The Pura Taman Ayun, Jewel of the Reign of Mengwi

A peaceful atmosphere inspire visitors around the Pura Taman Ayun, the sanctuary of the ancient Kingdom of Mengwi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012. Its name literally means “Temple of the Garden on the Water”. Pagodas with roofs made from coconut trees seem to spring from from the large moat - lotus flowers play with their reflections while fish dart, back and forth, under the calm waters. Among the six royal temples of Bali, the Sanctuary of Taman Ayun is the last witness to the capital of the ancient empire. Dating back to the 1600s, its architecture is more complex and refined than most of the island’s other temples - here, Balinese tradition mixes with influences from China. Four courtyards of concentric terraces raise progressively towards the heavens, evoking the myth of the birth of the universe and the cosmological realms of Hinduism. Pavilions, statues, towers and fountains cover the gardens where, once, the sovereigns of Mengwi and their courts strolled, right next to where the Royal Palace once stood. The temple was originally dedicated to the ancestors of the dynasty - along with them, the deities of Hindu are venerated here, but also the spirits of water and the sun, of the forests and the rice paddies.