Nusa Penida · Temple
Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple, Nusa Penida: A Visitor’s Guide
Crawl through a gap in the rock into a lit cavern of shrines, from Shiva’s consort to Kwan Im.
By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 9 November 2026
Overview
Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple, before you go.
Goa Giri Putri is a working Hindu temple inside a limestone cave above Suana, on Nusa Penida’s northeast coast, about 15 minutes from Sampalan harbor. You climb well over 100 steps, squeeze through a hole one person wide and stand up in a lit cavern lined with shrines. It is the island’s best cultural stop and fits easily into a day on the east coast.
The cave belongs to Hyang Giri Putri, “daughter of the mountain,” a name for Parwati, the consort and divine power (sakti) of Shiva. Balinese come to her for holy water and purification, and to the deities of prosperity farther in for welfare and luck in business. It is counted among the Dang Kahyangan, temples of wider importance that draw pilgrims from all over Bali. The island’s chronicle, the Babad Nusa Penida, as retold by detikBali, says the goddess Kwan Im came down to Nusa Penida before Shiva and his consort Uma and settled in a cave. Priests interviewed for a 2023 study in the journal Vidyottama Sanatana date the first use of the cave to around year 50 of the Saka calendar, first as a hiding place and later for meditation.
As a formal temple it is young. Locals called it Goa Karang Sari, after the hamlet below, and prayed at natural mounds of rock inside. From 1985 it was treated as a temple, and families from two Arya Kenceng clan groups cut a path up through the forest. The first shrines went up in 1990 and more in 2005. By 2006 the crowds were so large that the village opened an exit at the far western end, with stairs down the outside of the hill, so worshipers no longer had to squeeze back out the way they came. The traditional village (desa adat) of Suana now runs the temple, and about 20 lay priests from three local banjar take turns at the shrines without a salary, living on what visitors give.
What sets Giri Putri apart is its last chamber. Beside Shiva Amerta stand Dewi Kwan Im, the Chinese goddess of compassion known elsewhere as Guanyin, and a group of figures the 2023 study places in Chinese tradition: the God of Heaven, the God of Earth, a thousand-handed deity and Ratu Subandar. Chinese ornament sits next to Balinese stone carving, and people of other faiths come to pray. For Balinese Hindus these are further faces of one God rather than guests.
A visit runs one way. You rent a sarong at the stalls by the road, climb the steep stairway, receive a blessing at the shrine outside the cave and leave a cash donation with the temple staff. Then you crouch through the gap, shuffle a few meters bent double and stand up in a hall big enough for hundreds of worshipers, roughly 300 m long by most estimates, with electric light and a damp floor. Priests guide you past six stations in turn before you step out above a small valley.
Two practical points: cost and comfort. Sources differ on the charge: older guides say any donation, a 2026 guide says a fixed IDR 50,000, and reviews from 2026 report a minimum of IDR 30,000 to 50,000 in cash. The climb is hot, the cave humid, bats live in the roof and monkeys wait at the top. One cave crab, Karstarma emdi, is known from this cave alone, so stay on the path. If tight spaces do not bother you, this is the most memorable temple visit on Nusa Penida.
- Opening hours
- Daily about 7 AM–5 PM; may close to tourists for ceremonies (checked Nov 2026)
- Ticket
- Cash donation, about IDR 30,000–50,000 a person (checked Nov 2026)
- Time needed
- 30–45 min; up to 2.5 hours with a blessing at every shrine
- Best time
- Weekday mornings; avoid full moon, new moon and festival days
- Dress code
- Sarong required (rent one at the foot of the stairs); cover shoulders
- Location
- Suana, northeast coast, about 15 min from Sampalan harbor
Jalan Batununggul–Suana, Banjar Karangsari, Suana, Nusa Penida, Klungkung, Bali 80771, Indonesia
Open in Google MapsWhat to See
What to see at Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple.
- 01
The entrance squeeze
The doorway is a crack in the limestone that one person fills. You go in feet first or on hands and knees, bent double for a few meters, with the priests’ voices echoing ahead. A 2023 study of the temple describes it as narrow enough to admit only one person at a time. Take off a backpack before you start, keep your sarong tied tight, and wait for anyone coming the other way. Then the roof lifts and you can stand.
