Every village in Bali has several temples, and every home has at least a simple house-temple.  The Balinese word for temple is pura, which is from the sanskrit word meaning 'space surrounded by a wall'. 

All temples are built on a mountain-sea orientation.  The direction towards the mountain is called kaja and is the end of the temple where the holiest shrines are found. The temples entrance can be found at the kelod side, which points towards the sea. Kangin (towards the sunrise) is said to be more holy than towards the sunset (kuah) and many shrines can also be found on the kangin side.

Uluwatu Temple

The nearest temple to Jimbaran Puri Bali is the Uluwatu temple, Pura Luhur Ulu Watu, just 20 km from the resort.  

This temple is one of the group of important temples to the spirits of the sea. In the 11th centuary the Javanese preist Empu Kuturan first established a temple here, which was later added to by the Majapahit preist, Nirartha.  

You enter through an ornate archway, flanked by statues of Ganesha. Inside beautiful carvings of Balinese spirits and gods adorn the walls.  You are free to explore most of this temple, although the inner sanctum is open only to Hindu worshippers.

Tanah Lot Temple

Pura Tanah Lot  is another of the important group of sea temples and if possible should be visited early in the morning when crowds are few. 

Set in a perfect west facing orientation, this temple is one of the best known and most photographed on the island.  It proves popular with visitors who flock to watch the sun set from the spectacular location. 

Like Pura Ulu Watu it has close associations with the Majapahit preist, Nirartha.  It is said that each of the sea temples can be seen from the next, thus forming a chain along the Balinese south coast.