Pura Agung Besakih is located in the village of Besakih, Rendang district, located in the southwest slopes of Mount Agung, the highest mountain in Bali. Access from Denpasar to reach this place is about 25 km to the north of the city Semarapura – Klungkung.
The journey to the Pura Besakih passing panorama Bukit Jambul which is also one of the objects and tourist attraction Karangasem regency.

Location of Besakih deliberately chosen in the village which is considered sacred because they are too high, called Hulundang Basukih which later became the village of Besakih. The name Besakih is taken from Sanskrit, Wasuki or in the ancient Javanese language basuki which means congratulations. In addition, the name of Besakih constituted also by mithologi Naga Basuki as a counterweight Mount Mandara.

Many relics of megalithic era, such as menhirs, stone throne, pyramid terrace structure found in Pura Besakih complex shows that as a place that seems hallowed Besakih comes from a very old age, long before the influence of Hinduism.

Besakih temple complex built on the balance of nature in the concept of Tri Hita Karana, where the setting is adjusted based on the direction of the wind so that the structure can represent nature as the symbolism of their balance. Each one-each direction of the wind is called a mandala with the god of the so-called “Gods Chess Lokapala” where the central mandala as its axis, so that the fifth mandala manifested into “Panca Dewata”.

The Concept of Besakih building structures based on the concepts of the cardinal directions, which is:
1.Pura Penataran Besakih as the central mandala in the direction of Central and is the largest temple of the groups existing temple, devoted to worship the god Ciwa;
2.Pura Dark in the East to worship the god Içwara;
3.Pura Kiduling Kereteg in South direction to worship Lord Brahma;
4..Pura Ulun Kulkul on westward to worship the god Mahadeva;
5.Pura Batumadeg on the North to worship the god Vishnu.