Pura Goa Lawah

This temple called Pura Goa Lawah because in it there is a large natural cave inhabited by thousands of bats. In the Balinese language, the word means Lawah bats. But in terms of religion, the existence of a bat that has nothing to do with what is revered Hindu community in Bali. In the public confidence in Bali, Pura Goa is a place beristananya Lawah God in its manifestation as the god of the sea.

According to mythology, that are written in the palm prekempa, recounted that during a severe drought, the god Shiva Trimurti Sang Hyang sent to save the earth. Brahma fell transformed into a dragon Ananta Bhoga. Lord Vishnu became the dragon Basuki. God Iswara become Dragon Takshaka.

Furthermore, the dragon Basuki trlentang with head facing to the southeast. Basuki partly submerged sea dragon's head to move the oceans to evaporate into clouds. Basuki dragon head is then symbolized by Pura Goa Lawah. While transformed into a tail that hung down the mountain and its scales become thick forest. By the people of Bali, an area regarded as the tail end of the dragon Basuki founded Pura Goa King (one of the temples in Besakih komplks).Most of the Balinese believe in the antiquity of the cave at Pura Pura Goa Goa King penetrating into Lawah. But since a devastating earthquake in 1917, the cave was covered with the ruins of the earth.

Beyond mythology, the ancient sources mention that the temple was built at the initiative of Goa Lawah Kuturan mpu into the XI century and restored to be expanded in the XV century