Tabanan Regency Tourist Destination

Tabanan encompasses a broad range of landscapes from the lofty peaks in the north, including Mt Batukau and part of Mt Bratan ,with its dramatic volcanic lake, to the verdant rice plains in the south. Beautiful black sand beaches between Pasut and Klatingdukuh are now being developed for tourism, but apart from the famous seaside temple of Tanah Lot, this is not yet a touristed area.

Many rivers run north to south from the mountains to the sea. The roads follow their courses, with only a few running east to west. The main highway from Java passes through the gently-sloping southern part of Tabanan along the coast. This has turned Tabanan Town into a thriving commercial center.

Pura Tanah Lot

One of Bali's most important sea temples, Tanah Lot is built a top a huge rock which is surrounded by the sea. Built by one of the last priests to come to Bali from Java in the 16th century, its rituals include the paying of homage to the guardian spirits of the sea. About 20 km west of Denpasar on the main highway, one arrives at the town of Kediri. where a large sign at the main intersection announces a turn-off to the southwest to Pura Tanah Lot the famous seaside temple to the south.

Tanah means earth and Lot means south or sea (usually written Lod thus something like “Temple of the Easth the Sea” is intended. It is actually construct atop a large, jagged outcropping of rock just off the coast. It is accessible only during tide. The temple itself is quite modest Consisting of two shrines with tiered roofs (7 and 3), a few small buildings and two pavilions

Poisonous, black sea snakes live the rocks and in caves along the coast. They guard the temple, but give the site a reputation of being “dangerous.” Nevertheless many Balinese love to sit on the beach or on a bluff overlooking the temple in the late afternoon, watching the tides change and enjoying the silhouettes of the temple meru against the brilliant setting sun.

Like so many other temples in Bali, Tanah Lot is connected with the famous bhrahman priest, Danghyang Nirartha, who wandered from Java to Bali in the 16th century. Do one of his journeys he decided to sleep in this beautiful spot, and then afterwards advised the Balinese to erect a temple here. As mentioned above, this is one of the sad kahyangan or six most holy temples for all of Bali as well as for Tabanan district.
Pejaten Village

On the way back to the Kediri intersection, stop in at the village of Pejaten, famous for its pottery. These range from traditional roofing tiles, now painted in bright reds and greens, to replicas of glazed Chinese ceramics. The latter are the result of an initiative taken by Dutch potters during the 1980s. Already in the 1970s a Chinese painter from Tabanan, the late Kay It, introduced the production of terracotta tiles decorated with figures of gods, goddesses and wayang heroes in relief. These were mainly used for interior decoration of restaurants and shops in the tourist areas of South Bali.
Subak Museum

This is the Subak Museum, which contains tools and implements connected with ricefield irrigation and agriculture in Bali. It lies just outside of the town on the right-hand side of the main road to Denpasar.
Gedong Marya Theater

Bali’s most famous dancer, the late I Ketut Marya frequently written as Mario is also connected with Tabanan. He was born at the end of the 19th century and died 1968. Although he was actually born in Denpasar, he was raised in Tabanan under Anak Agung Ngurah Made Kaleran. In the late 1920s and 1930s, these dances were already well known to tourists. Walter Spies made superb photos of them for the book Dance and Drama in Bali which he produced with Beryl de Zoete in 1935-36. Marya was also a teacher of many dancers who would later become famous, in particular I Gusti Ngurah Raka from Batuan. He was a very strict mentor and only accepted the very best pupils. Although he taught them the same dances, he assigned each pupil slightly different movements, to enable him or her to have something characteristic. To remember this dancer and teacher who made Tabanan so famous, the Gedong Marya Theater was erected in Tabanan in 1974. Click here for more detail about Mario Bali's dancer maestro.
Krambitan Village

Several villages located to the southwest of Tabanan Town are especially rich in dance and art traditions. The village of Krambitan, in particular, is noted for its tektekan performances. This is in fact not a dance, but a procession of men with giant wooden cow bells with huge clappers around their necks and bamboo split drums.

They traditionally marched around the village during an epidemic or great drought to chase away the evil spirits and bring fertility to the area.
There are two palaces here, belonging to a branch of the Tabanan royal family. Since 1972, the Puri Anyar has been holding “Palace Nights” for tourists, with a tektekan group from nearby Panarukan and a performance of the dramatic calonarang trance play.

One can commission a private performance with dinner by candlelight within the palace precincts, and both palaces are also renting rooms to tourists.
In the nearby village of Tista, just one km to the west of Krambitan, special versions of the legong kraton dance, called legong kraton, are performed.

Two km south of Krambitan, the village of Panarukan has many good sculptors both brahmans and jaba (sudras) — working in wood as well as in soft volcanic paras stone. The village is also known for its tektekan, and for the painter Ajin Ida Putu Cegeg from tltt Griya Gede, who was a pioneer in the use of modern elements in his works.
Bedugul Lake

High in the central ranges of west Bali, a cool mountain retreat nestles in the crater of an extinct volcano. Here lies placid Lake Bratan, source of life-giving water for the springs, rivers and ricefields below. Verdant tropical rainforests blanket the hills, which at 1400 m above sea level provide temperatures several degrees lower than the plains (11° to 30° C).

Few tourists stop to explore Bedugul and Lake Bratan on journeys to and from the north coast. But this little hideaway is well known to long-term Bali residents for its delightful scenery, spectacular mountain walks and many other recreation opportunities.

The road to Bedugul leads west and north from Denpasar through Mengwi, taking an hour and a half to reach the top. As it winds up the mountain, magnificent views stretch back over the lowlands to the coast and across to the misty peaks of Bali’s volcanoes Agung, Abang and Batur to the east. To the west, deep gorges border tiers of jungle foliage below hazy peak of Mt. Batukaru.

Near the top of the hill the road suddeny branches to the right, sloping gently down and a striking new panorama is revealed sparkling blue waters backed by lush green hills. Cottages dot the hillside down to the shores of the lake, and a pier provides mooring for boats of all shapes and sizes.
Jatiluwih

There is a tiny road leading from Wongaya Gede across steep rice terraces to the village of Jatiluwih.The view of rice terraces is beautifully more than the one at Tegalalang in Ubud area. On the road south back to Tabanan, stop in to see the Pura Puseh in Penebel, which possesses an ancient lingga (phallus, symbol of Siwa) with a yoni pedestal in a pavilion west of the entrance tn the inner court. These are quite common in Java, but rare in Bali.
Pura Luhur

At the end of a steep road north of Meliling past Wongaya Gede, about halfway up the slopes of towering, 2278 meter-high Mt Batukau perches the Pura Luhur temple an unusual complex of shrines and a pool set amidst lush, tropical forests. The main enclosure lies at the northern end of the complex, with two smaller temples, Pura Dalem and pura panyaum. to the south. A man-made lake the east completes the “cosmic” design.

This was the state ancestral temple of the Tabanan court, and each of the shrines represents a different dynastic ancestor. Di Made, ruler of Gelgel between about 1665 and 1686, is represented by a shrine with a 7-tiered roof, and Cokorda Tabanan by one with a 3-tiered roof. All of the shrines are very modest, without much ornamentation, which gives a great feeling of unity to the complex.
Botanical Garden

In 1959, a large expanse of tropical rainforest in the foothills of Bukit Tapak was set aside by the government as the Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali a botanical garden covering an area of 129.2 hectares. This extensive park is a popular place for weekenders. but during the week it is a haven of peace and solitude. More than 650 tree species have been recorded in the park, and there are 459 different wild and propagated orchids. including some rare ones collected from the nearby forest.
Pura ulun Danu Bratan

On the western shore of the lake, dramatic Pura Ulun Danu Bratan projects into the water. This is the temple of the lake goddes who is much revered as a source of fertility. Built by the king of Mengwi in 1633. it consists of four compounds, the two outermost of which are completely surrounded by water.

When the three-tiered Siwaitic lingga petak was recently restored, the builders discovered a bubbling spring and a big white stone flanked by two red ones a phallic lingga representing the reproductive power of Siwa as the god of fertility. Towering above this, on a separate islet, is a single shrine of 11 roofs dedicated to Wisnu in his manifestation as the lake goddess Dewi Danu. who protects all living creatures.
Bali Handara Country Club

Some will find this the last word on Bali as a paradise. At the northern end of the Bedugul crater is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, designed by famous golf architects Thompson, Wolveridge and Fream. This is the Bali Handara Country Club, an 18-hole masterpiece with lush green fairways and the fastest greens you likely find anywhere.

source : baliguides

Klungkung Regency Tourist Destination

Outside the busy town, Klungkung offers a contrast of landscapes from the lush hills on the road leading to Besakih temple, to the stark gravel pits to the east, formed when Mt Agung erupted in 1963, its lava flows laying waste to the ricefields of the area. The villages of Klungkung are among the most charming in Bali, and have been major prize winners in the all Bali “beautiful village” competitions sponsored by the government.

