Goa Gajah, or Elephant Cave, is located on the island of Bali near Ubud

Bali holiday packages this time will explain about the legacy of temple which is often called the elephant cave temple (pura goa gajah). This holy place Is one of the historic caves, which have been recognized by the United Nations Organizations (UNESCO) became one of the world heritage. The shrine is often called by the name of Goa Gajah temple, which located at Banjar Goa, Bedulu village, Blahbatuh district, Gianyar regency, with mileage about 5 km from Ubud tourist area, or about 45 minutes from Denpasar city. Goa Gajah (bali elephant cave temple) has been known since the reign of several kings in Bali island, such as:

• Sri Dharmawangsa Wardhana Marakata Pangkajastano Tunggadewa (in the year 1022 AD)
• Raja Anak Wungsu (in the year 1053 AD)
• Paduka Sri Maha Guru (in the year 1324 AD)

And name of the temple itself is actually derived from the word "LWA GAJAH", which was written by MPU Prapanca in 1365 AD based on the book inscription of Negara Kertha Gama. Goa Gajah temple built in the-11th century, when at that time still ruled by King "SRI BEDAHULU", In the reign of King Hayam Wuruk on Majapahit era written that "LWA GAJAH" is located at Bedulu village as a hermitage place of "BODADYAKSA". There is also mentioned about Kunjarakunjapada term meaning "DORMITORY KUNJARA" which in Sanskrit means"ELEPHANT". The dormitory kunjara is owned by holy man Rsi Agastya that located in Mysore (South India), where there are many wild elephants living around the hostel, so there is the possibility that Goa Gajah temple built to remind about the hostel Kunjarakunjapada in India.

Preliminary findings of Goa Gajah temple is starting from the Dutch East Indies official report by L.C. Heyting in 1923, which reported the discovery of Ganesha statue, Tri Lingga statue, also Hariti sculpture to the Dutch East Indies. Then Dr. W.F. Stutterhiem start doing advanced research in 1925, and in 1950 the Office Archaeological site of Indonesia through a part of the ancient buildings in Bali led by J.L. Krijgman conduct research and excavations in 1954 until 1979, and they found an ancient holy water pool with six (6) female statue equipped with fountain chest. And the existence of these statue are believed can give an aura cleansing also positive vibrations for visitors until now.

There is a building that stored the statue of Queen Brayut (Men Brayut) or Goddess Hariti, who initially had a bad character, but after getting a Buddhist lesson eventually she turns into a children lovers as seen on the statue. And next to the upper right side of the cave's wall, there are words "Kumon" and "Shy Wangsa" that written in letters quadratic Kediri, and the meaning of these words still unclear known by historians. According to archaeological research of sculptural art form and an ancient holy water in Goa Gajah believed to be inherited on 11th century.