Goa Gajah Temple
GOA GAJAH: THE ENTRANCE TO THE ANCIENT UNDERWORLD A 9th-Century Sanctuary of Stone, Spirit, and Silence The Etymology and the "Elephant" Mystery Add Goa Gajah to your custom plan The name Goa Gajah has long intrigued historians, as elephants are not native to Bali. There are two primary theories regarding its origin: The Elephant Face: The name is most commonly attributed to the giant menacing face carved at the cave's entrance. While it looks like a demon ( Bhoma ), many early explorers believed its large ears and wide features resembled an elephant. The River Gajah: Ancient inscriptions refer to the nearby Petanu River as Lwa Gajah (Elephant River). It is believed the temple took the name of the river that flows beside it. Ganesha Connection: Inside the cave sits a statue of Ganesha , the elephant-headed Hindu god of wisdom. Many believe the temple was named in his honor. Location and the Jungle Ravine Descend into the sunken courtyard of Goa Gajah and face the e...