One of the natural highlights of the FGungkung area is the great Unda River just east of the city. Floods and changes in the river’s course figure in many episodes of Klungkung’s traditional history. Nowadays its caprices are kept in check by a system of dams and man-made dikes, built with the voluntary aid of those who live by the river and are dependent on its waters for their survival.

Kerta Gosa

The town of Klungkung centers around the Puri Smarapura or ‘Palace of the God of Love” former home of Bali’s most illustrious line of kings. Unfortunately, all that remains now are the great gate and garden, and two pavilions with magnificently painted ceilings. These are the Kerta Gosa Hall of Justice overlooking the town’s main intersection, and the larger Bale Kambang or Floating Pavilion just behind it.

The rest of this splendid complex was razed to the ground in 1908, during the royal mass suicide or puputan (‘ending”) against the Dutch invaders. This event removed the last obstacle to Dutch domination of the island. A monument commemorating the puputan now stands across the road.

The Kerta Gosa was a place for the administration of traditional justice in precolonial times by a council consisting of the great king and his priests. The Paintings on the ceiling tell of the punishments awaiting evil-doers in hell, and of the delights of the gods in heaven. Different levels and stations in heaven and hell are described through the story of the hero Bima, who journeys to the underworld to save the souls of his parents. These scenes were used to alternately threaten and cajole anyone who appeared before the court.

Like the Sistine Chapel, the Kerta Gnsa presents a whole complex of ideas on the workings of fate and the role of the divine in human affairs. The ceilings themselves have been repainted three times in recent memory. The last complete refurbishment occurred in 1960 under the famous artist Pan Seken, although in 1984, weather damage caused a number of panels to be repaired.
Kamasan Village

The adjoining village of Kamasan is a major artistic center, home of traditional Balinese painting. The many forms of painting found today in Bali all derive from the so-called Kamasan or wayang style characteristic of this village, in which the figures depicted resemble two-dimensional shadow puppets.

The style itself traces back to ancient Java, where similar figures are found on temple reliefs. The amazing thing is that this survives as a living art up until the present day on Bali.

Painters from Kamasan were once sent all over the island in the service of their royal Patrons. The painters ward is banjar sangging but other parts of the village are famous for their crafts as well. Nearby is the banjar Pande mas, where gold and silversmiths work.

The village also once provided dancers, musicians and puppeteers to the court. Most these activities have declined in recent year but they once contributed to a lively creative atmosphere, providing inspiration for local painters.

The presence of dalang, or puppeteers in the village was particularly important. The iconography of the two art forms is the same, as are the stories depicted — great epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Scenes portrayed in the flickering shadows of the wayang are rendered in reds and ochres and arranged to show the workings of natural and supernatural forces.
Pasakbali Village

Paksabali is famous for its Dewa Mapalu or Pasraman Dewa festival — the dramatic “clashing” or “meeting of the gods.” This is held during the annual Kuningan festival, when idols are borne from the temple aboard palanquins down a steep ravine to the Unda River to be ritually bathed and given offerings. As the palanquin bearers proceed back up to the temple gates, they are possessed by the gods they are carrying and race madly in circles, colliding against each other in an effort to get back into the temple compound.
Goa Lawah

Not far beyond Kusamba is the famous Goa Lawah bat cave temple, one ot the state temples of Klungkung. Legend has it that when Klungkung was ruled from Kusamba, a prince of Mengwi sought protection here and entered the bat cave. He was not seen again until he emerged nearly 20 kms to the north, at Pura Besakih. No one has since tried to enter the cave to prove whether it really extends that far the strong odor of hat droppings is no doubt a major deterrent.
Penida Island

All kinds of appalling myths have always been attached to Nusa Penida, due to its gloomy atmosphere and unrewarding conditions. Black magic is said to flourish here, and Balinese from the mainland are very careful about what they say to Nusa people so as not to offend them. All evil affecting Bali especialiy floods and diseases during the dry season is said to come from Nusa, brought by the giant demon king, Jero Gede Mecaling.

In the Badung and Gianyar regencies, the giant and his troops, who are said to cross the straits and land at Lebih, are met and expelled by means of exorcistic sanghyang dedari trance dances. Formerly, the islands were part of the Klungkung kingdom, which used Nusa as a place of banishment. Therefore, most inhabitants are commoners and only a few bear the noble titles Dewa or Sri.

Nusa Penida is the ideal place to get off the beaten track, and to seek quietude and authenticity. The inhabitants here speak Baliiiese, with a local accent and vocabulary influenced by Sasak, but for them Bali is another world to which they go only from time to time.

The form of ceremonies, such as weddings and cremations is similar to those in Bali, but in other ways these islands remind one of Lombok or Sumbawa.
In Nusa Penida, there is almost no tourism, yet it is wonderful to walk, ride on ojek two wheeled taxis, or drive through the Villages in the highlands and along the shore to experience the island’s rough beauty. It is also a rare experience to spend the night in a local home, as people are very friendly.

Several sights are worth visiting, such as Karang Sari Cave, the spring at Sakti and Sebuluh Waterfall near Batu Madeg. The most interesting temple is Ratu Gede Mecaling Pura Peed, 3 km east of Toya Pakeh. In the smaller sanctuary here, a strange tree composed of three entangled ones grows, and from the trunk a stone mouth of Mecaling’s minister protrudes.

The temple odalan falls on Buda Cemeng Kelawu. Every three years on the fourth full moon (Purnama Kapat), a great festival (usaba) is also held, during which pilgrims from all over Bali come to pray at Pura Peed.

Nusa L.embongan is a small island covered with coconut trees, mangrove forests, small farms, and is surrounded by coral reefs. The island is split between two villages, Jungut Batu and Lembongan. About 75 percent of its population is involved with seaweed farming.

The relaxed atmosphere on the island is synchronized with the cycles of the tides. Villagers are seen planting, replanting, and drying the seaweed. Much of this activity takes place on the beach so it is difficult to find an isolated beach for sunbathing.

source : baliguides

Jembrana Regency Tourist Destination

Who first settled the forbidding Jimbar Wana? The earlist evidence of human habitat on Bali has in fact been discovered at Gilimanuk near the island’s western tip. Not much is known about these prehistoric people. Most people in Jembrana can tell you where they are originally from, and if you drive up one of the many side roads that snake into the mountains, you will encounter places like Bangsal Gianyar and Bangsal

Bangli entire communities transplanted to jembrana a generation ago. Some of them had religious motives for coming here. Palasari and Belimbingsari in Melaya district, for example, are the largest Catholic and Protestant communities on Bali. Palasari’s handsome Catholic church is the largest in eastern Indonesia.

The regency is today inhabited by only about 210,000 people, and is the least densely populated area of Bali. At least eighty percent make their living by farming, harvesting forest products, or fishing. The Bali tiger was last sighted in the 1930s, and the remaining wilds of Jimbar Wana have been incorporated into the Bali Barat National Park. Jembrana today is a beautiful agricultural region, with a unique history and character, reflected in the stories, customs and arts of its people.
Madewi Beach

Three kms west of Pekutatan village the left coming from Denpasar is the entrance to Medewi Beach a black sand beach with a pounding surf. This beach os one of the best-kept secrets in Bali.
Rambut Siwi Temple

The most important temple in Jembrana is Pura Rambut Siwi, which lies about 20 km west of the Tabanan border by the village of Yeh Embang. Its entrance is marked by a smalll shrine at the edge of the road, where Balinese travelers stop briefly to pray for safety in their journey. Two hundred meters from the main road lies the main temple complex, perched on a cliff at the edge of the ocean.

Pura Rambut Siwi is an important monument to the priest Danghyang Nirartha, who came to Bali from Java during the decline of the Majapahit Kingdom in the hopes of fortifying Balinese Hinduism against the spread of Islam occurring elsewhere in the archipelago. Between 1546 and 1550 he traveled through the island teaching and unifying the Hindu populace. According to legend, he stopped to pray at a viilage temple at Yeh Embang, and made a gift of his hair to the temple. Since that time it has been known as Rambut Siwi. which means “worship of the hair.”

The complex consists of three temple enclosures in a setting of great natural beauty. The first one you encounter as you enter from the main road is the largest and most important, the Pura Luhur where Danghyang Nirartha’s hair is kept. A majestic condi bentar or spilt gate on the southern wall of the inner courtyard opens onto the cliff, offering dramatic views of the surf below. Gnarled frangipani trees litter the ground with fragrant blossoms, and incense burns at the feet of mosscovered stone statues swathed in white cloth.

From Pura Luhur you can walk east along the top of the cliff to a winding stone stairway that descends to Pura Penataran, the original where Danghyang Nirartha is believed have prayed. When the Balinese worship at Rambut Siwi they first enter this temple.

Walking back westward along the beach you pass a small shrine at the entrance to a cave in the cliff wall. This cave is said to be lair of mystical animals the duwe or holy beast of the temple. A well at the mouth of the cave is a source of holy water that is salt free despite its proximity to the ocean. Just beyond the cave, another stairway leads back up to the temple. Perched on the edge of the cliff here is the tiny Pura Melanting where merchants stop to pray for prosperity.

