Pura Agung Jagatnatha is Denpasar’s state temple, built in 1953 beside the Bali Museum. Unlike most Balinese temples, which belong to a village, a clan or a particular deity, it is a public temple dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the one supreme god of Balinese Hinduism, and is open to worshippers from anywhere.
Its focus is a tall padmasana, an empty lotus throne, built of white coral. The throne rises from the back of the cosmic turtle Bedawang Nala, wrapped by two naga serpents, and its walls are carved with scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. A moat surrounds the inner shrine.
Top things to do at Pura Agung Jagatnatha
Study the padmasana
Look for the turtle and serpents at the base, symbols of the foundation of the world, and the golden image of Sang Hyang Widhi (Acintya) at the top. The empty seat expresses the idea that the supreme god has no form.
Visit at full moon or new moon
Twice a month, at purnama (full moon) and tilem (new moon), the temple fills with worshippers in ceremonial dress bringing offerings. Visitors who are respectfully dressed may usually watch from the side.
Combine it with the museum and the square
The temple shares a wall with the Bali Museum and faces Puputan Square; the three are always visited together.
How to get to Pura Agung Jagatnatha
- Location: Jalan Mayor Wisnu, on the eastern side of Puputan Square, immediately north of the Bali Museum.
- From Sanur: about 20–30 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing.
- From the airport or Kuta: roughly 30–45 minutes by car.
Insider tips
- Wear a sarong and sash to enter, as at every Balinese temple. Bring your own or borrow or rent one at the gate if available; shoulders should be covered.
- During ceremonies, stay behind those praying, do not walk in front of them and never stand higher than the priest.
- By Balinese custom, people who are menstruating or have an open wound are asked not to enter temples.
- A donation is appreciated; there is no fixed ticket price.
Best tours & tickets for Pura Agung Jagatnatha
These well-reviewed experiences are the easiest way to see Pura Agung Jagatnatha:
City tour from €26 Bali: Denpasar City & Museum Highlight Tour with Ticket
A full-day sweep of Denpasar’s main sights with entrance tickets included. It is a newer listing with only a handful of reviews so far, but it is the one tour that links the old centre with Bajra Sandhi in a single day.
- Bali Museum, Pura Jagatnatha and Puputan Square
- The Bajra Sandhi monument in Renon
- Entrance tickets included
City tour from €46 Denpasar: Museum, Traditional Market and Food Tasting Tour
A half-day introduction to the old centre: the square where the 1906 puputan is commemorated, the Bali Museum’s palace-style pavilions and the market on the Badung River, with food stops between them. A good choice if you want history and food in one booking.
- Starts at Puputan Square in the city centre
- Visit to the Bali Museum and Kumbasari Market
- Local food tastings along the way
Food & market walk from €40 Bali Heritage & Street Food Tour in Denpasar Badung Market
The most-reviewed tour that actually takes place inside Denpasar. A local guide leads you through the stalls of Badung Market and the old trading streets next to it, stopping to taste the things the city eats every day and explaining what you are looking at.
- Guided walk through Badung Market, Bali’s biggest traditional market
- Tastings of Balinese dishes such as babi guling and jaje Bali sweets
- Heritage streets around the market with a local guide
