Many Travelers Agree One Of Bali's Most Iconic Destinations Is A Total Tourist Trap
While it takes around 20 hours to get there from the West Coast of the U.S., the flight to Bali is completely worth it. Bali is, in many ways, a tropical paradise that's both a top island for solo travel and a romantic honeymoon resort destination. There are lush landscapes of rice terraces, miles of sandy beaches, and historic Hindu temples. But one of its most popular temple destinations has, for many, become a tourist trap: The Gates of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple. It's almost certainly thanks to, or rather the fault of, social media that has driven so many people to this monument.
The much-hyped destination does look particularly beautiful in photos. The massive split-carved stone gate frames Mount Agung at the Lempuyang Temple complex in East Bali and thousands of photos can be found on Instagram featuring people posing between the gates. What's not pictured is the long line that those people most likely waited in to get that photo, as it can take hours to get a chance to take that one photo. In TripAdvisor reviews, some recommended getting there before 6 a.m. to try and lessen your time in line. For others, it just wasn't worth it at all. One person wrote, "Was utterly disappointed. It took nearly four hours just to take fake photos."
There's a big difference between Instagram and reality at the Gates of Heaven
As for the reference to "fake photos," that's to do with the fact that so many of the Gates of Heaven pictures that are posted online and getting lots of likes make it look as though there's a reflecting pool or other body of water at the base that's perfectly placed to allow for some sensational reflection shots. What's actually perfectly placed is the local person at the temple holding a mirror beneath your camera to create the illusion of a scene that can never be replicated in reality.
That seems to be one of the most disappointing and deceptive aspects of the whole situation for many people. It led one person to post on X, formerly Twitter, about the dangers of planning a trip around social media: "Dreams are shattered when you use instagram as travel inspo. How about traveling for culture and what places actually are, not insta worthy pics."
Some travelers lamented that it seemed like some people were coming just to wait in line and get a picture that would perform well for them on social media at what is one of Bali's sacred temples. One TripAdvisor reviewer said, "This is an example of a significant cultural and religious location being used for nothing more than a photo opportunity."
There's more to Lempuyang Temple than the Gates of Heaven
If you do decide to visit the Gates of Heaven, knowing all that you do about the situation, there are other things you should consider. There is so much to see at Lempuyang Temple beyond the (in)famous gate. The temple was built in 1100 A.D., and the temple complex is actually made up of seven different temples where the higher you go, the more sacred they are. You can climb the 1,700 steps up to the top, which should also help you get away from the crowds around the gate. Making the climb can take a few hours, and you might find it a better use of your time to explore the temple instead of standing in line for a photo.
It's a steep hill to get to the entrance, and you can walk it or pay someone to take you up. Make sure you're covered up, including your knees and shoulders, and if you don't have on the right outfit, you can rent a sarong to wear while you're there. If you're on your period, you won't be allowed to go into Lempuyang Temple or any other temple. And if you're there with a significant other, you might be tempted to smooch while you're there, particularly if you've decided to wait in line to take your Gates of Heaven picture — don't! PDA is not appropriate in any Balinese temple.