A large open-air performance pavilion and two gazebos set amidst lily ponds to the west of Pura Luhur are excellent places to rest and enjoy a panorama of ricefields and white wave crests curing against the black sand coastline as far as the eye can see.
Gede Prancak Temple

Pura Gede Prancak, where Danghyang Nirartha is believed to have first landed. A peaceful shrine of white stone here sits on the banks of the placid Prancak River, which empties into the sea about 100 m south of the temple.

To reach it, turn left off the main road in Tegalcangkring, 8 kms west of Rambut Siwi and follow a narrow backroad one and a half kms to an intersection marked by a monument turn right and continue west about 9 kms. The temple is on your right where the road turns south along the Prancak River

At the time of Danghyang Nirartha’s arrival, this area was controlled by the debauched ruler, Gusti Ngurah Rangsasa, who obliged the newcomer to pray in his temple. When the holy priest complied, the temple structures collapsed. Gusti Ngurah Rangsasa then fled and the community rebuilt the temple in honor of Danghyang Nirartha and his teachings.
Mekepung

The water buffalo races of west Bali, known as makepung and imported by the local Madurese population are the most dramatic of Jembrana's events. Throughout the western most districts, it is still common to see a team of brawny, grey or pink buffalo pulling wooden carts filled with cacao, coffee or bananas. Mekepung began when farmers play fully raced their neighbors in plowing a field or in bringing the harvest home. The races soon became an event in themselves, and the cumbersome cikar carts were replaced by light, two-wheeled chariots.

Today, the races are organized by the regional government of Jembrana. All participants are members of a racing club (sekehe mekepung) and are divided into two divisions:

a Western Block and an Eastern Block, with the Ijo Gading River that bisects Jembrana as the dividing line, These teams compete biannually, in the Regent’s Cup Championship on the Sunday before Indonesian Independence Day in August, and the Governor’s Cup Championship each September or October.

The buffaloes in each team are ranked prior to the races, and pitted against its counterpart on the other team, Two pairs run at a time, along a circuitous 4 km route. The team with the most winners takes the cup. Apart from this, the only immediate reward for winning is prestige, but owning a prize buffalo does eventually translate into money. A good race animal can fetch almost double the normal price, if its owner is willing to part with it.

If you are in Jembrana between August and October you can find out the time and place of the championships by visiting the Department of Tourism in Negara. You can also see races at other times of the year by commissioning a performance or by attending the rehearsals that take place every other Sunday morning.
West Bali National Park Reserve

Much of Bali’s natural landscape has been altered by the hand of man. Dense tropical forests that once covered the island have mostly now been cleared and the land molded into spectacular rice terraces and sprawling village settlements. But on the western most tip of the island, extensive montane forests. coastal swamps and marine waters have barely been disturbed by human presence. Today these areas comprise the Bali Barat (West Bali) National Park, officially gazetted in 1984 as one of ten national parks in Indonesia.

Several distinct environments are to be found within the park’s 76,312 hectares. Forested mountains ranging up to 1500 m stand in the park’s central and eastern sectors. Their southern slopes are forested with tropical vegetation that is green year round. The north is much drier than the south, hosting deciduous forests. Palm savannahs and mangrove swamps are found in the Coastal areas. Four nearby islands surrounded by coral reefs are rich in sea and bird life.

The park is home to two rare species of wildlife. The Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi), found only in Bali, is a small white bird with black wingtips and a brilliant aqua blue streak around its eyes. A hundred or so individuals still live in the wild here, mainly on Meajangan Island, and the park is soring a project to train birds donated from zoos around the world for re-release to their natural habitat. The project’s training center is located at Tegal Bunder Research Station.

Another rare species is the wild javan buffalo (Bos javanicus). Only 30 to 40 remain deep inside the park grounds. Other mammals here include rusa deer, barking deer, mouse deer, leopard, civets, macaques and several species of monkeys.
The National Park’s stated goal is to balance conservation with human needs, now and in the future. Portions of it will be preserved as a wilderness resource.

Other areas bordering on existing human settlements have been designated “buffer zones and will continue to provide these communities with needed forest resources. Several coconut and eucalyptus plantations will be reconverted to natural habitats. Still other areas are being exploited for timber. The park is also intended for controlled recreational use by Indonesians and foreigners alike.

Within the park’s boundaries are two well tourist sites. The Banyu Wedang hot spring are considered to have medicinal properties by those who believe and bathe in them. Also found here is the holy grave of Jayaprana(click to see more), a nobleman sent on a fatal mission so the king he served might wed his new bride.

source : baliguides

Singaraja Regency Tourist Destination

The important and historic realm of Buleleng is a narrow strip of land running the entire length of the island. Bounded to the north by the Bali Sea, it shares borders with Karangasem to the east and with Jembrana, Tabanan, Badung and Bangli to the south.

The spectacular chain of volcanoes that stretches right across the island for a distance of some 150 kms forms a natural frontier between Buleleng and all of the southern regencies. These mountains often appear as a distant backdrop, while at other times they seem to gently unfold right down to the coast. Lying between the mountains and the sea, Buleleng is a region of exquisite natural beauty.

In former times, the mountain range hampered contact with the rest of Bali, which in turn gave rise to Buleleng’s discrete culture. Buleleng also differs geographically from south Bali: its climate is drier and wet rice cultivation is not as widespread. In the western portion of Buleleng much of Bali’s fruit is produced, while the area is also renowned for the cultivation of coffee and cloves.

Buleleng Place of Interest
Gedong Kertya Museum

On JI. Veteran, stop in at No. 22 on the right-hand side. This is the Gedong Kertya, a library founded by the Dutch in 1928 for the preservation of lontar (Palrn.leaf texts collected in Bali and Lombok A glass display case in the second room contains these traditional manuscripts, as well as several Prasasti (ancient copper plate

Inscriptions). You may be fortunate to witness one of the employees copying an old lontar onto new palm leaves, or even see the now rare art of making prasi (drawings on palm-leaf).
Gitgit Waterfall

If you have private transport, a visit to Gitgit is a must. Ten km south of Singaraja, this is the site of Bali’s most dramatic waterfall. The road to Gitgit climbs steeply, offering fine views along the way. The waterfall, located about 500 m from the main road, is surrounded by lush vegetation. A fine, cooling mist hangs in the air, providing a refreshing welcome after the walk down. Dip your feet in the rushing river below. A rest area suitable for picnics has been built near the base of the falls.
Lovina Beach

Six km west of Singaraja. the popular beach resort of Lovina is a long stretch of black sand bordering the coastal villages of Anturan, Tukad Mungga, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Temukus. Numerous hotels and restaurants have sprung up here, lining the coast for some 7 km.

The pace of life at Lovina reflects the calmness and safety of the sea. This is an excellent spot for swimming and snorkeling, particularly near the reef, and local boats are for hire. The sunsets at Lovina are particularly spectacular.

The name “Lovina” was coined by the last king of Buleleng. A convert to Christianity, he gave the name to a small tract of land that he purchased at Kaliasem, where he built the Tasik Madu (“Sea of Honey”) Hotel in the 1960s. The name Lnvina sigaifies the “love” that is contained “in” the heart of all people.
Banjar Village & Hot Spring

From Temukus it is 3 kms to the twin villages of Dencarik and Banjar. Pass through Dencarik tu the neighboring village of Banjar Tegeha, home of the splendid Buddhist Brahma Arama Vihara. This wihara is the residence of Bali’s only Buddhist monk and it plays a central role in Buddhist religious life and education. Opened in 1971, it replaces another founded in Banjar in 1958.

It combines architectural and iconographic elements found throughout the Buddhist world. Quiet, cool, and set high in the hills, it commands a view down to the ocean. For 10 days each April and September the wihara is closed to the public while people from around the world assemble here to practice meditation. Visitors are requested to dress in a respectful manner, to speak softly, and to remove their shoes before entering.

Banjar is also the site of the so-called Air Panas, a sacred hot-spring. In 1985 the sulphurous spring water was channelled into a public bathing area consisting of 3 pools, set in a tasteful blend of jungle and garden, The water is a pleasant 38 C. There are changing rooms, showers, toilets and a restaurant.
Pulaki Temple

Pura Pulaki lies some 30 km past Seririt on the coast, Pura Pulaki is located in unusual terrain - a rock-face rises perpendicularly on the left-hand side of the road while the glimering Ocean laps the right-hand side. Pulaki, the home of monkeys who have a reputation for snatching bags and cameras, has recently undergone restoration and extension.

The temple has a fascinating history that is linked to to the legendary personage of Nirartha a Javanese priest who migrated to Bali in the 16th century. It is told that prior to his arrival a village of 8000 people existed here. When Nirartha visited, the village leader requested a boon that Nirartha granted: the entire village was to be given supernatural knowledge that would enable it to attain an immaterial state.

The invisible occupants of this village became known as gamang or wong samar and form the entourage of Goddess Melanting, whose abode is the nearby Pura Melanting. The Balinese in these parts fervently believe in the existence of the gamang and routinely make offerings to them.

