Hindu temple · Buleleng Regency

Pura Melanting

Buleleng Regency, ID 4.9 (2,030 Google reviews)

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

Tucked in the forest at the foot of Pulaki hill in northwest Bali, Pura Melanting is one of the island's most striking and least crowded temples. Far from the grey stone of the south, it blazes with colour—candy-bright shrines, an emerald tower and a grand staircase flanked by coiling dragon carvings that lead up to a set of ornate split gates. It has the look of a temple you might expect in China or Singapore rather than rural Buleleng, set among layered green hills with a glimpse of the Javanese Sea in the distance.↗↗↗

The temple is dedicated to Dewi Melanting, the goddess of prosperity and trade, and Balinese merchants, shopkeepers and business owners travel here from across the island to pray for success. A designated kahyangan jagat (universal temple), it welcomes worshippers of every community and caste—and visitors are genuinely welcome too. Arrive outside the big ceremony days and you'll often share its calm courtyards with little more than a handful of locals making offerings.↗↗

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Hindu temple · Buleleng Regency

Pura Melanting

Buleleng Regency, ID 4.9 (2,030 Google reviews)

Photo: Google Maps

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

Tucked in the forest at the foot of Pulaki hill in northwest Bali, Pura Melanting is one of the island's most striking and least crowded temples. Far from the grey stone of the south, it blazes with colour—candy-bright shrines, an emerald tower and a grand staircase flanked by coiling dragon carvings that lead up to a set of ornate split gates. It has the look of a temple you might expect in China or Singapore rather than rural Buleleng, set among layered green hills with a glimpse of the Javanese Sea in the distance.↗↗↗

The temple is dedicated to Dewi Melanting, the goddess of prosperity and trade, and Balinese merchants, shopkeepers and business owners travel here from across the island to pray for success. A designated kahyangan jagat (universal temple), it welcomes worshippers of every community and caste—and visitors are genuinely welcome too. Arrive outside the big ceremony days and you'll often share its calm courtyards with little more than a handful of locals making offerings.↗↗

A temple of the market goddess

Like many of north Bali's holiest sites, Pura Melanting is bound up with the legend of Danghyang Nirartha, the Javanese Hindu priest who journeyed across the island in the 15th–16th century. The best-known story tells that while crossing the north, his pregnant wife grew too weary to continue. Nirartha pressed on alone, leaving his wife and daughter, Ida Ayu Swabawa, in the Banyupoh area, promising to send for them later. The daughter became a respected and successful trader who built a centre of commerce in the area, earning the nickname "Melanting." After the family was said to have faded from the human world, a temple was raised in Ida Ayu Swabawa's honour as Dewi Melanting, the market goddess. Another local legend holds that Nirartha battled a fearsome dragon on this very spot, which is why serpents curl along every gate and balustrade.↗

This association with wealth and trade is why the temple still draws worshippers far beyond its quiet neighbourhood. People come to ask for prosperity, to give thanks, and to seek blessings for their businesses; the temple's courtyards even include smaller shrines dedicated to particular kinds of work. More broadly, Bhatari Melanting is the protective deity of markets and commerce throughout Bali, which lends this particular temple its special status as a place of pilgrimage for anyone who sells, trades or opens a business.↗↗

What to notice on the grounds

The first view up from the parking area is the signature one: a tall flight of steps climbing the hillside, bordered by vivid carvings of mythical dragons, ending at an elaborate Balinese split gate. Beyond it, the middle courtyard unfolds in unexpected colour, centred on a large emerald-green tower and ringed by shrines painted in bright hues. The temple's current form was rebuilt and redesigned by the renowned Balinese architect Ida Bagus Tugur, who gave it the dramatic twin dragon statues rearing up at the main entrance.↗↗

