Temples of Bali: Pura Sakenan

Visiting any Balinese temple during your stay in Bali is an experience but when you visit during a temple celebration of festival; it is an amazing and colourful one. Located on the Bypass between Kuta and Sanur, just after the turnoff for the port of Benoa you will find a road bridge that spans 1km of the Benoa Strait and this will lead you to Serangan, or Turtle Island. It is on this island you will find an interesting Balinese temple, Pura Sakenan.

This is an important temple for Balinese people. The temple was built in the 16th Century by a Javanese priest named Nirartha. During the Galungan festival, particularly the closing day of Kuningan, the temple is very busy. Pura Sakenan is a public temple, meaning Balinese people from all over the island can come and receive blessings.

Visiting this temple at any other time than when festivals are being held could, to most travellers, seem a waste of time. But, it is a serene temple and one worth visiting. I was fortunate to visit the temple during the Galungan festival. Tourists can also enter the temple, even during Galungan, as long they are wearing a sarong and sash. This is a great photo opportunity. During the ceremony you will find many food and drink sellers outside the temple; it is quite an amazing scene.