Candi Tebing Tegallinggah: Bali's Forgotten 11th-Century Cliff Temple

About a 20-minute drive east of Ubud, at the bottom of the Pakerisan River valley, hides a site that almost never appears on Bali itineraries: Candi Tebing Tegallinggah. The shrines were not stacked from blocks of stone — they were carved directly into the sandstone cliff face during the Ancient Bali period, around the 11th–12th century, then forgotten for centuries until Dutch archaeologist Krijgsman documented them.

What Makes It Special

• Two tiered clusters of cliff-cut shrines plus the remains of a gateway that appears to have been left unfinished.
• Hermit niches chiselled into the rock wall, once used for meditation and ascetic retreat.
• Statue recesses and lingga on the lower terrace, some worn away by water seeping down from the rice fields above.
• Total silence: just the river and birdsong, and often you are the only visitor.

Trail Conditions & Visitor Etiquette

• From the car park the path drops down hundreds of steps; it forks into a stone stairway and a wooden one, both reaching the temple complex.
• The steps are often slippery and mossy after rain. Wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops — going down is easy, climbing back up is the workout.
• The site is fragile and prone to landslides: never climb on, lean against or place anything on the carvings.
• This is a sacred place — wear a sarong and sash, keep your voice down, and ask permission before photographing anyone praying.
• Bring drinking water and insect repellent; facilities below are minimal. Allow 45–75 minutes.

Practical Info & Booking

• Location: Banjar Tegallinggah, Bedulu village, Blahbatuh, Gianyar — View on Google Maps
• Opening hours: daily, roughly 08:00–17:00 WITA.
• Tickets: around Rp20,000 for domestic visitors and Rp30,000 for foreigners, children about half price; managed jointly by the Gianyar Tourism Office and Tegallinggah traditional village.
• How to visit: just turn up, no booking needed. Easiest is a scooter or a car with driver from Ubud, since the access lane is narrow and no public transport passes by; local guides are not always on duty, so ask at the ticket post.
• Social media: search on Instagram for recent photos of the trail.

Plan your Ubud stay with an AccessiaPass hotel voucher so you can set off for Tegallinggah early, while the valley is still shaded and completely empty.