- 02
The great hall
Past the squeeze, the cave opens into a long, high chamber that can hold hundreds of worshipers on festival days. Visitors estimate it at around 300 m long. Electric lamps light the stalactites, shrines of white stone line the walls, incense hangs in the air and the floor is damp underfoot. It stays warm and humid all year. Bats roost in the roof, so look up before you photograph and keep your voice low.
- 03
The six stations
Worship follows a fixed order, set out on a plan posted at the entrance. A local guide site lists it as Tri Purusa and Ganapati, then Vishnu and the serpent Wasuki, then Dewi Gangga with the holy water, then Giri Pati, the lord of the mountain, then Giri Putri herself, and finally Shiva Amerta with Kwan Im. A 2023 study also names a Payogan shrine with a padmasana for Shiva. A priest at each stop can lead a short prayer.
- 04
Holy water and the blessing
At Dewi Gangga’s shrine priests pour spring water believed to cleanse body and mind, the heart of the purification Balinese call melukat. Visitors can ask for the blessing too. It usually means water poured into your cupped hands three times to sip and splash, grains of rice pressed onto the forehead, and a red, white and black thread tied around the wrist for Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Leave a small extra donation at the shrine.
- 05
The Chinese shrine
At the far end of the cave, Dewi Kwan Im, the goddess of compassion in Chinese Buddhism, is honored beside Shiva Amerta. A 2023 study lists further figures here from Chinese tradition, including the God of Heaven, the God of Earth and a thousand-handed deity. A local guide site says a separate Buddhist-style blessing is given here, with a short purification and a mark of ash on the forehead. It is a rare sight in a Balinese temple.
- 06
The cave crabs
In 1993 the biologist Tony Whitten found two new species of crab on the cave floor. One, Karstarma emdi, is known from no other cave and was described in 1995. A 2016 newsletter from the Friends of the National Parks Foundation says it is listed as Critically Endangered and that foot traffic is the main threat; the foundation put up an information board here that year. You may see small, long-legged crabs near drip pools. Do not touch them, and stay on the path.
- 07
The exit above the valley
Since 2006 you leave by the western end, where the cave mouth opens more than 10 m above a ravine. Stairs lead down the outside of the hill to the road, with a view over a small valley of farmland and scrub. After the humid cave, the fresh air is welcome. Monkeys hang around this stretch, so keep food and loose items out of sight.
Seasons
Best time to visit Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple.
Come early. The gate opens at about 7 AM, and the first hour or two is the quietest. Day-trippers from Sanur reach the east coast from late morning, and many tours put the temple after lunch on their way back to the harbor. The cave is the same temperature at any hour, but the stairway is far easier before the sun gets high.
Check the Balinese calendar. Full moon (purnama), new moon (tilem), Saraswati, Pagerwesi, Galungan and Kuningan bring large groups of pilgrims, and the temple may close to tourists during big ceremonies. The next Galungan falls on 13 January 2027 and Kuningan on 23 January 2027. Blogs place the temple festival on the full moon of Kadasa, around March or April; confirm locally before you plan around it.
Season matters less in the cave than on the way there. In the wet months, roughly November to March, the steps get slippery and the crossing from Bali is rougher. No boats run on Nyepi, and once a year, around the fourth full moon, the sea around the Nusa islands closes for 24 hours; in 2026 it began at 6 AM on 27 September.
