Kehen Temple Bali
Kehen Temple is located only 1 km north of Bangli City on a foot of a hill overlooking the city, a high place which is a strategic place for viewing the surrounding. The city of Bangli is the capital of Kabupaten Bangli, second level government under the province of Bali with population around 40.000 people. Bangli city itself is 45 kms away from Denpasar city and 60 km from Kuta, 78 km from Nusa Dua tourist resort, a city located on the highland and is the highest city in Bali after Kintamani and Pupuan town.
First of all, eyes are deprived by a splendid stone engraving of the stairs when arriving at the temple. Go up to this temple built by using the inclination of the mountain in the long flight of stairs until going to the gate.
There is three steps (outside boundary, inside boundary, and interior boundary) having finished going up the stairs ahead. Moreover, sacred tree Banyan that soars greatly in the temple attracts attention. The age of the tree is over 700 years old, it is very big tree.
The relief of the stone given to all buildings in the temple exactly has power. Tens of decoration plates of Chinese pottery are buried in the wall. At that time, the trade with China and the prosperity at the dynasty are guessed from this. However, Chinese earthenware at that time has been almost stolen.
Therefore, the one seen now is the one that was restored afterwards. There are a lot of viewpoints such as tower that digs by three gods of Hinduism, and 11 layer Mel etc. in this temple. Moreover, because this temple is composed of three steps, and built respectively in separate age, you can enjoy difference. It can enjoy each one of the stone sculpture.
The anniversary (odalan) of this temple takes place every 210 days on Wednesday Kliwon Shinta (based of traditional pawukon calendar). Once in a three years period a Ngusaba ritual is held in this temple, which takes place on full moon (Purnama) of the fifth month of Balinese Caka calendar, around November. This sacred temple is built majestically on terraces on the southern slope of the hill under a big old banyan tree that shades the shrines and gates of its courtyards. The forest background of this temple offers a unique ambiance and mesmerizing scene.
The existence of the inscription at Kehen Temple can be explained as follows:
- Kehen Temple Inscription ‘A' is mentioning the existence of 3 sanctums those are Hyang Api, Hyang Tanda, and Hyang Karimama
- Kehen Temple Inscription ‘B' from 11 century is mentioning the empire functionary that is the Senapati Kuturan pu Kandara and it elaborate with the anathema words in oath
- The Inscription from 13 century (year 1204 M) is mentioning Hyang Kehen and Hyang Wukir. At the moment Hyang Kehen is equal to Kehen Temple and Hyang Wukir is Puncak Bukit Bangli Temple .
The structure of Kehen Temple yard is arranged to have a terrace and it shows the existence of tradition megalithic which is continued as a symbol from the existence of mount that is one of the fertility sources. The temple festival can be divided into 2 types those are Piodalan Ceremony which is executed every 6 month, that is on Wednesday Keliwon Sinta (Balinese Calendar) and Ngusaba Ceremony which is executed every 5 years.
Entrance Ticket : IDR 10.000/Person