Exotis Lempuyang Temple, Karangasem, Bali.

Exotis Gate at Lempuyang temple, Karangasem, Bali.

Lempuyang Temple Bali is also called ‘The Temple of Thousand Steps’.
The Temple is located at the summit of Belibis Hill (Mount Lempuyang), northeast of Mount Agung, Abang District, Karangasem Regency , Bali , Indonesia.

The Temple of Thousand Steps

Pura Luhur Lempuyang in Karangasem, Bali  is one of the nine directional temples in Bali. It is also known as the "Temple of thousand steps", it is called Temple of thousand steps because to reach the main temple area, visitors must climb about 1700 steps. 

 

Pura Luhur lempuyang

The word Lempuyang is derived from 2 words "Lampu" which means light and "Hyang" which means God therefore the meaning of Lempuyang is Light of God. Pura Luhur lempuyang is located in the northeast of mount Agung, Abang District, Karangasem Regency, approximately 2.5 hours from Denpasar City. 

Exotis Lempuyang Temple

The temple is situated 1.058 meters above sea level and the atmosphere could be cool and humid according to the season. It is not sure when the temple was built, according to the history, when the earth was only 70 years old, Bali was often hit by disasters. 

Exotis View From Gate of Lempuyang Temple

The God Pacupati who resides in Mount Sumeru saw the bad condition and sent his 3 children Hyang Gni Jaya, Hyang Putra Jaya and Dewi Danu to stabilize the island of Bali. Each of them were commanded to reside in different places, Hyang Gni Jaya was told to reside Lempuyang Luhur temple. 

Lempuyang Temple is a sacred temple and many Balinese Hindu come to this temple to pray and worship God and Its manifest. People make a pilgrimage at this temple is to obtain the sacred holy water by cutting a yellow bamboo plant which grows in the shrub in the inner courtyard of the temple.

In Bali's have 9 key directional temples are:

- Purah Besakih (Mother Temple), 

- Pura Lempuyang (Lempuyang Temple), 

- Pura Luhur Batukaru (Batukaru Temple), 

- Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Uluwatu Temple), 

- Pura Ulun Danu Batur (Batur Temple),
- Pura Goa Lawah (Bat Cave Temple),
- Pura Andakasa (Andakasa Temple),
- Pura Puncak Mangu (Puncak Mangu Temple),
- Pura Pusering Jagat (Pusering Jagat Temple),

Reference:
http://www.bali-indonesia.com/magazine/bali-must-see-temples.htm
http://www.travellingbali.com/bali/things-to-do-and-see-in-bali-sightseeing-bali/bali-lempuyang-temple-bali-pura-luhur-lempuyang-bali-temples-things-to-do-and-see-in-bali
http://parsiyani.blogspot.co.id/2016/08/lempuyang-temple-karangasem-bali.html