Pura Uluwatu is located Jl. Uluwatu takes you through the local area of Jimbaran and past some big hotels before heading up the steep hill and into the heart of the Bukit

Pura Luhur Uluwatu is one of Bali’s ‘directional temples’ (kayangan jagat) This means that the temple affects the island as a whole and has meaning for all Balinese, not just the Uluwatu locals. For Medangsia Tuesday,people from all over Bali come to worship here.

The temple was founded in the 10th century by Empu Kuturan, a Javanese Hindu priest who built the tiered ‘meru’ and a shrine here as well as at other key locations long the Balinese coast.In the 17th century Niratha also from Java came to Bali and built temples, adding to Uluwatu

Monkeys were present in this part of the temple and as well as lingering in the branches of trees were happy to patrol the temple walls looking for an unsuspecting tourist.

Descending the wide steps on the western side to the main part of the temple I passed the kulkul tower which contains a wooden bell, slit down the middle, used to summon villagers. I also noticed a wantilan structure used for meetings. This seemed newer than the other stone temple structures and the monkeys were using this at home base.