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All Indonesia Sukawati Goa Gajah
AO Edited

Goa Gajah

The name of this ancient Indonesian temple translates as "Elephant Cave" but it could be more accurately called "The Hellmouth."

Sukawati, Indonesia

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
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Goa Gajah   mastahanky on Flickr
Goa Gajah   mastahanky on Flickr
Goa Gajah   Daniel Roy on Flickr
The shrine inside the cave (featuring the Shankara Stones?).   alison on Flickr
The baths.   Threthny on Flickr
Goa Gajah   Al Billings on Flickr
Goa Gajah   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Goa Gajah   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Menacing faces to ward off evil   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Shrine at the centre of the holy spring   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Looking down into the temple   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
The small Buddhist shrine   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
  aaronwood10000 / Atlas Obscura User
More earthquake damaged temple carvings   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
  aaronwood10000 / Atlas Obscura User
  aaronwood10000 / Atlas Obscura User
View from entrance July 2022   aaronwood10000 / Atlas Obscura User
Goa Gajah   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Not far outside of the city of Ubud in Bali is a fantastical archeological site known as Goa Gajah, or "Elephant Cave," although visitors could be forgiven for finding this name confusing given the wild-eyed demon maw that serves as a front door.

The ill-fitting monicker comes from a complicated trickle down of translations relating to the temple cave throughout history that may have alluded to elephants at one point. However there does not seem to be any actual pachyderm imagery anywhere on the site. Instead the facade of the cave is carved into a surprisingly menacing devil's face with wide eyes staring over the doorway that acts as its screaming mouth. All around the monster's face is what seems to be a roiling sea of flames. Flanking the frightening frieze are smaller sculptures of creatures that have eroded with time.  

Despite this terrifying entrance the cave is actually thought to have been a place of meditation and spiritual cleansing where religious offerings were left (and still are). While no one is positive of the original use of the space, it is speculated that the demon's face on the outside was actually meant to scare away evil spirits, not attract them. A large communal bath was unearthed nearby in the 1950's featuring tall statues of serene figures pouring water out of jars into the central bath. A far cry from the howling cave entrance.

Today the ornately unsettling cave can be visited and all those daring to pass through the demon's jaws can witness the cave's secluded quietude. Just don't think of elephants.

Related Tags

Caves Temples Statues Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

15,000 Rp

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

leiris, nanda31, Jaszmina Szendrey, katielou106...

  • leiris
  • nanda31
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • katielou106
  • aaronwood10000

Published

November 5, 2013

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Sources
  • https://theworldtravelguy.com/goa-gajah-temple-elephant-cave-in-ubud-bali/
  • http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Interesting-Place/Goa-Gajah-Temple.htm
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa_Gajah
  • http://goseasia.about.com/od/bali/a/goa_gajah_bali_indonesia.htm
  • http://www.balisurfadvisor.com/placesinterest/guagajah.html
  • http://www.bali-indonesia.com/magazine/goa-gajah.htm
  • http://balibushire.com/elephant-cave-temple.html
  • https://eastbalitour.com/tour/ubud-waterfalls-tour/
Goa Gajah
Jalan Raya Goa Gajah
Sukawati, 80582
Indonesia
-8.523389, 115.286358
Get Directions

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