Bali sights
Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu)
A 10th-century sea temple perched on a 70-metre cliff above the Indian Ocean at Bali's southern tip, famous for sweeping sunset views and the nightly Kecak fire dance performed against the ocean backdrop.
About
Uluwatu (Pura Luhur Uluwatu) is one of Bali's six 'kayangan jagat' — the directional temples believed to spiritually protect the island — and its setting is unforgettable: a small, ancient shrine clinging to the edge of a sheer cliff that drops 70 metres into the surf of the Indian Ocean. Dating to at least the 10th century and expanded by the Javanese sage Nirartha, it is dedicated to the spirits of the sea. Most visitors come in the late afternoon to walk the clifftop paths as the light turns gold, then stay for the Kecak dance — a hypnotic performance in which a circle of chanting men re-enact an episode of the Ramayana around a fire as the sun sinks behind the temple. Watch your belongings: the resident long-tailed macaques are notorious for snatching sunglasses and phones. A sarong (provided) is required to enter the temple grounds.
Good to know
Opening hours and entry fees vary by season — check before you visit.