Puja Mandala unites five faiths in one worship complex in Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua — Five houses of worship share a single compound at Puja Mandala in Nusa Dua, Bali: a mosque, a Catholic church, a Protestant church, a vihara and a Hindu temple.

The complex is frequently cited as a visible symbol of religious harmony in one of Bali’s main tourism areas, where adherents of different faiths worship in separate buildings within the same site.

Accounts from government-linked and academic sources describe Puja Mandala as standing on land provided by Bali’s tourism development corporation in the mid-1990s, with construction beginning in 1994.

Five houses of worship side by side

Puja Mandala is located in the Nusa Dua area of South Kuta, Badung regency.

The complex brings together five distinct places of worship: the Masjid Agung Ibnu Batutah for Muslims, the Maria Bunda Segala Bangsa Catholic church, the GKPB Jemaat Bukit Doa Protestant church, the Vihara Buddha Guna for Buddhists and the Pura Jagatnatha for Hindus.

These buildings stand in a row within one compound rather than sharing a single sanctuary, allowing each religious community to conduct its own services while remaining in close proximity.

Indonesian-language reporting and scholarly work have highlighted Puja Mandala as an expression of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, the national motto of unity in diversity, and as a showcase of interfaith coexistence for domestic and foreign visitors.

How the complex was established

Masjid Agung Ibnu Batutah was among the first structures planned on the site.

Background material from religious-affairs and academic sources links the mosque’s establishment to limited facilities for Muslim worship in and around Nusa Dua during the growth of the resort area in the early 1990s.

The Bali Tourism Development Center, now part of Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation, is widely described as providing land for the complex.

Several accounts state that about two hectares of corporate land in the Nusa Dua area were set aside for five houses of worship, with each religious group responsible for raising funds and building its own structure.

Construction began in 1994, with Masjid Agung Ibnu Batutah, the Catholic church Maria Bunda Segala Bangsa and the GKPB Bukit Doa Protestant church reported as the first buildings to be completed.

Later development added the Vihara Buddha Guna and Pura Jagatnatha, completing the five-faith lineup that gave Puja Mandala its current character.

Multiple sources state that the complex was formally inaugurated in 1997 by the then Minister of Religious Affairs, Tarmidzi Taher, marking Puja Mandala’s official recognition as a multi-faith worship center.

Symbolic role and visitor experience

Puja Mandala’s layout, with its mosque, churches, vihara and temple standing side by side, has been held up in Indonesian media, tourism promotion and academic work as an example of everyday interfaith cooperation.

Reports describe practical coordination between congregations when large religious events coincide, and note that the site is visited by worshippers, local residents and tourists who come to observe or photograph the unique arrangement.

The mosque’s position on slightly elevated ground offers views toward the southern coastal area of Bali, adding a landscape dimension to the experience for worshippers and visitors.

While published material documents the complex’s establishment and symbolism in the 1990s and 2000s, it does not provide full, current details of operating arrangements or visitor rules in 2026, which would require direct confirmation from the site’s administrators.

Sources

• Ministry of Religious Affairs, South Kalimantan Regional Office – "Komplek Peribadahan Puja Mandala Jelmaan Simbul Bhinneka Tunggal Ika"
• Authentic Indonesia – "Puja Mandala Worship, A Symbol of Religious Harmony in Bali"
• Intercultural Communication and Religious Harmony at Puja Mandala – academic article (PubJournals)
• Masjid Ibnu Batutah official site – Sejarah