Number 34 - Stand at the Gates of Heaven

The Gates of Heaven in Bali is more than just an instagram phenomenon, it’s the entrance to the temple Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang one of the sixth sanctuaries of the world.

During our trip to Bali I just had to visit the Gates of Heaven and so we hired a driver for the day who took us to Lempuyang about an hour drive from Seminyak. 

Cars are not allowed up to the temple and so we got one of the small trucks to the base of the temple locatws on Mount Lempuyang 2000 ft above sea level. The  mountain is divided into three sections corresponding to Balinese cosmology and Hinduism. 

The base of the temple is known as Sang Ananta Bhoga and corresponds to the mount of lord Brahma (the creator), the middle part is known as Sang Naga Basukih and corresponds to mount of lord Vishnu, (the preserver) while the top of the mountain is known as Sang Naga Taksaka and is considered as mount of lord Shiva (the destroyer) and is the sacred-most point of Mount Lempuyang is where the temple Pura Lempuyang Luhur is built.

The entrance to the temple at the base is where you’ll find the infamous gates of heaven overlooking mount Agung and the huge expanse or sky in front makes it one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the world, you can just feel the spiritual significance. The day we visited the clouds covered the view of the mountain however it was still beautiful. The only downside being you had to queue for a photo at the gates, but it was so worth it! 

The temple at the base is so beautiful decorated with orange and white flags and beautiful architecture of dragons down the stairs. They don’t allow tourists into the temple at the top of the stairs but as our driver was wanting to do prayers and make offerings and when he told them we were also Hindus they allowed us to go in, but no photos allowed. We sat in silence as the priest completed prayers and were given blessings, one of the most amazing opportunities I’ll never forget.

We then set about to reach the other two temples up the mountain reachable by a steep staircase of over 1,700 steps through the mountain forests. The weather wasn’t on our side, and as we climbed higher the mist and dew made it a tricky walk up and we were definitely not prepared with the right footwear. 

As we walked up we passed a lady, a temple worker who was carrying bags of sand on her head up the stairs which were to be used to help with restoration work of the middle temple. As I watched her climb I thought of her resilience and ability, whilst I was struggling so hard. 

They say that those who complain on the climb up will not make it which is why there is a spiritual element to the climb. Unfortunately we only made it to the middle temple and didn’t make it to the top, as time wasn’t on our side and I’ll be honest my fitness levels weren’t up to scratch either. I did my best and hardest but on this occasion I didn’t make it.

But it’s ok, because I realised something far more important through this experience. That it’s true, life’s challenges are supposed to be tough, else they wouldn’t be a challenge. And that the key is to not complain or beat yourself up that you can’t overcome them, and rather stay focussed on the end goal and to believe in yourself. Because the moment you have any self-doubt will be the moment you won’t overcome the challenge.