Pura Luhur Uluwatu is spiritually important to the Balinese people, as it is one of Bali’s sacred directional temples (kayangan jagat) protecting the island from evil spirits in the southwest. It's this proximity to evil, presumably, that compels the temple's guardians to require the wearing of special sashes or sarongs, as they are supposed to protect visitors from evil influences. (If you don't bring your own, don't worry - these items can be borrowed at the temple gate.) The temple at Uluwatu was built by the Javanese Hindu guru Empu Kuturan in the 10th century. Seven hundred years later, the guru Niratha added further to the temples on the site. "Ulu" means head, and "Watu" means rock; the temple at "the head of the rock" stands atop a sheer cliff rising two hundred feet above the Indian Ocean. The temple commands a wonderful view of the sea breaking against the base of the cliffs below, and a totally unforgettable sunset.