PENULISAN TEMPLE

The main road continues its ascent to a hillside in the clouds where, symbol of modern civilization, Bali's television aerial, claims its high-tech place beside the long fligh of steps rising to the mountain sanctuary of Pura Tegeh Koripan. The highest temple in Bali at 1,745 meters, Pura Tegeh Koripan is actually a complex of temples at which a circle of surrounding villages worship. The sparsely adorned bales shelter lines of fine statues; portraits 1 of Balinese kings, queens and divinities; and linggas.

Several statues bear dates of the 1 lth century, another that of the 1 5th century. It is thought that this temple was the mountain sanctuary of the old Pejeng kingdom, just as Pura Besakih was the state mountain sanctuary for the later Gelgel dynasty. The clouds often wrap them selves around the high peak, but on clear day, the view from Penulisan en compasses half the island: from the crest of Mt.Bratan in West Bali to the Java Sea. This temple is the farthest point north on this tour, but one can continue north to Singaraja

Penulisan Temple
A few km past Kintamani on the right is the entrance to the temple Pura Tegeh Koripan, also called Pura Penulisan, the highest construction on the island (1,745 m) until a TV tower was installed next door few years ago. This temple is a powerful place ancient, royal and remote.

A long steep flight of stairs rises through the eleven terraces of the temple complex. The pyramidal form and the large stones that are still venerated there suggest that this place has been holy for many centuries.

From Pura Panarajon on the uppermost terrace, you can sometimes see as far as the north coast of Bali and the mountains of East Java. The proportions of the courtyard and various balai are modest but the atmosphere is heavy with the solitude of hallowed kings. There are many sacred statues including lingga and mysterious fragments housed in the open pavilions. Of particular interest is a royal couple bearing the ininscriptions “Anak Wungsu” and "Bhatari Mandul" dated Saka year 999 (A.D. 1077).

mandul means “childless” and although it is impossible to know who this refers to, one interesting conjecture is that she was the Chinese Buddhist princess Subandar, whose shrine Stands in Pura Ulun Danu, and that her barrenness was caused by a curse from a siwaite wizard.

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