The way into Goa Gajah is through a carved mouth. A wide-eyed face is cut into the rock, and the cave opening sits where its mouth would be. You step through it into a narrow, dark passage that leads to a small chamber with niches in the walls. This is a Hindu temple site on Jalan Goa Gajah, near Ubud, and English speakers call it the Elephant Cave.
Visiting Goa Gajah: the essentials
| Type | History & ruins |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 08:00-16:00 |
| Price | Adults Rp 50.000, Kids Rp 25.000 including sarong |
| Getting there | On Jalan Goa Gajah near Ubud; about 27 minutes by car from Kuta without traffic |
| Address | Jalan Goa Gajah |
| Map | Open the map |
People come for the carved rock face, the cool quiet inside the cave, and the temple grounds around it. It is one of the easiest ancient sites to fit into a day of temples. The ticket includes a sarong, so you can wear it from the entrance and walk straight in.
The face in the rock and the chamber behind it
The carving is the first thing to look at. The face is cut straight into the stone, with the cave opening as its mouth. Take a moment before you go in and look at the detail around the opening.
Inside, the passage is narrow and the air is cool. The chamber has small recesses in the walls. Many are thought to have been used for meditation. The space is small, so you move through it slowly and quietly, one group after another.
The site carries both Hindu and Buddhist traces, and that mix is part of why it draws people interested in Bali's early history.
Walking the grounds, from cave to bathing area
Most visitors see the cave first, then continue through the temple grounds. Beyond the cave, the path leads to a bathing area with stone figures that pour water into pools. It is a quiet spot to stand for a while, and it shows that this was a place of ritual as well as a carved monument.
Hours run from 08:00 to 16:00, so you can fit the site into a morning or an afternoon. The cave is small and gets busy when tour groups arrive together. Arriving soon after opening gives you a calmer look at the entrance carving.
The sarong that comes with your ticket
This is a working Hindu temple site, so a sarong is part of the visit. Here it is already in the price: Rp 50.000 for adults and Rp 25.000 for kids, sarong included. You do not need to rent one separately.
Gunung Kawi, another temple on many Ubud routes, also includes a sarong, and it adds a sash rental. That makes it simple to visit both on one day without extra cost for cover-ups.
Stops that fit around Goa Gajah
The closest natural pairing is Yeh Pulu, another ancient site in the same area. The Purbakala Archaeological Museum fits the same theme if you want more background on the finds from around here.
For a longer temple day, many itineraries link Goa Gajah with Gunung Kawi and Tirta Empul, which gives you three temples with a modest total cost. If you prefer art and craft, The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma and Museum Rudana are also close by.
Before you go to Goa Gajah
How much does it cost to enter Goa Gajah?
Adults pay Rp 50.000 and kids pay Rp 25.000. A sarong is included in the ticket price.
What are the opening hours of Goa Gajah?
Goa Gajah is open from 08:00 to 16:00. It is on Jalan Goa Gajah, near Ubud.
Do I need to bring a sarong to Goa Gajah?
No. A sarong comes with your entry ticket, so you can wear it as you go in. Gunung Kawi also includes a sarong, plus a sash rental.
How long does it take to drive to Goa Gajah from Kuta?
It is about 27 minutes by car from Kuta with free-flowing traffic. Real travel time can be longer when roads are busy.
Near Goa Gajah
- Purbakala Archaeological Museum (0.87 km)
- Yeh Pulu (1.18 km)
- The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma (1.32 km)
- Museum Rudana (1.8 km)
Guided trips to Goa Gajah
More Maya sites and museums: things to do in Bali.