Coming between November and March? Read our Bali rainy season guide →
Getting There
How to get to Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple.
| From | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Sampalan harbor | About 15 min | About 7 km east along the coast road by car or scooter. Boats from Kusamba land here, so it is the closest harbor to the temple. |
| Buyuk harbor | 20–25 min | About 10 km east along the north-coast road through Sampalan. |
| Banjar Nyuh or Toyapakeh | 30–40 min | About 15–16 km east on the paved north-coast road past Ped and Sampalan. Most fast boats from Sanur land at Banjar Nyuh. |
| Sanur Harbour (Bali) | 2–2.5 hrs with check-in | Fast boat to Banjar Nyuh, Buyuk or Sampalan in 30–45 min from about 6:30 AM, about IDR 170,000–250,000 one way (checked Oct 2026), then the drive above. Check in 60–90 min early. Foreign visitors pay an island fee of IDR 25,000 per adult on arrival, cashless. |
| Kusamba or Ubud | 1.5–2 hrs from Ubud | Fast boats from Kusamba cross to Sampalan in 20–30 min, then 15 min by road. It is the quickest way in from Ubud: Kusamba is about 27 km away (45–60 min by car) and about 30 km east of Sanur. |
| Bali airport (DPS) | 2.5–4 hrs | 30–60 min by car to Sanur Harbour, then check-in, the crossing and the drive. If you land after mid-afternoon, spend a night in Sanur and cross in the morning. |
| Nusa Lembongan | About 1 hr | Local boat to Toyapakeh in about 10 min, about IDR 60,000 each way (checked Oct 2026), then 30–40 min by road with a driver. |
Getting around Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple
Nusa Penida has no Grab, Gojek or metered taxis. Most visitors come with a car and driver, about IDR 700,000–1,000,000 a day for up to six people, or on a rented scooter, IDR 100,000–200,000 a day (both checked Oct 2026). The road from the north-coast harbors is paved and runs along the shore, the easiest drive on the island. Cars and scooters park at a small roadside lot at the foot of the stairs, where stalls rent sarongs and sell water and snacks.
The stairway up to the cave is long and steep; one visitor in October 2026 counted 148 steps. Take it slowly in the heat. At the top you are blessed, pay the donation and crawl in. The exit at the western end leads down another set of stairs on the outside of the hill and back to the road near where you parked, so you never have to squeeze back out against the flow.
Inside, the floor is uneven and often wet, and the entrance means kneeling or crouching for a few meters. Skip it if you are claustrophobic, have bad knees or cannot bend low. Halfway through, a small staircase leads to a tight inner chamber, a cave within the cave; it is optional and only open when the priests allow it.
Know Before You Go
Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple tips that save time and trouble.
- 01Bring cash in small bills for the donation and the sarong. ATMs are back in Sampalan and Toyapakeh.
- 02Take off backpacks and leave bulky bags in the car; the entrance is too tight for them.
- 03Wear clothes you do not mind getting dusty at the knees, and shoes with grip for the wet floor and stairs.
- 04Carry water for the climb, but finish food before you reach the top, where monkeys wait.
- 05Ask a priest if you want a full blessing, and leave a small extra donation at the shrine.
- 06Do not use flash on people at prayer, and ask before photographing priests up close.
- 07Balinese temple custom asks women who are menstruating not to enter.
- 08Stay on the path and leave the cave crabs alone; one species lives nowhere else.
- 09Pair the visit with Diamond Beach or Pura Dalem Ped rather than the southwest coast.
FAQ
Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple questions, answered.
Is Goa Giri Putri worth visiting?
Yes, if you can manage a short crawl and a steep climb. It is the most unusual temple on Nusa Penida: a working cave sanctuary where Balinese pray beside a Chinese shrine to Kwan Im. It needs under an hour and sits on the way between the east-coast beaches and Sampalan harbor. Skip it if tight spaces or long stairways are a problem for you.
How much is the Goa Giri Putri entrance fee?
Expect to pay about IDR 30,000–50,000 per person in cash (checked Nov 2026). It is collected as a donation at the top of the stairs, but recent visitors report a set minimum. Older guides list IDR 10,000–20,000. Sarong rental at the foot of the stairs is extra, about IDR 5,000–10,000, and parking costs a small fee.
What are Goa Giri Putri’s opening hours?
Daily from about 7 AM to 5 PM (checked Nov 2026). There is no official timetable online, and the temple may close to tourists during major ceremonies. Arrive by about 4 PM to finish before closing. The quietest time is the first hour after opening, before day-trippers from Bali reach the east coast.
