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MeruGunung Kawi
Gunung Kawi is the largest and maybe also the most impressive of the old monuments on Bali.
As with many Balinese temples an assortment of vendors have set up around the entrance to the site selling sarongs, t-shirts and drinks. They are not too pushy but will make verbal contact with the few passers by.
Walk through a split entrance down a long set of steps that pass more vendors, rice terraces and locals doing their laundry.
Close to the bottom of the steps is a walkway carved out of the rock with an archway at the bottom. A small sign directs those entering to splash holy water over their heads from the pot provided.
The Gunung Kawi monuments have been built in the honor of King Anak Wungsu of the Udayana dynasty and his favorite queens. Gunung Kawi complex houses one of the oldest monuments of Bali. The term Gunung Kawi literally means “carving in the mount”.
A steep stone staircase usually leads down into a beautiful valley where one can find 10, seven-meter-high memorials beautifully carved into the rock face. Four are situated on the west side and five on the eastside of the river. The last one is situated to the south across the valley.