Black volcanic lava stone, worked into statues and structures, gives parts of the complex a darker, more mystical texture that contrasts with the painted shrines. Before you climb to the main gate, a small lower area is where worshippers gather to pray, make requests and collect holy water. Once at the top, look out over the layered green hills toward the blue of the Javanese Sea on the horizon. The whole setting—dense forest, distant sea, the soft sound of gamelan (gambalang) music drifting from a speaker, and curious but harmless monkeys playing among the shrines—makes for an unusually serene and photogenic visit, especially in the late afternoon when the colours glow.↗↗↗

Getting there and combining it with the north coast

Pura Melanting sits in the village of Banyupoh in Gerokgak, Buleleng, roughly 50 km west of Singaraja and just a short drive off the main coastal road that links Gilimanuk and Singaraja. It is about 15 minutes from the quiet diving town of Pemuteran, with a 5-minute turn off the highway to a large free car park; small warungs and drink stands at the parking area are handy before or after. The temple makes a natural pairing with the two colourful sea temples nearby, Pura Pulaki and Pura Pabean, so you can comfortably see all three in a half-day loop from Pemuteran. If time is short, many visitors rate Melanting the most impressive of the set.↗↗↗

Visiting the temple

There is no fixed entrance fee, but a donation is expected and warmly accepted—bring some cash. The donation covers the loan of a sarong and sash, which attendants at the entrance will help you put on; dressing modestly is required throughout, as at any active Balinese temple. The caretakers are known for being hospitable: they lend sarongs, answer questions and are perfectly happy for visitors to wander, provided you step back from any prayers or ceremonies in progress. The site is open around the clock, and away from big holy days it is rarely busy, so 30 minutes to an hour is plenty to explore at a relaxed pace.↗↗↗

Visitor notes

Travellers consistently describe this as a hidden gem and often their favourite temple in Bali: beautiful, authentic and refreshingly free of staged photo spots and crowds. Reviews highlight the friendly, non-pushy welcome, the calm jungle setting, the harmless monkeys and the gorgeous light at sunset. A practical note on access: the temple is reached by stairs from the parking area, and the grounds include gravel and cobblestone paths, so it is better suited to those comfortable with steps than to wheelchair users; basic restrooms are available on site.↗↗

What makes it special

01

A kaleidoscopic north Bali temple unlike anything in the south—bright shrines, an emerald tower and a dragon-flanked staircase climbing through the forest.↗

02

Dedicated to Dewi Melanting, the goddess of prosperity, and still visited by merchants and business owners from all over the island.↗↗

03

Legendary ties to the Javanese priest Danghyang Nirartha, including the tale of a dragon battle that inspired its elaborate serpent carvings.↗

04

Hillside setting with views over layered green hills toward the Javanese Sea—and a rare moment of peace in Bali's temple circuit.↗↗

A little planning goes a long way

Bring cash for a donation at the entrance (there is no set fee); this includes the sarong and sash you'll be lent.↗
Time your visit to combine it with Pemuteran (about 15 minutes away) and the neighbouring sea temples Pura Pulaki and Pura Pabean for an easy half-day of north-coast temples.↗
Late afternoon and the green (shoulder) seasons show the temple at its best, when the colours glow and the surrounding jungle is lush.↗
Cover shoulders and knees and wear the provided sarong; be respectful and keep your distance from anyone actively praying.↗
Expect stairs up to the main complex and uneven gravel/cobblestone paths inside, so wear shoes you can climb in comfortably.↗↗

About this guide

Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.

Find your way

RMQM+W2R, Seririt, Jl. Raya Gilimanuk, Banyupoh, Kec. Gerokgak, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81155, Indonesia

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Opening hours +

As reported by Google Maps. Confirm holiday hours before you go.

Friday: Open 24 hours
Monday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours

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Pura Melanting

Why go?

More of Indonesia: Bali

Finding your next place…

Pura Melanting

Why go?

More of Indonesia: Bali

A temple of the market goddess

What to notice on the grounds

Getting there and combining it with the north coast

Visiting the temple

Visitor notes

What makes it special

A little planning goes a long way

About this guide