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Bali’s Gate of Heaven images are not what they seem. Here’s the truth behind them

The pictures show two massive stone monoliths whose reflections are seen on what appears to be a crystal-clear lake located underneath the stone blocks.

Updated on: Jul 14, 2019, 17:11:17 IST
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If you search the hashtag #GatesofHeaven on Instagram, you will be greeted with many images of a serene-looking place. The place is Pura Lempuyang Luhur temple located in Bali, Indonesia. The pictures show two massive stone monoliths whose reflections are seen on what appears to be a crystal-clear lake located underneath the stone blocks. However, a tweet from editor of Fortune Magazine Polina Marinova revealed the truth about how those beautiful pictures were clicked.

Marinova’s post sparked reactions among people. (Twitter/@@polina_marinova)
Marinova’s post sparked reactions among people. (Twitter/@@polina_marinova)

In case, you are wondering what we are talking about here is a picture of the place. In fact, social media platforms are flooded with many such images.

Pura Lempuyang Luhur temple located in Bali is popular among social media users as Gates of Heaven
Pura Lempuyang Luhur temple located in Bali is popular among social media users as Gates of Heaven

Marinova took to Twitter and wrote “Proof that Instagram influencers have ruined everything. My hopes & dreams were shattered when I found out the “water” at the Gates of Heaven is actually just a piece of glass under an iPhone.”

It turns out that though the stone monoliths are there, the lake beneath them is missing, rather non-existent. The lake is actually an illusion that is created by photographers by holding a mirror beneath a smartphone, reports Business Insider.

Marinova’s post sparked reactions among tweeple and many shared their disappointing experience of visiting Pura Lempuyang Luhur temple. Check out what they said:

The locals have been doing this kind of staged photography for quite some time, reports The Sun. Moreover, one needs to wait for more than two hours in queue to get photographed.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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