Samuan Tiga Temple

Where Mortals Meet the Divine

Emerging from Bali’s distant past, Pura Samuan Tiga derives its name from a sacred act of convergence rather than devotion to a single god, marking a place where competing spiritual paths were brought into balance and harmony. Known as the “Temple of the Meeting of the Three,” it is among Bali’s oldest and most enigmatic sanctuaries. Founded over a thousand years ago, the temple became the site of a pivotal council where the Pasupata, Bhairawa and Siwa Siddhanta sects were reconciled into a unified religious order under the guidance of the legendary sage Mpu Kuturan, giving rise to Bali’s Kahyangan Tiga system, a triad of principal temples representing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and anchoring the island’s spiritual landscape through the balance of creation, preservation and destruction. Today, the site remains physically anchored in its origins, with ancient statues and worn stone carvings still in situ, their eroded forms bearing silent witness to centuries of uninterrupted worship and a spiritual continuity of belief that has endured beyond kingdoms, empires and generations. Each stone carries the whispers of ancient rituals and the presence of the Gods themselves.

The temple grounds are steeped in shadowed lore, particularly tales of the Denawa, colossal and malevolent giants that once roamed Bali. According to legend, these spirits were drawn to the island’s sacred centres, spreading chaos and destruction wherever they went. Villagers spoke of fields trampled, forests set aflame and rivers turned turbulent by their immense power. When the Denawa threatened the area of Bedulu, it was said that the Gods intervened, choosing Pura Samuan Tiga as the battleground where these destructive forces would be confronted. Some stories claim that the temple’s very stones were lifted and shaped by divine hands to trap the giants, while others whisper that Mpu Kuturan himself performed secret rituals to bind their spirits. Even today, certain stones bear peculiar markings like grooves, dents and faint hand shaped impressions, that locals believe are relics of that cosmic battle. On quiet nights, especially during stormy weather, some visitors report hearing distant roars or feeling an oppressive presence, as if echoes of the Denawa still linger, restless and unseen, guarding the boundaries between the mortal world and the divine.

Its architecture underscores its age and significance. Unlike typical Balinese temples with three courtyards, Pura Samuan Tiga spans seven interconnected courtyards, representing the soul’s journey through realms toward spiritual enlightenment. Carvings depict Gods, demons and cosmic battles, narrating the eternal struggle between creation and destruction. Each relic, from ancient statues to ceremonial implements, bears the weight of centuries, their surfaces holding the residue of sacred ritual and history.

Surrounding the temple, ancient banyan trees act as silent guardians, believed to house ancestral spirits and connect the mortal world to the divine. Local lore recounts that during certain full moons, these trees glow faintly and seem to hum with otherworldly energy. Shamans warn visitors: it is easy to feel watched or tested by the unseen and only those who approach with respect will leave unharmed.

Beyond its spiritual role, Pura Samuan Tiga was a centre of political intrigue. Rival Balinese clans often met here to negotiate peace, yet folklore hints that these gatherings were sometimes shrouded in treachery. Hidden chambers and secret tunnels are said to exist beneath the temple, holding relics, evidence of clandestine plots and echoes of long forgotten betrayals. The temple’s rituals are as mysterious as its stones. The Siat Sampian ceremony, held during the tenth full moon, dramatises the eternal struggle between good and evil through symbolic battles with woven coconut leaves. Witnesses often report an intense, supernatural energy, as if spirits from past centuries are participating, reminding all present that Pura Samuan Tiga is a place where mortal and divine intersect.

Today, the temple stands as a living testament to Bali’s spiritual and cultural memory. Pilgrims, seekers and travellers alike visit to meditate, pay homage or simply feel the weight of history pressing through the temple stones. Pura Samuan Tiga is both serene and intimidating, beautiful yet charged with lingering energies. For those willing to look beyond its stone courtyards, it is a place where the past refuses to stay silent, where gods, giants and humans remain entwined in Bali’s eternal dance of light and shadow.

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🗺️ Location

Jalan Pura Samuan Tiga, Bedulu, Blahbatuh, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia

🚆 How to get there

From downtown Ubud, Pura Samuan Tiga is about 7 kilometers southeast in B

edulu village. You can drive or take a taxi in roughly 20 - 25 minutes, costing around 50,000 - 70,000 IDR depending on traffic. For a more local experience, a Go-Jek or Grab bike ride takes about the same time and costs roughly 20,000 - 30,000 IDR. Head along Jalan Raya Ubud toward Bedulu, following signs for Pura Samuan Tiga. The last stretch winds through narrow village lanes lined with rice terraces, offering glimpses of rural Balinese life before you reach the temple’s entrance. It is also close to Goa Gajah and Yeh Pulu, making it convenient to visit all sites in one trip.

⭐ Attraction Info

Pura Samuan Tiga is open daily between 7am - 5pm. The standard entrance fee is 15,000 IDR, which includes a sarong rental for visitors not already wearing one.