For example, it is held that the entry of gamang into one’s houseyard is heralded by the howling of dogs. Occasional reports even circulate of the sighting of gamang who have momentarily materialized — they are said to have no upper lip and carry a plaited bag over one shoulder.
Menjangan Island

The most beautiful, unspoiled coral reefs in Bali are located off the coast of Pulau, Menjangan (“Deer Island”) - Comprising hundreds of species of coral, these reefs extend 100 to 150 m from the shore, then drop 40 to 60 m down to the ocean floor. Menjangan and the nearby mainland are excellent places for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. A 45 minute nature walk on Pulau Menjangan, which is uninhabited except for the Java Deer, affords beautiful panoramic views of the mountainous mainland.

To reach Pulau Menjangan, hire a boat at Labuhan Lalang, just opposite the island on the north coast of Bali. The round-trip cost is about $20 for 6 people. Snorkeling and scuba equipment are not available here, but you can organize this through one of the many diving tour operators in Kuta or Sanur. The boat will stop wherever you want, and the boatmen are experienced guides. It is forbidden to spend the night on Menjangan, but food and simple lodgings are available at Labuhan Lalang.
Makam Jayaprana

At Teluk Terima, a short distance down the road, visit Makam Jayaprana. the gravesite of Jayaprana. According to Balinese legend, Jayaprana was an orphan who was raised by the ruler of Kalianget village. As an adult he married the lovely Nyoman Layonsari from the neighboring village of Banjar.

However, the ruler himself became enamoured of Javaprana’s bride and schemed to kill Jayaprana to have her for himself. He dispatched Jayaprana with an army to contain a band of pirates who he said had arrived in northwestern Bali. On arrival at Teluk Terima the ruler’s minister killed and buried Jayaprana. When the ruler asked Layonsari to marry him, however, she chose to remain faithful to her husband and committed suicide.

The temple marking jayaprana’s grave is a long and steep climb but the views from about halfway across to Mt Semeru on Java. to Menjangan Island. and to Gilimanuk at the western tip of Bali. make the effort all worthwhile. The temple, which contains a glass case displaying statues of Jayaprana and Layonsari, is pure kitsch.
Air Sanih

Seventeen km from Singaraja is the well known beach resort of Air Sanih. Its main attraction is not its beach but rather a swimming pool located near the beach. Its icy water originates from a spring and is said to flow at a rate of 800 liters per second. Not as popular with visitors as Lovina, Air Sanih with its accommodation and restaurants is, nevertheless, a good place to recuperate if you are traveling in the area.

Karangasem Regency Tourist Destination

The beautiful eastern regency of Karangasem is truly something special distinguishing itself in so many ways from the rest of the island. Physically it is dominated by the towering presence of Mt Agung (3142 m), the island’s most sacred and highest volcano, whose dramatic foothills and lava flows provide some of the most spectacular landscapes found anywhere in Bali. High up on Mt Agung’s southern flanks perches the great ‘Mother Temple” of Besakih, while to the south and east lie a number of more or less isolated villages that have played a key role in Balinese history.

Culturally, Karangasem is in fact a very conservative area. Here, for example, the use of the various Balinese speech levels is more strictly adhered to and a number of archaic ritual, dance and musical forms have been maintained right up until the present day. The eastern and northern parts of the regency are quite arid, and overall this is a less denselypopulated area than southern Bali. In fact, it has many affinities with the drier and more rugged islands of eastern Indonesia — more so than any other part of the island.

Altogether Karangasem encompasses ao area of 861 sq km. and according to the 1987 census the population numbers around 350.000 souls, meaning that the average population density is about 400 per sq km. Most the populace, however, lives in central and southern Karangasem, especially around the capital of Amlapura. and population densities here are much higher than the average.
Silayukti Temple

Following the main road from Klungkung. you cross the border into Karangasem shortly after the village of Kusamba and the well- known temple of Goa Lawah. The road continues eastward through coconut groves for several kms before reaching a turn-off. To the right is a road leading to Padangbai, a major harbor for ships to Lombok and points east, as well as for smaller boats to Nusa Penida. It is worth the 2 km detour to see the picturesque, semi-circular hills surrounding a sparkling blue bay.

The village itself has several small hotels and restaurants. A famous temple, Pura Silayukti, where the Buddhist sage Mpu Kuturan is said to have lived in the 11th century, is also located here.
Tenganan Village

Time is reckoned differently in Tenganan Pegringsingan. Here, each new day begins with 21 deep, throbbing drunibeats and lasts until the same pulsating tones are struck the next morning. Tourists arrive when the sun is at its zenith and the valley is glowing with light. They leave towards evening, when the all-important religious ceremonies Commence. A month in Tenganan lasts exactly 30 days. Modifications to the calendar are needed to adjust to the lunar-solar year; altogether 15 days are added every three years.
Candidasa

Continuing east another 7 km, past the villages of Ulakan and Sengkidu, the main road enters Candi Dasa just after the Tenganan turn-off. The name Candi Dasa was originally applied just to two small temples. one for Siwa and the other for Hariti, that overlook a beautiful palm-fringed lagoon by the beach, Hariti is mainly worshipped by childless parents who pray for children.

Toward the end of the 1970s the first bungalows appeared by the beach here. From 1982 onwards a building frenzy set in and is still continuing so that new hotels, shops and restaurants seem to open almost weekly. As a result Candidasa is now encroaching on the Buitan area to the west site of several luxurious bungalows hotels which specialize in snorkelling and diving trips.

Candidasa today is a bustling seaside resort with the full range of hotels, homestays, disco-bars, moneychangers, shops and restaurants. How long the development will continue is an open question, as the beach is oding quickly and the once-spectacular view across the sacred lagoon to the beach is now blocked by two-storey bungalows.

Dance and music performances for visitors are being developed, but these do not seem to be of high quality. The main attraction of the area is as a base from which to visit the neighboring village of Tenganan, some 5 kms away. Swimming is only more or less possible at high tide. Despite these disvantages, Candidasa enjoys cool breezes and is a good resting point for trips to the east and north.
The Palace of Karangasem

The main attraction of Amlapura is its traditional palaces or puri. There is a western, a northern, a southern and an eastern puri as well as several others, all still occupied by members of the royal family. Of these, only the Puri Kangin (the eastern palace) on the main road to the market is easily visited. This is worth a look, as it gives a vivid impression of how local royals used to live.

The palace buildings themselves are in fact an eccentric blend of Chinese and European details set what is essentially a traditional Balinese com pound with several pavilions and rooms surrounded by pools and connected by walk ways. The main hall is called the “Bale London” and the furniture curiously hears the crest of the British royal family. One can even rent rooms here the perfect accommodation for the aspiring aristocrat.
Puri Taman ujung ( Floating Palace )

Ujung- 8km to the south of Amlapura, is a small fishing village with distinct Islamic and Hindu-Balinese quarters. The lavish palace complex here a vast pool bordered by small pavilions with a massive stained glass and stucco bungalows in the center was completely destroyed by the eruption of Mt Agung and subsequent earthquakes. Little else but a few sculptures and portals remain, though there are plans afoot to restore the palace to its original condition as a tourist attraction. Now the restoration is still underway over there.
Tirtagangga

The cool, spring-fed pools at Tirtagangga which literally means “Ganges Water” and refers to the sacred river of the Hindus are located some 15 km northwest of Amlapura along the main road toward Singaraja. A dip in the poois is deliciously refreshing after a long drive, and they are surrounded by a captivating landscape of terraced ricefields. The village itself is small and quiet, and is a good place to pause and rest for several hours or even several days to take advantage of the many delightful walks from here.

One can stay overnight inside the pool complex itself, known officially as Tirta Ayu (“lovely waters’), where a son of the last king of Karangasem operates a small homestay. Another exciting possibility is to stay in a small lodging on a nearby hill with a view over the famous Tirtagangga rice terraces.
Abang Rice fields

From here there are a number of excellent treks through the surrounding countryside. One of the most spectacular begins to the north in the village of Tanaharon, quite high on the slopes of Mt Agung. One may reach it on foot or by car. To get there, follow the main road north from Tirtagangga in the direction of Singaraja for several kilometers, then turn left at Abang and follow a small climbing road up to the end. From here one may continue on foot, enjoying the broad panoramas in all directions and the thick, tree-fern vegetation.
Besakih "The Mother Temple"

Driving up to Besakih from Menanga, the silver-grey cone of Mt Agung looms above, its summit still bare from the ravages of the 1963 eruption. At 3142 meters, this is the highest peak on Bali, and a major locus of divine power in the Balinese cosmos.

