Taman Ayun Temple is widely seen as one of the most attractive temples in Bali. It was completed in 1634 and is one of Bali’s six royal temples. Taman Ayun translates to the “Garden Temple in the Water” – aptly named since it is surrounded on three sides by water.
How To Get to Taman Ayun Temple
Taman Ayun Temple is located on Jalan Ayoda. Once through the stone gate, the road to the temple is narrow. Motorbikes were on the side of the road near the temple, but I didn’t see any car parking. Our driver had an SUV and parked in a tiny space just outside the gate. We walked the rest of the way to the temple.
Admission Fee & Opening Hours of Taman Ayun Temple
The entrance fee is Rp. 30,000 for international tourists and Rp. 15,000 for locals. Typical of Balinese temples, the price includes a free sarong to wear if your legs are exposed. Taman Ayun Temple is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm.
What To See at Taman Ayun Temple
The courtyard at the entrance has a verdant green lawn with a few fountains along the sides. The pavilion and the tower at the end make for a nice photo op. The unassuming gaps in the gate on either side of the tower lead to Taman Ayun’s inner courtyard.
The second area has pagodas, statues and thatched roofed structures surrounded by a small moat. There is a fence on the far side of the moat, so there’s no chance of getting close to these buildings. The path at the back of the lawn winds through the gardens of Taman Ayun.
A statue of the goddess Shri Devi stands at the entrance to the three galleries. The first gallery is a small room with photographs of the king’s visit to Taman Ayun Temple. Gallery 2 has various sketches and watercolour paintings of the temple and scenes or deities from Hindu folklore. Gallery 3 is a small theatre where a short movie about the temple plays on repeat.
On the way out of the temple, there is an odd scene of a cockfight. The path loops to the ticket booth where you can drop off your sarong and leave.
Facilities at Taman Ayun Temple
There are toilets at Taman Ayun Temple. If you need to go right away, take the path on the right just after where you get your sarong. If you’re coming from the other side, the toilet building is after the three galleries. Once you leave the third gallery, you’ll be on a path beside the moat. This path will turn right through a Balinese gate. Turn at the first left path, and the toilets are in a building in the corner. There were only two stalls in the women’s, but it was remarkably clean. There was toilet paper in the stall and soap at the sink, though the soap was watery.
Saturday Worthy?
Taman Ayun Temple is not worth a special trip just to see it. It’s an 8km drive from Ubud or 18km from Denpasar. It took us thirty minutes to go through Taman Ayun Temple, but one could stretch it to an hour-long visit if you dawdle in the gardens. Taman Ayun Temple is a good attraction to stop at if you’re passing through, or you could also try to make a day of it with the other Mengwi attractions, like the nearby Ogoh Ogoh Museum.