How narrow is the entrance to Goa Giri Putri?
Very narrow. It is a crack in the rock that fits one person at a time, and you crouch or crawl for a few meters before the cave opens into a hall you can stand in. Most adults get through without trouble once they take off their bags. If you are claustrophobic or cannot kneel, skip it.
What should I wear to Goa Giri Putri?
A sarong, which is required and can be rented at the stalls at the foot of the stairs, plus a top that covers your shoulders. Wear clothes that can take some dust at the knees and shoes with grip, since the stairs are steep and the cave floor is often wet.
How long do you need at Goa Giri Putri?
About 30 to 45 minutes for the climb, the cave and the walk out. If you ask for a blessing at each of the six shrines, a full circuit can take up to 2.5 hours. Add about 15 minutes each way from Sampalan or 30 to 40 minutes from Banjar Nyuh and Toyapakeh.
How do I get to Goa Giri Putri?
Take a fast boat to Nusa Penida, then drive. From Sampalan harbor, where Kusamba boats land, it is about 7 km and 15 minutes east along the coast. From Banjar Nyuh, where most Sanur boats land, allow 30 to 40 minutes. There is no Grab or Gojek on the island, so come with a driver or a scooter.
Why is there a Chinese shrine inside Goa Giri Putri?
Balinese Hinduism treats many gods as faces of one God, and Kwan Im, the Chinese goddess of compassion, has long been honored here. The island chronicle, as retold by detikBali, says she came to Nusa Penida and settled in a cave before Shiva arrived. Her shrine stands at the far end of the cave beside Shiva Amerta, with other figures from Chinese tradition.
What does Giri Putri mean?
Giri means mountain or hill and putri means daughter or woman, so the name reads as “daughter of the mountain.” It is a title of Parwati, the consort and divine power of Shiva, who is the main deity worshiped in the cave and is seen as the guardian of its holy water. Goa means cave and pura means temple.
How many steps are there at Goa Giri Putri?
Well over 100. One visitor in October 2026 counted 148 steps from the road to the cave entrance, and the stairway is steep with little shade. The exit at the far end of the cave leads down a second stairway to the road, so you climb up once and come down the other side.
Can you see Goa Giri Putri and Diamond Beach in one day?
Yes, they belong on the same east-coast day. Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach are about 14 km south, 30 to 40 minutes by road. Many people see the beaches in the morning, then stop at the temple on the way back to Sampalan or Banjar Nyuh. The southwest coast with Kelingking is better left for another day.
Can tourists join a ceremony at Goa Giri Putri?
Yes. Priests welcome visitors who ask for a blessing, which usually involves holy water poured into your hands three times, rice grains pressed onto the forehead and a three-colored thread tied at the wrist. Stay quiet while others pray, follow the priest’s lead and leave a small donation at the shrine.
Nearby
Where to go after Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple.
Places close by that fit into the same trip, with realistic travel times.
20–30 min by car (11 km)
Pura Dalem Ped
Nusa Penida’s most important temple, seat of I Gede Mecaling, on the north-coast road toward the Sanur boats; many pilgrims visit both.
30–40 min by car (14 km)
Diamond Beach
A stairway cut down the cliff to white sand and limestone stacks; a view, not a swim.
Visitor guide30–40 min by car (13 km)
Atuh Beach
A sheltered bay with warungs under the cliffs, reached on foot from the Diamond Beach parking lot.
About 5 min by car
Seaweed farms of Suana
Plots staked out in the shallows below the temple, tended by farmers at low tide.
50–60 min by car (21 km)
Kelingking Beach
The T-Rex headland on the southwest coast, best left for a separate morning.
Visitor guide
More in Nusa Penida
Plan the rest of your time in Nusa Penida.
Read Next
More Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple guides.
How we researched this
Sources and fact checks.
Prices, opening hours, show times and travel times in this Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple guide were checked against official sites, government tourism pages and recent reporting on 9 November 2026. Where sources disagreed, we give the official figure and say so. Rankings are our editorial judgment, set out in our editorial policy.
We re-check the guide at least every three months and whenever we hear about a change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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