Bali Stone carvings are mainly used to decorate temples and palaces in Bali. There is little difference between the iconography decorating temples (pura) and that of private buildings. Gateways represent the dividing line between the inner and outer worlds and, as such, are the recipients of some of the most fantastic carvings.

As well as portraying deities and demons, carvers include many scenes from public life, and there are many temple surfaces enriched with the antics of the Dutch colonists; scenes of bicycles, drunken parties, car breakdowns, and airplanes can be found. Bali's modern-day centre of stone carving is the village of Batubulan, situated halfway between the cities of Denpasar and Ubud. Although you can see excellent examples of Balinese stone carving all over the island, the temples in the North tend to be much more creative. If you plan to tour northern Bali, it is worth taking the time to visit Pura Meduwe Karang in Kubutambahan, Pura Dalem in Jagaraja, and Pura Beji near Singaraja. In order to see the work of Bali's most famous stone-carver, I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, visit Pura Sagen Agung in Ubud.