Known as 'The Island of the Gods,' Bali is home to an abundance of Hindu and Buddhist temples dedicated to a rich pantheon of deities. Among the most important and fascinating of these is Pura Kehen, a pura, or Balinese Hindu temple, prized for its historical and spiritual significance. Standing above the town of Bangli in the island's central highlands, it is built as a series of walled terraces climbing a wooded slope, approached by a long flight of steps flanked by stone figures. Its outer court is dominated by an immense banyan tree carrying a wooden drum tower, while porcelain plates set into the enclosure walls attest to centuries of trade, and old inscriptions record the sanctuary's early royal patronage.
