Goa Lawah ( Bat Cave)

There is no doubt why Goa Lawah, the bat cave, has got this name. Thousands of noisy bats fills the air in and around the cave, and there is a sharp smell of bat droppings which covers the ground in a thick layer. It is also said that pythons live inside the cave, feeding on the bats.

This sacred cave starts at the foot of a hill, according to the legends it continues all the way to the base of Gunung Agung via an underwater river and surfaces inside the temple Pura Goa (the cave temple) inside the Besakih temple complex, about 25 km away. A story tells how a prince of Mengwi once entered the cave and came out in Besakih, but later nobody has tried to copy this journey. Today it is not allowed to enter the cave, which may be a fortunate thing, according to local legends this is also the home of Naga Basuki, the mythical and sacred dragon of the Agung mountain, caretaker of the earth's equilibrium. He is honored with offerings in the temple.

A Shiva temple guards the entrance, here is several shrines covered in bat droppings. Pura Goa Lawah is like Goa Gajah one of the oldest attractions on Bali, probably dating all the way back to 1007 AD and founded by the holy man Empu Kuturan. The cave is said to have been the center of a meeting in 1904 among the princes of Bali in order to make a plan to stop the Dutch invasion. Pura Goa Lawah is one of the most important state temples on the island, and in front of the cave there are new temple buildings, nice but very similar to other newer temples on Bali.

This has undoubtedly become a tourist trap, with many souvenir stalls and very annoying hawkers. When you have fought your way through this you will see an interesting place, but probably you will not be able to hang around for a long time because of the smelly and noisy bats. Then you can have a relaxing walk on the beach just opposite the main road. This is not a good place for swimming, but has an excellent view towards Nusa Penida.

Goa Lawah is located along the main road on the south east coast of Bali, about 9 km east of Semarapura (Klungkung). This is an interesting road along the coast where you can enjoy hills, forests and rice fields.