Founded in 1266, Pura Penataran Sasih (free) was once the state temple of the Pejeng kingdom. In the inner courtyard is a more remarkable treasure: a huge bronze drum known as the Moon of Pejeng, thought to date back as far as 300 BCE. The hourglass-shaped drum is 186cm high and is the largest single-piece cast drum in the world. The bronze alloy and casting technique have been traced to the Dong Son people of ancient Vietnam, revealing a previously unknown trade route.
Balinese legend relates that the drum came to earth as a fallen moon, landing in a tree and shining so brightly that it prevented a band of thieves from going about their unlawful purpose. One of the thieves decided to put the light out by urinating on it, but the moon exploded and fell to earth as a drum, with a crack across its base as a result of the fall.
Although the big noise here is all about the drum, be sure to notice the statuary in the temple courtyard that dates from the 10th to the 12th century.
The temple is in Pejeng, 5km east of central Ubud.