The huge temple located here, Pura Besakih, is the greatest of all Balinese sanctuaries the most sacred and powerful of the island’s innumerable temples. For this reason, it has always been associated also with state power. It lies at an altitude of 900 meters on the southwestern slope of the mountain, offering spectacular views over the whole of southern Bali.
Tulamben Beach, a diving heaven

Some of Bali's most interesting diving is gound at tulamben, where the shallow wreck of WWII Us cargo ship is now festooned with colourfull corals and schools of tropical fish. It is also one of the few places one can stay on the east coast, north of Candi Dasa. The beach although pebbled, is quite pretty and the water is clear and good for snorkelling. There are numbers of losmen and warung along the main beach, and it can give quite busy here on the weekends and throughtout June and July.

The wreck of the Liberty is the most popular dive site on Bali. It was torpedoed by a japanese submarine about 15 km south west of Lombok on 11 January 1942. Two US destroyers tried to tow it to Singaraja, but it started to take in water and was beached at Tulamben. The crew were evacuated, but its cargo of raw rubber and railway parts were never retrieved. It sat in the beach until 1963, when the eruption of Mt. Agung caused it to slip into deeper water where it broke into two pieces.

It lies only 50 metres offshore, parralel with the coast, and its bow only metres from surface. There are over 400 species of reef fish, mostly accustomed to divers, and they will often eat out of your hand. The wreck can be visited by up to 40 divers at a time, especially between 11.30am and 4 pm, so avoid the site at that time.

source : baliguides

Gianyar Regency Tourist Destination

Gianyar is the very heart of Bali a modern and prosperous center of the arts with a history dating back a thousand years. Most of the cultural activities relating to tourism on the island from painting and woodcarving to dance and music are focused here, as is a broad range of agricultural activities.
Gianyar is the second most densely populated district of Bali (after Badung), with the majority of its 340,000 people relying upon tourism for their income. Nevertheless, the region is quite diverse, economically as well as geographically. The old harbors of Ketewel and Kramas down on the coast are still fishing villages, while up in the mountainous plateau above Ubud, vanilla, coffee and cloves are grown. The rich volcanic soils in between are fed by two of Bali’s major rivers the Ayung and the Petanu and from these soils grows some of Bali’s best rice.

Batubulan Village: Home of the Barong

Ten km northeast of Denpasar, Batubulan is a village known throughout Bali for its ornate door-guardian statues, carved of soft paras volcanic tuff. Until these became popular for secular use earlier in this century, the carvings were only used in temples or palaces, but this artform has spread extensively in recent years and is today found in homes and public buidings. Batubulan is also home to three famous Barong

Dance troupes who perform Seven times a week at 9.30am on their own stages before bus-loads of enthralled tourists. The development of these groups parallels that of tourism in Bali, but even so the Batubulan barong troupes are relatively young. The first, the Danjalan Barong Group, was established in 1970, while the Tegaltamu and Puri Agung groups were formed later. The three troupes also perform on a large stage that was constructed especially for this purpose in the outer courtyard of Pura Puseh Bendul in 1986.
Celuk Village: jewelry of silver and gold

Although many arts and crafts have prospered in Celuk, the village has evolved into a center for silver and gold smithing. Almost every home in the village contains small scale production facilities fufilling orders placed by large shops and exporters. Bracelets, rings, earrings and brooches, to name a few of range of products produced here, have started to enter the export market. The silver and gold craft trade was pieered by the Beratan clan of smiths (pande). Nowadays most Celuk residents, whether or not they are members of the pande clan, have become gold and silver smiths.
Singapadu Village: village of the 'twin kings'

The history of the small village of Singapadu, just up the road from Batubulan, goes back to the reign of I Dewa Kaleran, a king of Kalianget who assisted the ruler of Sukawati, I Dewa Agung Anm, to defeat the king of Mengwi with the aid of two powerful kerises.

As an expression of gratitude and to strengthen family ties, I Dewa Agung Anom offered his sister to be Dewa Kaleran’s bride. Impatient at the long wait for his sister’s pregnancy, I Dewa Agung then presented another Pnncess to Dewa Kaleran, this time one who was already pregnant.

This princess gave birth to a boy, called I Dewa Agung Api. Meanwhile Dewa Agung’s first wife also became pregnant and gave birth to another son, Dewa Kaleran Sakti. With the birth of both sons, two princes had rights to the throne, and the name singhapadu meaning "twin lions" was given to the place.
Sukawati Village: Ancient court and Bali's best dalangs

Conveniently located midway between mountain slopes and the sea on the main road north of Denpasar on the way to Ubud, Sukawati is a modest town of few tourist attractions as such, yet it is rich in cultural traditions and offers much for the interested visitor.

At one time, Sukawati stood with Klungkung as one of the two great negara or kingdoms of Bali. From Tegallalang to Ubud to Singapadn. topeng mask dancers still interprete the history of the old realm of Sukawati before rapt audiences. Here the arts have remained vital, thanks to royal patronage and commissions from other parts of the island. Sukawati is best known, however, for its many shadow-puppet masters or dalang. As many as 20 of these artists and their troupes are available for hire for ceremonial occasions and they travel all over Bali to perform. The Balinese say that the dalang of Sukawati are the best on the island because of many generations of experience.

The commercial center of town is the Pasar Seni or Art Market. With patience and a sense of humor one can find bargains here on everything from woodcarvings to paintings. Along the main road, shops cater to local needs such as baskets and ceremonial umbrellas.
Batuan Village: village of Ancestral Spirits

For over a thousand years Batuan has been a village of artists and craftsmen, old legends and mysterious tales. Batuan’s recorded history begins in A.D. 1022, with an inscription that is housed in the main village temple, Pura Desa Batuan. The name “Batuan” or “Baturan” mentioned here prompts villagers to joke about being “tough as stone” or “eating rocks” — as batu means “stone” in Balinese.

But it likely refers to an ancient megalithic tradition in which standing stones served as meeting places and ceremonial sites for the worship of ancestral spirits. Because Batuan became a center from which Buddhist priests and brahmans spread to the main court centers of south Bali, the village has an unusual preponderance of brabmans. DeZoete and Spies, in their famous book Dance and Drama in Bali, describe it almost entirely a brahman village.

Besides the dances, performed in the central part of the village, Batuan is also famous for its wayang wong, masked performances of stories from the Ramayana. This is exclusively performed in the banjar (hamlet) known as Den Tiis. From Den Tiis also came the inspiration for the modern Batuan style of painting call The ‘Batuan style’.
Mas Village: woodcarving village

The village of Mas lies on the main road, 20 km to the north of Denpasar and 6 km before Ubud, in a hilly countryside covered with ricefields and irrigated year-round by the waters of the Batuan aud Sakah rivers.

Today the village appears as a succession of palatial artshops, as Mas has developed into a flourishing center for the woodcarving craft. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine what the village was like before dozens of tourist buses started to drop in everyday yet Mas actually played an important role in Balinese history during the 16th century, as it was the place where a great priest from Java, Danghyang Nirartha (also called Dwijendra), had his hermitage (griya).

During the 1930s, under the influence of Walter Spies and Pita Maha, a new style of woodcarving developed here. The motifs were more realistic, and inspired by everyday scenes featuring humans and animals. Several of these early works may now be seen in Ubud’s Puri Lukisan museum.

During this period, woodcarvings began to be appreciated and purchased by foreigners, but only after 1970 did the real boom take place. The first art shops in Mas were those of Ketut Roja (Siadja & Son), followed by Ida Bagus Nyana and his son Ida Bagus Tilem, and Ida Bagus Taman (Adil Artshop). At first they all produced works of quality in limited quantities, mainly working with locally-available woods.
Peliatan Village: home of legendary legong

Peliatan is best known for its legong — a graceful dance traditionally performed by two pre-pubescent girls in glittering costumes. Indeed, the first Balinese dance troupe to travel abroad was a legong group from Peliatan that performed at the Paris Exhibition in 1931 under the leadership of the late Anak Agung Gede Mandera (affectionately known as “Gung Kak”) a man who excelled in both music and dance. The group’s performances created a sensation, it was then, for example, that French actor Antonin Artaud first witnessed the Balinese barong.

Peliatan is also a village of carvers and painters. Everywhere you go you see orchids, fruits, frogs, ducks and birds being fashioned out of wood. These are all of course for tourists.
Ubud Village: village of haven for the arts

Far from the madding crowds, Ubud has long been a quiet haven for the arts. Set amidst emerald green rice paddies and steep ravines in the stunning central Balinese foothills, some 25 km north of Denpasar, the village was originally an important source of medicinal herbs and plants. “Ubud” in fact derives from the Balinese word for medicine — ubad.

