Pura Agung Pulaki, a large, dramatic temple only 25 meters from the sea, is situated 30 km west of Seririt (48 km west of Singaraja) near the grape-growing village of Banyupoh. Cliffs tower behind the temple surrounded by jungle and overrun by hordes of aggressive simians. Considered sacred, the macaques are well-fed by locals but always eager for tourist handouts.

This important temple commemorates the arrival of the Javanese saint-priest Nirartha to Bali in the early 16th century. It was completely restored with black stone gates and terraces in 1983 in a ceremony presided over by the governor of Bali and the bupati of Buleleng. Pedanda fanned out all over Java and Lombok to obtain holy water for use in the ceremony.

Legend has it a great village exist here, invisible but for its temple. It is said that when Nirartha live in Gelgel he was forced to hide his daughter lest she be abudacted by the king. He finally brought her to this remote place, rendering it invisible to keep her safe. To this day, the people who occupy the invisible village are known as gamang and are said to wander the countryside.

Time your arrival for the sunset at beautiful Pantai Gondol which offers clean white sand, coral reefs, and above-avarage snorkeling. There's smaller, monkey-infested temple one-half km west of Pura Pulaki where a tunnel has been cut through large rock hanging over the road.

In a beautiful setting, only two km from Banyupoh at the end of a pretty country road, is Pura Melanting. Dedicated to the God of prosperity, this temple with its huge and ornately carved candi bentar is set impressively against a mountain. Zero tourist visit this site.

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