KEHEN TEMPLE

Kehen Temple enshrines three gods : Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva which is believed to have been built even before construction of the town and now lies at the outskirts of the city. The town itself is dominated by the royal houses spread around its main square. Kehen Temple is the royal ancestral temple of the Bangli Kingdom, one of the eight most important royal houses on Bali. Literally meaning the temple of the hearth or the household, this refers to Hyang Api or the God of Fire, symbol of the Hindu god Brahma.

How to Get to Kehen Temple

Kehen Temple  is a magnificent Hindu Temple situated on the foot of the south part of Bangli Hill, right in the Pakuwon environment that is a residential and a part of Bangli Town. It is just 45 km from Denpasar City or 20 minutes from Kintamani, one of the famous tourist destinations in Bali. This temple is featured by the strategic location with Balinese traditional architecture and blanketed by the cool temperatures that make it a tourist destination in Bangli worth visiting.

What to Expect at Kehen Temple

Here worshippers burn offerings on a small hearth, Kehen Temple is one of the most beautiful temples on Bali standing above a steep slope. To reach the entrance gate one must climb a stone staircase with 38 steps guarded by stone statues on either side, all the way up to the gate. Unlike other Balinese temples where the entrance is a split gate, not so at Pura Kehen, which has a large triangular shaped gate similar to that of a mountain, where in Java, such a shape is called gunungan (gunung meaning mountain).

Passing the gate, a large, old banyan tree with wide protecting foliage and hanging roots dominates the outer courtyard. A kulkul or bamboo drum hangs from its branches and among its roots is a stone altar for offerings. Like Besakih Temple, Kehen Temple is built on several levels. Here are eight stepped terraces, where the top level is the most sacred sanctuary. There are no less than 43 altars on the various levels of Kehen with the most prominent covered with a tower that has 11 thatched roofs or meru, dedicated to Sang Hyang Api.

While at the northeastern corner there is a huge three-compartment stone throne, carved with intricate reliefs. During the temple anniversary, called odalan, devotees from around Bali come to pray in Kehen Temple. Bangli is also known for its Arts Center, or the Sasana Budaya, where regular kecak or wayang performances are held. Typical to Bangli is the Baris dance, or the dance of the warriors. Although also known in other regions, Bangli has developed its special Baris choreography, known as the Baris Jojor (8 men carrying spears), the Baris Presi or Tamiang (8 men in a circle carrying leather shields) and Baris Dadap, all of which are performed especially during odalan.

Kehen Temple History

Kehen Temple was the main temple of the Bangli Regency. Bangli Regency was formerly the center of a kingdom known under the same name. The Bangli Kingdom was one of the nine kingdoms of Bali. The name Bangli derives from bang giri, meaning "red forest" or "red mountain". The Regency of Bangli was founded by the Gelgel Kingdom of the Majapahit dynasty. The temple was mentioned three times in three copper inscriptions dated from the late 9th-century, the early 11th-century and the 13th-century. The copper inscriptions mentioned the temple under different names.

In the late 9th-century inscription, the temple was mentioned as Hyang Api (god of fire) by the Brahmans who maintain the temple. In the second inscription dating to the early 11th-century, the temple was named Hyang Kehen; the word Kehen is derived from the Balinese word keren which means "flame". In this period, the Pura Hyang Kehen was the official temple where oath ceremonies took place for royal officials.

In such ceremonies, those who are proven unfaithful will be subjected to the terrible sapata (curse) to him, his families, and his descendants. The oath ceremony was performed in front of the figure of Hyang Api or Hyang Kehen, the god of fire Agni. A vessel known as bejana sarpantaka was used for such performance; this vessel, which is decorated with four serpents winding around the vessel, was kept in an enclosed pavilion to the east of the main shrine of Pura Kehen.

Kehen Temple Entrance Ticket

Adult : IDR 15,000
Children : IDR 10,000
Opening Hours : 09.00 AM - 05.00 PM