It was here that foreign artists such as Walter Spies settled during the 1920s and ‘30s, transforming the village into a flourishing center for the arts. Artists from all parts of Bali were invited to settle here by the local prince, Cokorda Gede Sukawati, and Ubud’s palaces and temples are now adorned by the work of Bali’s master artisans as a result. Unfortunately, the tourist boom has transformed Ubud into a bustling business center, complete with traffic jams and fast food outlets.
Petulu Village, place of Herons

Petulu is the pace to witness white herons hovering over the village as they alight in lofty trees at sunset. Mention any of the above names, and villagers will point you the way.
Goa Gajah: Elephant Cave

The first major site encountered coming from the south or from Ubud, just 2km east of the Teges intersection, is the complex known as Goa Gajah the famous “Elephant Cave.” It overlooks the Petanu River and consists of a Siwaitic rock-cut cave, a bathing place, a monks’ chamber, a number of Buddhist rock cut stupas and statues, and several foundations. It received its name from the archaeologists who discovered it in 1923, because there is a giant head with floppy ears above the entrance which was at a first glance thought to represent an elephant.
Yeh Pulu

A couple of kms to the east, in the direction of Bedulu just off the main road, are the antiquities of Yeh Pulu, dating from the late 14th century. These consist of reliefs cut out of the rock and a sacred well. The reliefs are in a naturalistic style. Click here for more informations.
The Moon of Pejeng

The area north of Bedulu, around Pejeng and Intaran, contains many antiquities. The most important is the Pura Penataran Sasih, which forms part of a group of three temples. Sasih means “moon” and refers to the “Moon of Pejeng” a giant bronze kettledrum kept high up in a shrine in the temple.
Pura Pusering Jagat

This area was also once considered the “navel of the world” and there is a temple bearing this name, the Pura Pusering Jagat in Pejeng. It contains several interesting Hindu antiquities, probably dating from the 14th century, which are now placed in shrines.
Pura Kebo Edan

Another temple in Pejeng, the Pura Kebo Edan, possesses the statue of a standing giant 3.60 m tall. He is called Kebo Edan, the Mad One. The figure has a huge penis with four “penis pins” pierced through it right under the glans. The use of such pins to increase a woman’s sexual pleasure is an old custom known throughout Southeast Asia.

The giant stands in a dancing position and tramples a human figure, its face covered with something which may be a mask, as it is tied with ribbons at the back. The figure may represent a demonic manifestation of Siwa as a dancer. There is another statue representing a fat, crouching demon holding a big skull upside down in front of his chest The demon is wearing a diadem decorated with small skulls on his curly hair. The style of these statues points to the 13th-14th century.
Archaeological Museum

While in the Pejeng area, stop in also at the Archaeological Museum, located just two km north of Bedulu on the main road. Here are displayed quite a number of stone sarcophagi, neolithic axe heads, bronze jewelry and figurines and Chinese ceramics.
Goa Garba

Goa Garba lies northeast of Pejeng, on the western side of the Pakrisan. The complex can be entered via steep steps through a gateway at the back of the Pengukur-ukuran temple in the village of Sawah Gunung. One arrives at a hermitage consisting of three caves with slanting roofs.

There is an inscription in Kadiri square script in one of these saying "sri" a lucky sign. On the basis of the script, the complex may be dated to the late 11th century. Water basins with spouts are hewn in front of the niches. There are sever pedestals with fragments of stone statues a lingga. In the temple above, two stone Ganesas, a lingga and a winged stone snake with an inscription dated AD. 1194 are found.

Krobokan, on the eastern side of the Pakrisan (near the village of Cemadik), dates from the 12th century. Where the waters of the rivers Krobokan and Pakrisan flow togetger, a 6 m high, oval-shaped niche with the facade of a temple in relief is cut into the rock. It is flanked by a small hermit’s cave with a rectangular aperture and a slanting roof.
Gunung Kawi, Mountain of Poet

From Pejeng, the road begins a slow but steady ascent of Mt Batur. About halfway to the top, just near the source of the Pakrisan River, are two sites of great antiquity. The first, near Tampaksiring, is a famous complex of rock-cut monuments dating from the late 11th century and known as Gunung Kawi the “mountain of the poet.”
Tirta Empul

In an inscription dated AD. 960 discovered in Pura Sakenan temple in the village of Manuk Aya, mention is made of a double pool dug around a well near the source of the river Pakrisan. The king transformed this into a holy bathing place, called Air Ampul. This is the present-day Tirta Empul one of the most sacred spots on Bali. It lies just north of Tampaksiring along a well marked road.

The sanctuary consists of an outer courtyard with a basin for public use and a central courtyard with two adjacent, rectangular pools (for those who fought Maya Danawa and were cleansed by the God Indra) containing clear, transparent water all surrounded by a low wall of recent construction.

There are 15 spouts in these pools. The inner court has two pavilions, one of which is for the god Indra (Maya Danawa’s adversary), and more than 20 small shrines with newly-carved and freshly-painted wooden doors decorated with reliefs. Among these is one devoted to the rice goddess (Dewi Sri), one to the Lord of Majapahit, and one to Mt Batur.

source : baliguides

Badung Regency Tourist Destination

Museum Bali

On the eastern side of Puputan Square is the Museum Bali. Erected in 1932 by the Dutch, and with the subsequent assistance of Walter Spies, it attempts to present a historical account of Balinese culture within an architectural framework.
Housed in Tabanan, Karangasem and Buleleng styles of architecture, the museum illustrates the two types of construction in Bali: temples and palaces. The split gate, outer and inner courtyards, and kul kul drum typify the temple; while the thatched roofs, ornate windows and verandahs characterize the palace.

The main two storey building located at the back of the entrance courtyard, houses traditional artifacts from Bali’s prehistory, including a massive stone sarcophagus. There are also two black and white photographs documenting the 1906 puputan at Badung.
The first pavilion was designed in the Singaraja style of architecture and contains textiles including endek (ikat), geringsing (double ikat) and silk songket. The second pavilion, built in the style of an 18th century Karangasem palace, houses religious and ceremonial artifacts. The third pavilion is reminiscent of Tabanan palaces and displays the masks, costumes and puppets associated with music and dance.
The museum's contents are a little disappointing, as some items are poorly labeled and rather haphazardly arranged. Nonetheless, the museum is worth visiting for the examples of architecture, and it does give the visitor an idea of the history and culture of the island.
The museum is open: Tuesday to Thursday 7.30am 1.30pm. Friday 7.30am 11.30am. Saturday to Sunday 8arn 12pm. Closed Monday.
Kumbasari Traditional Market
A traditional market that most balinese bought all the necessary material needed to make offerings. Start early in the morning. The seller mostly from north part of Bali. If near Hindu holy day like Galungan the market packed onto the street causing traffic jam.

Pura Maospahit

Of the temples, the most ancient is Pura Maospahit, right in the middle of the city on the road to Tabanan. It dates back to the Javanization of Bali in the 14th century. No less interesting, although more recent, are the temples of the royal families: Pura Kesiman with its beautiful split gate, Pura Satria and its lively bird market, and Pura Nambang Badung near the princely compounds of Pemecutan and Pemedilan.
Werdhi Budaya Art Center

For modern Balinese architecture, do not miss the Werdhi Budaya Art Center. New shrine of the island’s culture, hosts a museum of the Balinese arts as well as stages for dance and theater. On its monumental Ksira Arnawa stage are held equally monumental displays of modern Balinese choreography.
Le Mayeur Museum

The former home of the Belgian painter, Le Mayeur (1880 1958), who arrived in Bali in 1932 at the age of 52. He lived on the outskirts of Denpasar until captivated by the young Legong dancer, Ni Polok. Said to be stunningly beautiful, she regularly posed for the artist and they later married and moved to the residence in Sanur. The house has been maintained as a museum by the Indonesian Government since Ni Polok's death in 1985.
Built on the beachfront, much of the original 1935 dwelling remains. The low roofed wooden house is quite impressively decorated with ornate carvings, gold and red doors, and window shutters displaying carved scenes from the Ramayana. Most of Le Mayeur's work was undertaken in the tiny garden courtyard which is littered with statuary and shrines. Many of his works are displayed inside, but there's a surprising dearth of
his Balinese paintings. Le Mayeur often worked in offs but there are also charcoal and photographic portraits. Two of the most outstanding portraits are of Ni Polok, but from the displays, it's obvious she was not his sole inspiration.
Located behind the Grand Bali Beach Hotel. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 8am 4pm; Friday 8am 1.30pm; Sunday 8am 4pm Closed on Monday and Saturday.
Prasasti Blanjong

The Sanur area, with traditional Intaran at its heart, has evidently been settled since ancient times. The Prasasti Belanjong, an inscribed pillar here dated AD. 913, is Bali’s earliest dated artifact now kept in a temple in Belanjong village in the south of Sanur. It tells of King Sri Kesari Warmadewa of the Sailendra Dynasty in Java, who came to Bali to teach Mahayana Buddhism and then founded a monastery here. One may tiresume that a fairly civilized community then existed the Sailendra kings having built Borobudur in Central Java at about this time.
It is interesting that the village square of Intaran is almost identical to that of Songan village on the crater lake of Mt. Batur particularly the location and size of the bale agung, the wantilan community hall and associated buildings. The priests of Sanur-Intaran are often mentioned in historical chronicles dating from Bali’s “Golden Age” the 13th to the 16th centuries. It was not until the arly 19th century, however, that the king of the pemecutan court in Denpasar saw fit to lace his satriya princelings outside the village’s medieval core.
Before that, Sanur consisted of Brahman griya (mansions) in Inataran and several attediant communities the brahman banjar of Anggarkasih, the fishing village of Belong (which still holds a yearly baris gede warrior dance at the Pura Dalem Kedewatan temple near the Grand Bali Beach Hotel), and the village of Taman, whose Brahmans have traitionafly served as the region’s chief administrator or perbekel. Taman is also home to an electric barong troupe complete with an impish telek escort, a pas de deux by the freaky jauk brothers and a spine tingling last act featuring the evil witch Rangda all amidst fluttering poleng checkered banners.
Sanur Village

