Bali Anjani BLOG: Goa Gajah the Elephant Cave

Goa Gajah the holy elephant cave is located in west side of Bedulu countryside, Blah Batuh Sub-district and Gianyar Regency. It is about 27 km from Denpasar town.

This cave is built at crevasse edge from the federation of 2 rills that is called Pangkung River, where the irrigation is mixed with Petanu River flow. The federation area of two rivers is called Campuhan. It owns the magical energy on the basis of Rwabineda concept (two different matters) on this basic concept hence Goa Gajah (elephant cave) is intentionally built among two rivers.

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At the facade of the cave is a relief of various menacing creatures and demons carved right into the rock at the cave entrance. The primary figure was once thought to be an elephant, hence the nickname Elephant Cave. The site is mentioned in the Javanese poem Desawarnana written in 1365. An extensive bathing place on the site was not excavated until the 1950s. These appear to have been built to ward off evil spirits.

The word of Goa Gajah is anticipated coming from the word of Lwa Gajah, the name of Buddhist Temple or hermitage for Buddhist monk. The Goa Gajah's name is written on Negara Kertagama papyrus which is compiled by Mpu Prapanca on 1365 M.

Lwa or Lwah/loh means the river, and it reflect to the meaning that the hermitage is located at Gajah River or in Air Gajah.

In the year inscription 944 Saka, it is mentioned with the name of ‘ser ring Air Gajah' that is meaning the Subak leader in Air Gajah. The word has mentioned that the hermitage of Lwa Gajah is located in Subak Air Gajah.

There is a relief which is almost looking like the form of mountain on the entrance of this cave. It was carved many designed on the relief like grove with the stick, close leaf, animal for example forest pig, tortoise and specters.

The cave mouth is decorated by the bas-relief with the eye turn around to the right or west side.

There is an article letter of Kediri type from the early of 11 century was written on the wall left side or east side.

There is a pool (Patirthaan) as a place to take the holy Tirtha water for Hindu ceremony which is located in the middle of the cave courtyard. This Holy Pool is previously piled up by land and it has been found on 1954 by Krijgsman from the Ancient Department. The Holy pool is equipped by the statue douche which is parallel arranged in two groups.

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on October 19, 1995 in the Cultural category.