Which volcano is famous for the 1963 eruption that killed thousands in Bali?

Mount Agung is the Bali volcano associated with the catastrophic 1963 eruption.

The stratovolcano is Bali’s highest point, rising about 3,031 metres above sea level. Its eruption began in February 1963 and continued intermittently for roughly a year. Pyroclastic flows, ash, and lahars killed more than 1,000 people and devastated communities around the mountain.

Mount Agung is also central to Balinese Hindu culture. The important Besakih temple complex, often called Bali’s Mother Temple, stands on its slopes. The volcano’s summit is regarded as a sacred location, and its dramatic profile dominates eastern Bali.

Mount Batur is another well-known Bali volcano and lies inside an older caldera, but it was not responsible for the 1963 disaster. Mount Agung erupted again in 2017 and 2018, producing ash clouds and disrupting aviation. Its history illustrates why volcanic hazard planning matters even on islands famous for tourism.