Goa Gajah Temple – Elephant Cave In Ubud, Bali

3.3K The Goa Gajah temple is one of the oldest and most interesting Hindu temples you can visit in Ubud, Bali.

The doorway to this cave temple is really bizarre and unique, and it feels like you’re walking into the belly of some rock monster!

This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!

Where To Stay

Goa Gajah Cave Temple

Goa Gajah is open to tourists, and it’s a fun temple to visit.

The inside of the cave has a narrow path that goes about 15 meters (50 ft) deep, where you’ll find some Hindu incense baskets burning.

It reminds me of the Buddha Park in Vientiane, Laos, but this one is a little bit different. It’s easy to see why Goa Gajah was a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1995.

The temple itself dates back to the 9th century, and its name means ‘elephant cave,’ although no one knows why.

In the parking area at Goa Gajah temple, there’s a moss covered concrete statue of an elephant, which seems to tie in with the name of this cave.

Bali doesn’t have an elephant temple, so this is probably the next closest thing to it, even though the statue is contemporary.

After checking out the entrance and the inside of the cave, there’s not much to do here except admire the huge banyan trees.

In other words, if you’re expecting something awe inspiring at Goa Gajah, you might be a bit disappointed.

It’s still a neat place to stop and visit if you’re in the Ubud area, though!

Hours & Entrance Fee

• Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
• Entrance Fee (Adults): 50k IDR (~$3)
• Entrance Fee (Kids 5-11): 25k IDR

This is the current Goa Gajah ticket price and hours as of 2024, but it’s a very popular temple so they seem to raise the entrance fee every year or two.

The entrance fee includes a sarong to wear at the temple. Ignore the shops near the cave trying to sell you their own sarongs at marked up prices!

What To Wear To Temples In Bali

You’ll need to wear a sarong to enter most temples in Bali, including this one.

A sarong is a traditional skirt you tie around your waist, that can usually be rented on the spot for a small fee like 5,000 Rupiah (less than one US Dollar).

In this case, the sarong is included for free in the ticket price for the temple.

How To Get To Goa Gajah

The Goa Gajah elephant cave is located near Ubud, Bali.

It’s only a 10 minute drive east from the Ubud market and town center.

The best way to get there is to rent a scooter or hire a private car and driver (both of these can be booked online).