In the shadowed heart of Ubud stands Pura Dalem, a temple steeped in ancient power and shadowed secrets. One of the area’s most formidable sacred sites, it pulses at the centre of the local spiritual life, a place where worship, dark rituals and otherworldly performances unfold. Its moss clad stone carvings depict guardian spirits and fearsome deities, whispering of life, death and the unseen forces that linger at the edge of perception.

Not merely a relic of the ancient past, Pura Mengening has guided sacred rituals along the Pakerisan River for nearly a thousand years. This temple remains fully alive, carrying the weight of centuries of spiritual dedication while shaping the flow of water and energy. It endures as a functioning sanctuary where past and present converge. It's a living record of authentic continuity, where purpose moves as steadily as the river that sustains it.

At the base of a hidden ravine, Puncak Manik Mas Temple’s ancient shrines and ritual waters lie beside the solemn Setra Ganda Mayu burial ground. Legends of King Mayadenawa and the enduring rites of life and death linger here, casting a shadowed, unforgettable aura over this secluded and unknown temple.

Veiled in shadow and ritual power, Pura Dalem Puri Peliatan is one of Ubud’s most ominous sacred spaces, devoted to death, purification and realms beyond human life. A ceremonial heart for royal funerary rites, it is closely tied to Rangda, the Queen of Demons, whose fierce presence confronts dark forces. As a traditional Dalem temple, it functions as a liminal sanctuary where fire guide souls through the underworld.

This grand old palace sits peacefully in the heart of Ubud, its centuries old walls steeped in Balinese royal history. Built in the 17th century by the Sukawati dynasty, it was once a centre of power, ritual and sacred heirlooms. Towering gates and intricately carved stone guardians greet visitors, hinting at the palace’s rich cultural legacy, ancient ceremonies and the mysterious forces said to linger in its courtyards.

Ancient and long hidden beneath the earth, Pura Pegulingan is a temple of Buddhist and Hindu devotion that survived centuries untouched. Rediscovered in 1982, its stupa, relics and ancient statues reveal a sacred past. The temple stands as a testament to Bali’s layered history, where faith, art and ritual endure through the ages.

Honouring the Hindu belief in spiritual liberation and the release from samsara, the continuous cycle of birth, death and rebirth, Pura Moksa is a quietly significant temple that embodies the Balinese understanding of life, mortality and the journey of the soul. Unlike Ubud’s more prominent historic temples, it was established by the local community as a place for personal devotion and meditation, serving primarily as a contemplative sanctuary rather than a site for public ce

Rising from over a thousand years of Balinese history, Pura Samuan Tiga is where three potent spiritual paths once converged, forging a rare harmony in the island’s sacred landscape. Its weathered stone carvings and ancient statues still endure, each surface etched with centuries of ritual, devotion and mystery. They carry the whispers of the gods and the weight of countless generations who came seeking balance, protection and power within its walls.

Rising dramatically from the steep cliffs above the winding Wos River, Candi Tebing Jukut Paku is carved directly into the rock, its stone contours shaped to inspire devotion and quiet reflection. This 1000 year old cliffside sanctuary belongs to an ancient tradition of Balinese rock cut hermitages, offering seclusion for meditation and worship while immersing visitors in the rhythm and harmony of the natural world.

Dedicated to Durga, the Goddess of Death, Pura Bukit Dharma Kutri is a 1000 year old Hindu temple steeped in mystery, legend and sacred power. Its terraced courtyards, carvings and ancient relics bear witness to centuries of devotion, while the epic tale of Durga slaying the buffalo demon immortalises the struggle between order and chaos. With its eerie atmosphere, historic significance and rich folklore, Bukit Dharma Kutri Temple stands as a timeless threshold between the li

Once buried in the rice fields of Pejeng, Kebo Edan Temple, a 13th-century National Cultural Site, rises as a shadowy Tantric sanctuary where grotesque, skull adorned guardians channel transformative death energy, while a divine standoff unfolds as the crazy bull Nandi confronts Shiva in his blood soaked Bhairawa form, radiating destruction, madness and ecstatic power.

Flowing through Bali’s northern highlands, Munduk Waterfall is more than a natural wonder. Surrounded by forests, clove plantations and jungle cliffs, it is a sacred site where guardian spirits dwell and restless souls are said to linger. Visitors come not only for its refreshing pools but to feel the ancient energy that makes the place alive, watchful and transformative.

High on the slopes of Mount Batukaru, Pura Luhur Batukaru is a sacred temple dedicated to Mahadeva, Bali’s fierce and protective God of nature. Moss covered meru towers rise above sacred springs and the air seems charged with centuries of devotion. The temple bears the memory of a violent battle that once shook its grounds, while legends of unseen guardians and lingering spirits continue to echo through its courtyards, giving Batukaru an enduring aura of mystery and sacred po

Long before its pagodas rose above Lake Bratan, this site has been revered for over 2500 years, resting in the shadow of Mount Catur. Dedicated to the Goddess Dewi Danu, Pura Ulun Danu Beratan honours the cycle of creation, preservation and rebirth. Beneath its still waters, ancient powers stir, guardian spirits linger and the lake holds mysteries that have shaped the temple for millennia.

Falling into the Petanu valley with relentless force, Tegenungan’s cascade carries centuries of ritual and legend, its spray painting the gorge with the whispers of kings and cursed rivers.

In Tegallalang valley, Alas Harum lures Instagrammers to sky-high swings and rope bridges, yet farmers continue cultivating rice as they have for generations. The hillside cascades in green steps, forming a living landscape that is both a visual spectacle and a functioning agricultural system. Even amid the crowds, the valley’s heartbeat remains in the careful balance of water, labour and tradition that sustains its cultural and natural heritage.