Vihara Dharma Giri — Local services in Bali

A Hidden Gem! A Truly Spiritual and Authentic Experience

In stark contrast to the crowded and commercialized temples we visited, Vihara Dharma Giri was a breath of fresh air and an absolute highlight of our trip. This Buddhist temple is a hidden gem that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a genuine and peaceful cultural experience.

The entry is based on a voluntary donation, which sets a completely different tone from the start. You write your chosen amount in a register with your own hand. We donated 50,000 IDR for two people, but we saw others donating anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 IDR. This system fosters a sense of trust and personal contribution that is incredibly refreshing.

The reception was exceptionally warm and pleasant from the very beginning. We were properly and respectfully equipped with sarongs without any hassle or hidden costs.

A significant part of the charm was that it was not crowded at all. This allowed for a truly personal and contemplative visit, a rare find in Bali. The temple itself is not very large, but it is meticulously maintained, serene, and absolutely beautiful. The atmosphere is one of tranquility and reverence.

While a part of the temple was closed for meditation during our visit, we completely understood and respected this. It actually added to the authenticity, reminding us that this is a functioning place of worship, not just a tourist attraction.

Our experience here was unique and deeply appreciated. If you are looking for a place away from the crowds, scams, and aggression, where you can experience a moment of true peace, Vihara Dharma Giri is the perfect...

A Buddhist temple known for its divine huge sleeping Budha statue, located in Pupuan-Tabanan. The first floor of the vihara, there is a huge courtyard with many refreshing greenery, While on the second floor you will find the huge white sleeping Buddha Statue and further up to the third floor you will find another Buddha statue in a sitting position in a chamber made especially for worshippers.

The Sleeping Buddha statue quite new, around four years and the only one in Bali. The monastery is old, but it was only inaugurated in 2007, It was said the Sleeping Buddha statue was made by a craftsman from Klungkung. in the Dharma Giri Pupuan Vihara area there is also a Buddha statue sitting on a circle of snakes and lotus flowers, with an umbrella of 7 cobra heads, the main place of the Dharma Giri Vihara is the altar of prayer for Buddhists, only those who will pray are allowed to enter the altar and must leave your foot wear outside. There is a shop there and there are many pigeons that happily to take the corn seed...

A donation for a Buddhist temple is supposed to be optional, not forced. And it would typically be made as you leave, not demanded up front. If what you are paying is an entrance fee, that's different, but this temple is supposed to be by donation.

The woman at the front demanded 20,000 as soon as I walked up and when I didn't have change smaller than a 50,000 it felt like I was being strongly pressured to just give her 50,000, and she wouldn't get change so I could make the proper donation either. It felt like a pretty sleazy experience and contrary to the spirit of contemplative generosity and peace that Buddhism is supposed to be about.

If you're coming from Thailand this will probably feel like something of a...