Pulaki Temple

Image via Wikipedia

Jayaprana was also a very handsome man, the dream of every girl he met. The story said every morning  the King, who ruled the Pulaki area, when to his place tower to watch the activities of his people in the market. The view he enjoyed most was girls roaming around selling or buying things, but there was only one girl who caught his eye, Layonsari, the most beautiful girl and the dream of all the men in the town. Unfortunately, Layonsari fell into Jayaprana’s hands and became his wife. The king got really upset and made some serious efforts to get rid his competitor. He sent Jayaprana to fight the kingdom’s enemy in the jungle to the west. Layonsari tried to warn him about the danger awaited, but off he went to the jungle with hi companion Patih Sawunggaling. Inevitably this love story has a sad ending; Jayaprana  lost the battle and died. So the temple is there has a memoir of his braveness. His cemetery can be found not too far from Pulaki Temple.

The temple is located in Pemuteran village, on the western part of Buleleng Regency, and his nestled on a foot hill exactly in front of the coast. During the rainy season, the day brown hills that back the temple turn sparkling green. The architecture is dominated by black and white stone as if some parts of the temple are the hills themselves being carved.

Monkeys roam around inside and outside the temple, attacking the offerings brought by the people. So guard your valuable items  and better not to wear anything that can attract the monkeys’ attention. The monkeys usually jumped onto it and stole the fruits for offering! When you visit this temple, the common sight will be men holding sticks to keep the monkeys away.

On the other hand, Pulaki temple has a spectacular view to be enjoyed. Entering the temple you arrive at the mid court, and from here the glamorous blue of the Javanese sea can be seen clearly framed by the green hills on the right and left side. there are more stairs to climb if you wish to enter the main court where people put their offerings and pray. the main court is not more silent as it should be because the monkeys are hanging out there waiting for the right moment to steal the fruit from the offering! People seem to get used to the noise made by monkeys and do their prayers with full concentration.

More spectacular views are available from the upper part of the temple compound, where there is a narrow path that can be a bit slippery during rainy days. make sure you go through this path when you visit the temple. You will be trekking amidst the local corn fields while your eyes get seduced by the picturesque scenery of the ocean and holls, and the sound from the sea is chilling you down on a hot sunny day.

Thank you.