The black and white checkered cloth standard of Bali’s netherworld is nowhere more aptly hung than on the ancient coral statues and shrines of Bali’s largest traditional village: Sanur. This was Bali’s first beach resort a place of remarkable contrasts.
Sanur today is a golden mile of Baliesque hotels that has attracted millions of paradise seeking globetrotters. And yet, within the very grounds of the 11story The Grand Bali Beach Hotel, a war-reparation gift from the Japanese, nestles the sacred and spikey temple of Ratu Ayu of Singgi, the much feared spirit consort of Sanur’s fabled Black Barong.
Sanur is famous throughout Bali for its sorcery. Black and white magic pervades the coconut groves of the resort hotels like an invisible chess game. And yet the community is modern and prosperous.
Sanur is one of the few remaining brahman kuasa villages in Bali controlled by members of the priestly caste and boasts among its charms some of the handsomest processions on the island, Bali’s only all female keris dance, the island’s oldest stone inscription, and the hotel world’s most beautiful tropical garden. Even the souvenirs sold on the beach beautifully crafted kites and toy ontriggers are a cut above those found on the rest of the island.
Serangan Island

Serangan is a small island lying just off Bali’s southern coast near Sanur. It has an area of only 180 acres and a population of about 2500, and is known principally for its turtles and its important Sakenan Temple.
Kuta & Legian Village

Kuta/Legian beach is living proof that one man’s hell is another man’s paradise. This bustling beach resort has in the short space of just two decades spontaneously burst onto center stage in the local tourist scene. It is here that many visitors form their first (if not only) impressions of what Bali is all about. Many are shocked and immediately flee in search of the “real Bali” (a mythological destination somewhere near Ubud).
The truth is, nevertheless, that certain souls positively thrive in this labyrinth of boogie bars, beach bungalows, cassette shops and honky tonks all part of the Kuta lifestyle. What then is the magic that has transformed this sleepy fishing village overnight into an overcrowded tourist Mecca with no end in sight to its haphazard expansion?
Before tourism came to the area, Kuta was one of the poorest places on Bali — plagued by poor soils, endemic malaria and a surf-wracked beach that provides little protection for shipping. In the early days, it nevertheless served as a port for the powerful southern Balinese kingdom of Bathing whose capital lay in what is now Denpasar.
Nusa Dua Village

Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa are Bali’s modern tourist resorts a government-run dreamland of coconut palms, white sand beaches and pristine waters located near the island’s southernmost tip. Geologically, the area is quite different from the rest of Bali, and even from the rest of the Bukit peninsula upon which it rests.
Instead of rice fields or limestone cliffs, there is sandy soil reaching down to a long, sandy beach protected by a reef. Coconut trees are everywhere. Nusa Dua was once a huge coconut plantation. The climate here is also drier than the rest of Bali, freshened by a mild ocean breeze.
Jimbaran Village

Jimbaran as an administrative entity part of Kuta. and encompasses the area just of Bali’s international airport. Most of jimbaran’s 12,000 inhabitants live in a cluster of traditional battier neighborhoods at the narrowest part of the isthmus, but the Jimbaran area also includes the sparsely populated nort est corner of the Bukit plateau. Click here for more informations.
Uluwatu Temple

The Bukit’s most famous landmark in Jimbaran is Pura Luhur Uluwatu, an exquisite monument situated on a headland at the westernmost tip of the Peninsula. The carvings which decorate the temple are very well preserved in comparison to many of Bali’s temples, due to the extremely hard, dark gray coral stone used in its construction.
Uluwatu was reputedly built by the architect-priest Mpu Kuturan around the 11th century as one of the six major sad kahyangan territorial temples of the island. The reformer priest Pedanda Wawu Rauh, rebuilt it in its present state in the 16th century. He is said to have attained his moksa (release from earthly desires) here. The temple is home to a small colony of monkeys who have caused some damage to the temple over the years, but still retain their status as sitting tenants.
The temple’s structure follows the tripartite pattern of godly, human and demonic courtyards. The outermost entrance is a candi bentar split gate shaped as a set of curved Garuda wings, an unusual feature as they are usually left smooth. Inside the temple, a second gate is capped by a monstruous Kala head guardian figure. At the foot of the gate, right and left, are two Ganesha “elephant god” statues.
The temple underwent renovations in the late 19th century, in 1949, and more recently in the 1980s, and some parts are actually as new as they look. Despite the temple’s mixture of old and new it is a breathtakingly beautiful spot, especially when the sun begins to set.
Ulun Siwi Temple

Pura Ulun Siwi (or Ulun Swi) is Jimbaran’s best-known “sight” for the Balinese as well as for tourists. This large temple lies at the northwestern corner of the principal crossroads, across the street from the market. It is unusual for several reasons. Firstly it faces east, rather than south. During prayers. the worshippers face west, rather than to the north, to Gunung Agung, as is the usual practice. This is attributed to the fact that the temple once a primitive shrine, became a Hindu- Balinese temple fairly early, in the 11th century- At this toe the Javanese holy man who founded the temple, Mpu Kuturan, still followed the custom of his native Java in orienting his temples toward holy Mt. Semeru, in East Java. It was only much later that Gunung Agung became the focus of Balinese Hinduism.
The temple has only two courtyards, instead of the usual three. The spacious intedor courtyard measures 66 x 30 meters and is dominated by an enormous eleven-tiered meru tower that is more massive than artistic. The temple has been periodically renovated, but remains simple and rustic, lacking the ornate paras stone carvings that characterize the temples of Gianyar.
The principal gate, a kori agung with wings, is very similar in construction to that of Pura Uluwatu on the Bukit, except that it is made of brick instead of coral stone. There is a close connection between these two temples, and it is said that one should pray at Pura Ulun Siwi before proceeding to Pura Uluwatu.
Ulun Siwi is unusual in yet another way. It is the principal temple in Bali dedicated to the welfare of both wet and dry rice fields, and the spirits which live in the temple are thought to control the mice and insects such as grasshoppers that periodically infest the fields. Farmers and farming groups regularly come to Pura Uluwatu to get water, which they then take back home and sprinkle on their fields either to protect them from these pests or to rid them of those already present.
Sangeh Mongkey Forest

In Sangeh, 15 km beyond Mengwi, lies the famous Monkey Forest and Pura Bukit Sari temple. This small temple may date from the founding of Mengwi, although it is also said that it existed in the 17th century. There is an old statue here of Garuda, the mount of Wisnu, who is also associated with the search for the magic elixer (amreta) to release his parents from their torments in hell.
The temple is surrounded by tall nutmeg trees with greyish-white trunks. These are very rare in Bali, and it is clear that they have been planted deliberately. Many monkeys roam about in the forest. They are quite a nuisance, for they attack visitors and steal their spectacles, jewellery, watches and handbags, and make life impossible for souvenir vendors in little shops closeby. It is said that some of Hanoman’s monkey troops fell down with the top of Mt Mahameru on Sangeh when he tried to crush the evil demon king Rawana with it.
Mengwi Village

The village of Mengwi, the former political center of the region, is reached via a turnoff to the right just past Bringkit. Traveling north for 3 km, one soon enters the town, and just west of the main crossroads, the palace of the present Cokorda is to be found. It is surrounded by grey walls and in the northern corner stands a large, square bell tower with lovely carvings.

