GOA GAJAH

In the beginning this cave was only known by the local people and the small animals living there, before being announced to the public in 1923. Its history can not be detected, but it can be proved only, that it was built in the 11th century between 950 and 1050 AD, most probably around the year 1000 AD when Bali was ruled by king Udayana.

Inside this T shaped cave is found several niches, perhaps they were used by adepts to put their belongings while meditating. At one of the ends of it lies a statue of Ganesha, the God of Science, and the other end contains a triple lingga, the symbol of male sovereignty. In front of the cave is the bathing place, divided into three parts by walls, decorated by six big stone statues. This bathing place was found in 1954. The name Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, was derived from a book written by Empu Prapancha in 1365, the "Negara Kertagama", where in it was written that there was a place called Bedahulu and another place near there called Lwa Gajah, the "Elephant Water" or the "River of Elephant".