Uluwatu Temple & Kecak Dance

Wonderful Indonesia lists Uluwatu among the Sad Kahyangan, the six principal temples that Balinese Hindus believe guard the island. The temple is associated with Empu Kuturan, a Javanese sage credited with expanding it in the 11th century, and with the 16th-century priest Dang Hyang Nirartha, who according to tradition attained moksha, release from the cycle of rebirth, at this spot. Wonderful Indonesia notes that much of the structure is built from blocks of coral stone.

Kecak itself is younger. It grew out of the sanghyang trance ritual with its male chorus, and in the 1930s Balinese performers, working with the German artist Walter Spies, shaped it into a dance drama that tells the story of Rama and Sita from the Ramayana. It is now one of the most performed dances on the island.

Uluwatu belongs to the customary village of Pecatu, and the Kecak troupes are made up of local villagers whose income comes largely from ticket sales. The temple remains a place of active worship, with ceremonies that close parts of the grounds to visitors. The macaques that roam the temple are well known for snatching sunglasses, hats and phones; staff can sometimes negotiate them back, but the best defence is to keep belongings out of reach.