Bat Cave Temple or Goa Lawah Temple is one of Bali’s most popular places of interest, located close to the hilly bank, so it’s called Middle Hill reef. The cave is in the countryside of Pasinggahan, the sub-district of Dawan, Klungkung Regency, East Bali, and is about 1.5 hours from Denpasar.
There is a natural cave in the northern part of Jeroan in the center of Goa Lawah Temple, which contains thousands of tail bats. The main road between Klungkung and Amlapura is only opposite the temple. This cave is next to the lovely coastal beach with black sand.
The name Goa Lawah, according to Dwi Jendra Tattwa’s papyrus, is Goa Lelawah, the name given when he stops there during his Tirtha Yatra trip, by Danghyang Nirartha (a priest who spreads the Hindu teachings of Bali). He reached a cave that is hung on by many bats and its unbroken voice cried as a hymn to bring out the beauty of the cave. This cave is therefore called Goa Lawah / Bat Cave.
In the cave above the flower trees grow with a smelt fragrance, so the calm mind of Danghyang Nirartha stimulates, so that he spends the night here for a few nights. From the cave you also see the beautiful coastline, with the blue ocean as a background and Nusa Penida Island.
History of Goa Lawah Temple
According to Bendesa Mas chronicle, it is said that Mpu Kuturan (a Hindu priest coming from Java) then lives in Bali that was hosted in Silayukti, Padang Bai. He also builds some temple such as the Temple of Goa Lawah.
According to Dwijendra Tattwa’s Papyrus, after Danghyang Nirartha stayed in Goa Lawah for some nights, then he built a Temple in Kahyangan on the ground. It means the Palinggih or building of the temple in the Goa Lawah Temple is extended by Danghyang Nirartha.
Function of Goa Lawah Temple
- It’s Giha Lawah, a palace of Basuki God, based on the Papyrus of Kusuma Dewa.
- According to Papyrus of Padma Bhuwana, Pentameter Aksara is explained in accordance with holy letter title.
- The Goa Lawah Temple structure is constructed according to the temple building of Ista Dewata in Padmasana, located in front of the Siwa Cave, which is powerful for the whole universe.
- Based on Lontar Babad Dalem, Goa Lawah Temple is considered to be a good place to do the Tirtha Yatra or Nyegara Gunung (meditation) because there is a natural strength of solidarity in this area: mountain, sea, goads of watu and petrifies.
Goa Lawah Temple Festival is basically divided into two types of Piodalan and Ngusaba ceremonies. Many Hindu people from all over the island come and pray at this event. Goa Lawah is an interesting spot in Bali open to visitors or tourists who want to watch the temple attentively.