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Goa Gajah and Yeh Pulu

A trip to archaeological Bali

Goa Gajah
Rediscovered only in 1923 the cave is dated in the 11th Century. The giant demon head of the cave entrance whose identity, animal or demonic, is not yet fully understood is one of the most interesting works of ancient Balinese art.It is believed that the cave originally served as a Shivaite hermitage, afterwards the site may have been revered also by Buddhists, and finally followed by Hindus who worshiped the god Ganesha. The origin of name Elephant Cave can only be guessed, maybe from the statue of Ganesh found inside.

Goa Gajah

the giant demon head of the cave entrance whose identity is not yet fully understood

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From the parking area a flight of steps takes you down to the main area. Upon reaching the base you will come across a large ‘wantilan’, meeting hall, and an assortment of large old stone carvings from the various excavations. The cave entrance is located exactly in a north-south axis corresponding to the mountain-sea axis and thus also to the Kaja-Kelod principle.
Above the entrance to the cave, a monstrous head with bulging eyes (sighting to the left), with large hands either side appearing to be pushing back the rock. The whole figure is ornately carved with scene of mountains, forests, and clouds, among which some small figures are visible. The statues in front of the cave are leftovers from the excavations.
Inside the cave, on the West side (Kauh), there is a statue of Ganesha. Opposite (East) there are three lingam representing the Trimurti of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva. It is believed that the four niches, ummediately after the entrance, are for the ancient Shivaist hermits.
On the left side of the cave entrance there is a small pavillon with the thousand year old statue of the Buddhist deity Hariti. the children-eating monster later transformed into the childhood protector.

Goa Gajah

stone nymphs of the holy water bath in front of the cave

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In front of the cave there is the holy water bath, excavated in 1954, with six beautiful stone nymphs representing Wadadari nymphs holding vases acting as waterspouts. Originally in the middle of the bath there was also a seventh statue which unfortunately has not been found yet. Similar water tanks are found throughout India and southeast asia, supplying water for washing and ritual bathing.

Goa Gajah

the holy water bath in front of the cave

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On the East of the cave entrance there is the small complex of Pura Taman and at the side some rice fields with a small stream that flows down.
From the bath a footpath descends into the tropical vegetation to a small river gorge with some remnants of stupas dating earlier to the 8th century that dropped down from the overhanging rock. Among them a a thirteen tiered stupa carved on a large rock.
A stone bridge goes over the small river and on the opposite side there are other few remnants and a small holy water pond. It is believed that here there was once a Buddhist monastery which may infer a peaceful coexistence of Hindus and Buddhists in Bali. Nearby we noticed some interesting sulptures in the rock made in modern times.

Goa Gajah

three lingam representing the Trimurti in side the cave

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Yeh Pulu
Yeh Pulu is located in a valley that extends north to south bounded by steep rocky walls on the west where the 25 meters long bas relief are carved. The reliefs were first discovered in 1925 and restored in 1949 and 1953 to protect them from water abrasion.
In general the reliefs depict the daily life of ancient Balinese, the shape of the buildings shown on the reliefs have some resemblance to Candì Penataran in East Java. It is not known for certain what exactly the reliefs represent, we can see people taking pot, woman walking toward the back of a house, an old woman opening a door. A men carrying hoes and next to him a grandmother sitting under rocks and trees with a boy and two monkeys playing around, a women is standing next to her. On the left of this group there is a woman sitting with a turban resembling a crown headband, on the right hand there is a demon holding a spoon. Further on people on horseback and armed men attacking a boar. Frog against snakes. Two people carring killed boars, a woman holding a man riding a horse.

Yeh Pulu

the reliefs depict the daily life of ancient Balinese

This and more photographs can be found at:

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Bali stock photographs

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- Balinese traditional landscape
- Religion in Bali
- Balinese Dance
- Balinese Temples

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