Bali guide › Sanur and Denpasar
Can you visit Pura Jagatnatha, Denpasar's main temple?
Yes. Pura Agung Jagatnatha is Denpasar's main temple, and visitors are welcome, suitably dressed, outside prayer times. It's right in the centre, between Puputan Badung Square and the Bali Museum, and takes about half an hour to visit.
This temple is recent and unusual. Opened in 1968, it was built for Balinese who had moved to the capital, far from their village temples: a temple for everyone, wherever they come from. It's dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the supreme god of Balinese Hinduism, of whom all the other deities are manifestations (see What is Bali's religion, and how is Balinese Hinduism different?).
What you'll see:
- The padmasana: a white stone lotus throne about 15 m (50 ft) high in the middle of the courtyard. Unlike other shrines, the throne stays empty: the supreme god isn't depicted, just offered a seat. A small golden figure at the top symbolises his presence.
- The base of the throne: it rests on Bedawang Nala, the cosmic turtle that carries the world, wrapped in two serpents (naga).
- The moat, planted with lotuses, around the shrine.
- The gates: the candi bentar (split gate) and the kori agung (great gate), restored in 2023 in the bebadungan style typical of the Denpasar area: red brick and paras stone (a soft grey volcanic tuff that's easy to carve).
- The worshippers: office workers and families who drop in to pray between appointments, with their offerings (see What do Bali's canang sari offerings mean, and how to behave?).
Practical info:
- Entry: free, with a donation at your discretion.
- Dress: a sarong and sash are required, with shoulders covered. You can hire them at the entrance (about IDR 20,000, or US$1).
- Opening hours: the temple is always open to worshippers. Visit during the day.
- Ceremony days: at the full moon (Purnama) and new moon (Tilem), the temple fills with worshippers, and wayang kulit (shadow puppet) performances may be held. It's a striking sight, but access for visitors is more limited: stay at the back.
The rules, as in every temple in Bali:
- Never climb on the structures, and don't stand higher than a priest or the offerings.
- Don't walk in front of someone praying, and don't take close-up photos of worshippers without asking.
- Under Balinese custom, women who are menstruating and anyone with a bleeding wound may not enter.
For the full etiquette, see What should I wear in Bali, and how should I behave at temples?.
Verdict: it's not as spectacular as Besakih or Tanah Lot, but it's one of the easiest temples to visit, a quick way into the heart of Balinese Hinduism, and it pairs perfectly with the Bali Museum and Badung Market. To choose among the island's great temples, see What are the best temples to visit in Bali?.
Tip: if you're in Denpasar on a full-moon evening, walk past the temple at dusk, properly dressed. You'll feel the devotion of a city ceremony while staying discreet and at the back.
Information checked in October 2026; check before you travel.
More landmarks in this section
- What is there to do in Sanur and Denpasar?
- Can you swim at Sanur Beach, and when should you go?
- What to see on the Sanur boardwalk and at Le Mayeur Museum?
- What to see at the Bali Museum and Bajra Sandhi Monument?
- Is Badung Market in Denpasar worth it, and when should you go?
- Is the Serangan turtle centre worth visiting, and is it ethical?