Goa Gajah

Who does not know Bali. The island is a tourist paradise this is no doubt the potential of tourism. Culture and nautical tourism have been the mainstay of the tour. Though there are many more, one of Goa Gajah.
Tourists who come to Bali to enjoy cultural tourism generally and baharinya. The uniqueness of art and culture have memancanegara as well as its beautiful beaches. But really other than tourism and maritime culture, Balinese also has a history tour that holds its own uniqueness, the uniqueness, among others, Goa Gajah.

Sightseeing Goa Gajah is located in the West Village Bedulu, Blahbatuh District, Gianyar regency, about 27 km from Denpasar. This cave is on the brink of meeting a small river. The word Goa Gajah allegedly come from the word "LWA Elephant", a monastery or hermitage for the monks in the Buddhist religion. The name was found on the palm Negarakertagama Prapanca compiled by the MPU in the year 1365 AD

Words or Lwah LWA (Loh) means river. Therefore, what is meant here is the hermitage is situated on the River or in the Water Elephant Elephant. In the year 1103 Saka inscriptions issued by King Jayapangus stated that 'Water Elephant' is a hermitage for the Reverend Shiva.

Built in the 11th century AD, when King Sri Astasura Ratna Bumi Banten power. This cave used as a hermitage, as evidenced by the existence of niches in the cave. Also in the vicinity of the cave also contained the pool with seven statues widyadara pertitaan-Widyadari who was holding the holy water. Total statue is 7, but when visiting there Travel Club (TC) only see six statues alone, according to officials of the statue was moved to another location, the earthquake a few years ago. Six of this statue is a symbol of the 7 sacred rivers in India, which is the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism.

To get to Goa Gajah, from the entrance of tourists have descended the stairs. The atmosphere is still beautiful because the trees still look green. From the stairs, tourists can see a whole complex of Goa Gajah. Arriving at the bottom, the sound of gurgling water flowing from the fountain statue. Looks behind the tree which, according to officials there are hundreds of years.

Around the fountain there are rocks that was once the former building which was destroyed by the quake. While the Elephant Cave itself is located not far from the fountain statue. According to historical records, the resorts of Goa Gajah first discovered by a Dutch scholar, Prof.. Gorris and Eting, 1923.

This cave shape of the letter T and to the left of the cave there is statue of Ganesha-bodied man, but the head of an elephant. This statue revered and trusted as Savior and Lord Protector of Sciences. On the right of the cave there is statue Trilingga (Shiva, Sada Shiva, and Shiva Prama). At that time Shiva is the Hindu-Buddhist heritage.

Based on the archaeological heritage and on the basis of the results of excavations conducted in 1955, it can be concluded from Goa Gajah function as a place of hermitage and the monastery for the pastor to pastor Shiva and Buddhist monks. Its construction started 10 or 11 th century on the basis of an inscription carved on the east wall of the mouth of the cave form of writing using letter Kediri square.

Hermitage of Goa Gajah is believed to be a clone of the hermitage Kunjarakunja in South India, the reliefs carved on the hermitage of Goa Gajah is a sculptural nature-sculptured mountains. At the mouth of the cave as the entrance, decorated with sculptured head of Kala with his eyes glanced to the right is believed to have a function similar to Bhoma (relief of giant advance) are available at the gate of a shrine that serves to maintain the building.

When the TC into the cave, on the left and right of the entrance there are two pieces of each niche (hole) to place an ascetic who was about 1 meter off the ground. Dim light coming from the lamp makes this place not too dark to visiting tourists but also not too bright, because to maintain susana impressed hermitage for quiet and calm.

The inside of the main room has 11 pieces niche (where imprisoned) horizontal. At the western end there is a statue of the god Ganesha, while in the east end there are 3 pieces each phallus and the phallus is surrounded by a small phallus.

Here tourists can feel how the time the Reverend Shiva and Buddhist spiritual approach to the Creator by way of penance. A relic from the past which reminds us to always solemn draw closer to God wherever located. So those that enjoy historical tours, there is no harm in enjoying a spiritual experience at Goa Gajah.