Is Pura Batu Ngaus, near Tanah Lot, worth visiting?

Yes, Pura Gede Luhur Batu Ngaus is worth it if you want a sea temple without the crowds: it sits on a spur of black lava pounded by waves, about 3 km (2 miles) south-east of Tanah Lot, and looks like a small, peaceful version of its famous neighbour.

Like several temples on this coast, it's one of the shrines believed to guard the island against the forces of the sea, and tradition links it to the 16th-century priest Dang Hyang Nirartha. Worshippers from nearby villages come often; visitors much less so.

What you'll see:

The temple: dark stone pavilions and meru (shrines with tiered roofs) perched on the rock.
The coastline: black cliffs, waves exploding on the rocks and rice fields running almost to the sea.
The sunset, every bit as good as at Tanah Lot, from the warungs along the cliff.

Practical info: allow 30 to 45 minutes from Canggu via Seseh and Cemagi. Access is generally free or by donation; the temple interior is for worshippers only, but the view from the clifftop path is enough. Wear a sarong and sash if you approach the entrance. Stay off the rocks in a big swell: the waves there are dangerous.

For the neighbouring temple, see Can you visit Tanah Lot, and what time should you go?

Verdict: Batu Ngaus for a calm sunset over a sea temple; Tanah Lot if you want the icon itself and don't mind the crowds.

Tip: arrive an hour before sunset and settle into a clifftop warung. You'll get golden light on the temple without the thousands of visitors at Tanah Lot, 3 km down the coast.

See trips to Tanah Lot and aroundpartner link · GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)

Information checked in November 2026; confirm before you travel.

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Is Pura Batu Ngaus, near Tanah Lot, worth visiting?

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