Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)

Goa Gajah or Elephant Cave in English is located in Blah Batuh Sub district and Gianyar Regency. It can be reached about 27km from Denpasar. Goa Gajah was built in the 9^th century which was served as a sanctuary. The cave lies just below the level of the main road to Tampaksiring, on the side of the steep ravine of the Petanu river. There is a fine view here, a fitting place to be chosen in ancient days as the site for a hermitage where devotees could admire the beauty of God’s creation.

There is a relief which is almost looking like the form of mountain on the entrance of this cave. It was carved many designed on the relief like grove with the stick, close leaf, animal for example forest pig, tortoise and specters. The cave mouth is decorated by the bas-relief with the eye turn around to the right or west side. There is an article letter of Kediri type from the early of 11 century was written on the wall left side or east side. There is a pool (Patirthaan) as a place to take the holy Tirtha water for Hindu ceremony which is located in the middle of the cave courtyard. This Holy Pool is previously piled up by land and it has been found on 1954 by Krijgsman from the Ancient Department. The Holy pool is equipped by the statue douche which is parallel arranged in two groups.

The temple as a whole represents Mt. Mahameru, the residence of the gods. The meru, the pagoda-like structure, represents the summit of the mountain. The kori agung, the gateway, is the symbol of its form. Its bulk, and Bhoma the symbol of its forest. When we pass through the kori agung, under the mouth of Bhoma, it is as if, on entering a forest, we are between the trunks of great trees. And so at the Goa Gajah the figure of Bhoma indicates that we are entering a place wherein the worshipper comes into the presence of the gods.

Bhoma’s eyes glance to the left or west. In that direction, are the remains of quite extensive brickwork. This may have been an entrance gate, although that would mean that the original entrance path descended from high ground which would be unusual. Or perhaps the old path came from the village to the east and followed the little valley below the restaurant Puri Suling (the famous German painter Walter Spies was the fist to build a house here).