kingdom to succumb to the Dutch (1908) and the sacrifice of its royal family, who committed puputan (mass ritual suicide)…

  • Pura Taman Sari

    East Bali

    The name of this complex means 'Flower Garden Temple', but the surrounds are sadly lacking verisimilitude. The towering, 11-roofed meru indicates that…

  • Pura Silayukti

    Padangbai

    See the place where Empu Kuturan – who introduced the caste system to Bali in the 11th century – is said to have lived by following a path up to this…

  • Puri Gede

    East Bali

    Home to members of the extended Karangasem royal family, this compound opposite Puri Agung Karangasem is surrounded by long walls; within them there are…

  • Pantai Lepang

    East Bali

    Pantai Lepang's carbon-coloured sand and small dunes were enough to encourage a multinational company to construct a massive resort here, which has in…

  • Pantai Purnama

    East Bali

    A small beach with black sand reflecting billions of sparkles in the sunlight. Religion is big here: the temple close to the coastal highway, Pura Erjeruk…

  • Pantai Klotok

    East Bali

    Sacred statues from Pura Besakih are brought to the temple at this beach for ritual cleansing. Admire the pale blue flowers – they're sacred – on the wild…

  • Blue Lagoon Beach

    Padangbai

    On the far side of Padangbai's eastern headland, about a 500m walk from the town centre, is this small sandy beach. It has a couple of warungs and gentle,…

  • Lookout

    East Bali

    To appreciate the narrow band of the coast, stop at the lookout and cafes on the hillside at Jemeluk. The deep-blue water sparkles, dotted with…

  • Pura Candidasa

    Candidasa

    Candidasa's temple is on the hillside across from the lagoon at the eastern end of the village strip. It has twin temples devoted to the male-female gods…

  • Pura Penataran

    Padangbai

    A small Hindu temple in the western section of Padangbai; to find it, continue walking past the mosque.

  • Pantai Ketewel

    East Bali

    Ketewel is known for its surfing, which demands advanced skills; it's a tricky reef-rocky right.

  • Pantai Keramas

    East Bali

    Villa and hotel projects are sprouting here. The surf is consistent and world-class.

  • Masjid Padang Bai

    Padangbai

    Small mosque located at the west end of Padangbai, near the post office.

  • Pantai Pering

    East Bali

    This beach has burnt-umber-hued sand and a small snack shack.

  • Pura Dalem

    Padangbai

    One of Padangbai's major temples, in the centre of town.

  • Pura Segara

    Padangbai

    Hindu temple close to the beach, in the centre of town.

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