These photos were taken at Lempuyang Temple during my visit in July 2024. I hired a driver in Ubud and visited Besakih Temple and Tirta Gangga before heading to Lempuyang Temple as the final stop of my tour of eastern Bali, so I arrived at the site around 5:30 p.m.
It is said that the early morning hours offer the best conditions for visiting Lempuyang Temple. The chances of seeing Mount Agung are higher, and it is considered the ideal time for photography. However, this is also when many visitors gather to take the popular “Gate of Heaven” photo, resulting in extremely long waiting times. If you visit in the morning, it is likely difficult to secure enough time to see Besakih Temple on the same day.
For this reason, I chose to visit in the late afternoon. The sky was cloudy, and Mount Agung was not visible. I was not interested in the staged “Gate of Heaven” photo taken by the staff using the mirror, but it was practically impossible to photograph the gate from the front while others were having their pictures taken. The only way to take a frontal shot was to wait for your turn with the numbered ticket system, and this waiting time was, honestly, quite unpleasant.
However, the atmosphere changed completely once the gate was illuminated. The contrast between the reddish evening clouds and the lit‑up gate and temple structures was stunning, offering a completely different ambiance from the daytime. I can’t remember exact time, but I think it was around past 6:30 p.m.
One important note is that visiting in the late afternoon means returning late, and driving through the mountain roads can be dangerous. In fact, I heard that a major accident occurred the following day on the same route I had taken. If you plan to visit in the evening to see the illumination, I strongly recommend hiring a reliable driver with whom you can communicate clearly.
