Goa Gajah is the elephant cave shrine near Ubud and dates back a thousand years. Its name comes not from the animal, but from a god. Inside the eponymous cave sits an ancient and revered Ganesha statue. It’s a place of great spiritual and archeological significance. A fabulous tour through the site is described here.

The site contains much more than just the cave itself. Surrounding the cave there are sacred bathing pools, a jungle ravine with a temple, various ancient Buddhist statues and ruins and the ever-present stalls selling everything from offerings to sarongs to snacks. This place has been used by devotees of the Buddha and Shiva for centuries. And so you find Hindu temples in one area, walk a little ways further, and find a Buddhist niche. Decayed statues of Gautama alongside decayed statues of Ganesha.

It was here that we got wind that a cultural event was to take place. That gave us the chance to investigate this attraction for its own sake and also to take in a little music and dance.

Srawung Cipta Seni Sembah (Sharing Creating Offering Art)

This event (also here and on FaceBook) is conceived as an occasion for artists to share with the public and each other in the sacred context of the Goa Gajah temple grounds. A kind of inter-faith arts festival. The events we saw when we arrived (a little late) took place at the Pangkung River complex to the south of the cave itself and its sacred pools and included interpretive dance and music. These we enjoyed: they were interesting, and for my attention-deficit mind, appropriately concise.

We next puttered around the river complex to visit a small Hindu temple and offer a donation. A n unplanned donation prompted by the guilt-generation capacities of the temple’s old lady custodian, but a donation nonetheless. I was purified with holy water and the customary rice placed on my forehead and throat.

After the nature we ambled back to the temple grounds proper to take a look around the cave itself and breath its dank air. The place feels incredibly old and unmistakably solemn. The humid, stagnant air saturated with incense soon had us fleeing.

As we were leaving, a lecture was beginning at the wantilan (pavilion) next to the sacred pools and the Goa Gajah. The lecture was an academic treatise on ‘monkey music’ — evidently some style of music that arose in Bali in the last century. The talk was dry and it was beginning to rain. So I donned my faintly-ridiculous yellow emergency rain poncho, we hopped on the scooter and headed out.

All in all a pleasant and inexpensive afternoon: we saw some very interesting performances, some impressive architecture, and all between lunch and dinner.

Here are the pictures:

Interpretive Dance Around Banyan Tree

A group of young Balinese perform an interpretive dance around the banyan tree at Goa Gajah. We never did figure out what the dance was about. Perhaps it was about the earthquake which partially wrecked the temple centuries ago and killed many people. Anyway, the performance was great.

A group of young Balinese perform an interpretive dance around the banyan tree at Goa Gajah. We never did figure out what the dance was about. Perhaps it was about the earthquake which partially wrecked the temple centuries ago and killed many people. Anyway, the performance was great.

Officials Observe the Dance

Various officials observe the interpretive dance from the stairway.

Various officials observe the interpretive dance from the stairway.

Dancers Wash Off After Performance

After the performance, all the dancers went into the small stream that runs through the temple to wash off. They paint they're wearing is very greasy and it looks like hard work without soap. Still they mug for the many cameras still looking for subjects.

After the performance, all the dancers went into the small stream that runs through the temple to wash off. The paint they’re wearing is very greasy and it looks like hard work without soap. Still they mug for the many cameras still looking for subjects.

Balineses Dance Couple

Kneeling Dancers.

Kneeling Dancers.

Classic Balinese Dance Pose

It's all in the eyes.

It’s all in the eyes.

Backbending Balinese Dancers

Towards the finale of the Balinese dance, the dancers showed this amazing level of flexibility. How many yogis can do the same?

Towards the finale of the Balinese dance, the dancers showed this amazing level of flexibility. How many yogis can do the same?

Gamelan Concert After the Dance

After the Balinese dance, the two dancers picked up instruments and were joined by two other musicians to make some music. One of these musicians is not like the others...

After the Balinese dance, the two dancers picked up instruments and were joined by two other musicians to make some music. One of these musicians is not like the others…

Steps Leading into the Ravine at Goa Gajah

Very impressive walkway leading into then out of a ravine at Goa Gajah. It connected the main elephant cave area with another temple on the opposite ridge.

Very impressive walkway leading into then out of a ravine at the Pangkung River complex. It connected the main elephant cave area with another temple on the opposite ridge.

Lady Taking Donations and Performing Purifications

At the temple across the ravine, this woman was accepting offerings and performing purification on visitors. The purification involved the usual spraying with holy water and the affixing of rice to the forehead and throat.

At the temple across the ravine, this woman was extorting accepting offerings and performing purification on visitors. The purification involved the usual spraying with holy water and the affixing of rice to the forehead and throat.

Time to Pray at Goa Gajah

This humble traveller prays to a headless Buddha statue. The statue was decapitated by the earthquake which ravaged the once-fine statues at Goa Gajah.

This humble traveller prays to a headless Buddha statue. The statue was decapitated by the earthquake which ravaged the once-fine statues at Goa Gajah.

View of Goa Gajah Stairs from Opposite Ridge

View of the stairs from the opposite ridge. The large boulders below are the remains of huge statues toppled by the earthquake.

View of the stairs from the opposite ridge and down into the Pangkung River. The large boulders below are the remains of huge statues toppled by the earthquake.

Little girl Going to the Holy Ponds at Goa Gajah

These steps go down to the ponds of holy water at Goa Gajah. Kids were playing there all day.

These steps go down to the ponds of holy water at Goa Gajah. Kids were playing there all day.

Shines at Goa Gajah

Shrines places right outside the Elephant Cave at Goa Gajah.

Shrines places right outside the Elephant Cave at Goa Gajah.

Elephant Cave Entrance

The entrance to the elephant cave at Goa Gajah. Inside it was dark and stiffling.

The entrance to the elephant cave at Goa Gajah. Inside it was dark and stifling.