Pura Taman Ayun

A hundred meters east of the crossroads lies the fabulous state temple of Mengwi, Pura Taman Avun. Taman Ayu refers to a huge open space (ayun) representing a garden (taman). It was constructed under Cokorda Munggu around 1740, and was restored and enlarged in 1937. It “floats,” as it were, surrounded by a moat with lotuses. This represents the heavens, where divine nymphs and ancestors relax in floating pavilions and enjoy themselves. At present, one may row round the sanctuary in a little rented boat.
Pura Sada

The rulers of Mengwi were famous for the temples they built. The oldest of these is Pun Sada, a few hundred meters south of the main road in Kapal, about 15 km to the northwest of Denpasar. The name sada may derive from the Old Javanese and Sanskrit term prasada, meaning a tower temple. There is indeed a huge shrine in the shape of a tiered tower in the inner conrt. The local inhabitants call this temple a candi, meaning a funerary monument for a deceased king.

source : balitourguides

Bali Travel Tips

The following list has been compiled to help you make the most of your travel in Bali. If you have any further concerns that are not mentioned here, please do not hesitate to contact us via E-mail with any questions or queries that you may have. The best time to visit Bali is during the dry season, April to September. Humidity is down and nights can be cool. Australians visit in droves at christmas and during May-August school holidays.
Bali Travel Tips that you should DO:
√ ...change money at a reputable looking location, use your own (or the hotel's) calculator before changing!
√...put on loads of High Factor Waterproof Sun Cream (especially if you intend to spend a lot of time in the water).
√...drink a lot of bottled water and eat a lot of fresh fruit - do your body a favor.
...be careful with your belongings at all times. Crime is on the increase and can ruin your holiday. Cases of handbag snatching have been reported, so leave important documents in your hotel safe and wear your bag across your shoulders!
√...try not to step on offerings in the street (walk around them).
√...respect the slow pace of processions when stuck behind one, i.e. don't honk!
√...haggle when buying (except on price-tagged goods.)
√...buy 'Immodium' to relieve bouts of Bali belly.
√...have a great holiday!
Bali Travel Tips that you should not DO:
×...forget to take your passport (or a photocopy of your ID), with you at all times
×...swim outside designated swimming areas on the beach, currents can be very strong. Swim between the red and yellow flags.
×...do drugs! It can carry the death penalty, and there are enough foreigners residing in Bali courtesy of the Govt. prison service!
×...touch people's heads - it is very offensive to Hindus.
×...enter a temple during menstruation. Sorry Ladies!
×...forget to put salt on your food & drink water - you will probably sweat a lot.
×...worry too much about the ice - it's government-quality controlled in established bars and restaurants.
×...forget to look and listen while you cross the road. Cars may stop, motorbikes may not!
×..forget to reconfirm your flight 72 hours prior to flying. Airport Departure Tax is:
International = Rp. 100,000 Domestic = Rp. 20,000
Passports and Visas
Bali Visa. Important change to Indonesia's Visa Policy for Traveller.

Please read carefully as there have been changes to Indonesia visa policy. This affects all arrivals to Indonesia after February 1, 2004, are subject to new visa regulations

It is important to also note the following:

* The Visa on Arrival is non-extendable and cannot be converted into a different visa.
* The Visa purchasing system will take approximately 3-5 minutes per applicant.
* There are 6 payment counters, a bank and a money changer set up to process payments
* Once you have paid for and received your visa you will need to proceed to Immigration where your visa will be processed

Citizens of countries not on the visa on arrival or visa free lists will be required to apply for a visa before entering Indonesia.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Indonesia, and you must have proof of onward passage (either return or through tickets). If you cannot fulfill both of these requirements, you may not be allowed to enter the country

Currency
The Rupiah. Notes 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000. Coins 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000.

Bali Time
Bali Time Zone is GMT + 8 hours.

Bali Electricity
Most hotels use 220 volts, 50 cycles and a round, two-pronged slim plug. Bathroom shaver plugs usually have a transformer switch. We suggest taking an adaptor for your appliance.

Getting Around Bali
You will find a range of chauffeur driven limousines, self-drive cars, taxis and hotel courtesy cars. Many taxis are not metered so it's wise to negotiate the fare before you climb aboard. Bemos are a unique form of transport. They are a mini-van masquerading as a communal bus. You simply hail the driver and negotiate the fare that suits you both. Motorcycles can also be hired in many places but special care should be exercised at all times as road and traffic conditions can be somewhat hazardous in certain locations. Traveling around Bali is made all the easier because everywhere you go you'll find friendly people only too happy to give you advice and directions on how to get where you want to go.

Driver's License
If you wish to hire a car you must be over 115 years of age and posses an International Driver's License or license from ASEAN countries.

Clothing
Light, airy, casual clothes are the most practical and you'll find natural fibers like cotton or linen are the most comfortable in Bali's often humid conditions. Waist sashes should be worn when visiting temples.

A Word of Advice from Bali Travel Tips:

Bali Travel Fact : Attending Ceremonies
remember these are serious occasions and should be treated as such. Religious guidelines:

1. Always wear a sarong and sash.
2. Do not walk in front of people praying.
3. Do not use flash camera or push your camera into the priest's face!
4. Never sit higher than the priest or the offerings.
5. At cremations, do not get in the way of the attendees - however important that photographic opportunity is!
6. Women are not allowed to enter temples during menstruation.

Bali Travel Fact : Dangerous Sports
make sure you either have personal insurance or travel insurance that will cover any accidents.

Bali Travel Fact : Bali Driving
In Bali always expects the unexpected; always keep your eyes open and your mind on driving. Beware of motorbikes! It is best to rent a car with a full insurance as this will save time and money if you are involved in an accident. Enjoy Bali more with our Bali Car Rental.

Bali Travel Fact : Money Changer
be very careful when changing your money. Always check the rate of exchange and commission (if any) the money changer is taking. Most importantly, always count your money before you leave the premises and if you can, bring your own calculator, as the ones used by some places can be "a little inaccurate".

Bali Travel Fact : Petty Crime

1. There have been a few cases of handbags being snatched after tourists have cashed money at Banks or Money Changers! Put your money away in your 'bum-bag' or hold onto your handbag tightly!!!
2. When changing large amounts of money please check each note carefully as there are a number of (noticeably) fake notes in circulation.
3. When trying on garments do not take your jeweler off and leave it lying round - give it to a friend or leave it in the hotel safe.

Bali Travel Fact : Swimming in the sea
Current underflows can be strong, always swim between the red and yellow flags, don't swim too far out! Do not leave your belongings unattended on the beach.

N.B. When attending Special Ceremonies or Anniversary Celebrations as a guest or onlooker, small donations are gratefully received. Your donations will help in paying for the offerings and upkeep of the temple.

Thank you for respecting these Bali travel tips.

source: balitourguides

About Bali Island

Bali island lies 3.2 km east of Java Indonesia and approximately 8 degrees south of the equator. East to west, the island is approximately 153 km wide and 112 km north to south (95 by 69 miles, respectively), with a surface area of 5,633 km². The highest point of Bali island is Mount Agung at 3,142 m (10,308 feet) high, an active volcano that last erupted in March 1963. Mountains cover centre to the eastern side, with Mount Agung the eastern most peak. Mount Batur (1,717 m) is also still active. About 30,000 years ago it experienced a catastrophic eruption — one of the largest known volcanic events on Earth

In the south the land descends to form an alluvial plain, watered by shallow rivers, drier in the dry season and overflowing during periods of heavy rain.

The principal cities of Bali island are the northern port of Singaraja, the former colonial capital of Bali, and the present provincial capital and largest city, Denpasar, near the southern coast. The town of Ubud (north of Denpasar), with its art market, museums and galleries, is arguably the cultural center of Bali island.

There are major coastal roads and roads that cross the island mainly north-south. Due to the mountainous terrain in the island's center, the island roads tend to follow the crests of the ridges across the mountains. There are no railway lines.

The island is surrounded by coral reefs. Beaches in the south tend to have white sand while those in the north and west black sand. The beach town of Padangbai in the south east has both: the main beach and the secret beach have white sand and the south beach and the blue lagoon have much darker sand. Pasut Beach, near Ho River and Pura Segara, is a quiet beach 14 km southwest of Tabanan. The Ho River is navigable by small sampan. Black sand beaches between Pasut and Klating dukuh are being developed for tourism, but apart from the seaside temple of Tanah Lot, this is not yet a tourist area.

source : balitourguides

History of Bali island

Bali island has been inhabited since early prehistoric times firstly by descendants of a prehistoric race who migrated through mainland Asia to the Indonesian archipelago, thought to have first settled in Bali around 3000 BC. Stone tools dating from this time have been found near the village of Cekik in the island's west.

The end of the prehistoric period in Indonesia was marked by the arrival of Hindu people from India around 100 BC as determined by Brahmi inscriptions on potsherds. The name Balidwipa has been discovered from various inscriptions, including the Blanjong charter issued by Sri Kesari Warmadewa in 913 AD and mentioning Walidwipa. It was during this time that the complex irrigation system subak was developed to grow rice. Some religious and cultural traditions still in existence today can be traced back to this period. The Hindu Majapahit Empire (1293–1520 AD) on eastern Java founded a Balinese colony in 1343. When the empire declined, there was an exodus of intellectuals, artists, priests and musicians from Java to Bali in the 15th century.

The First European contact with Bali island is thought to have been when Dutch explorer Cornelis de Houtman arrived in 1597, though a Portuguese ship had foundered off the coast of Bukit as early as 1585.] Dutch rule over Bali came later, was more aggressively fought for, and they were never ultimately able to establish themselves as they had in other parts of Indonesia such as Java and Maluku. In the 1840s, a presence in Bali island was established, firstly in the island's north, by playing off various distrustful Balinese realms against each other. The Dutch mounted large naval and ground assaults first against the Sanur region and then Denpasar. The Balinese were hopelessly overwhelmed in number and armament, but rather than face the humiliation of surrender, they mounted a final defensive but suicidal assault, or puputan. Despite Dutch pleas for surrender, an estimated 4,000 Balinese marched to their death against the invaders. Afterwards the Dutch governors exercised little influence over the island, generally allowing local control over religion and culture to remain intact.

Japan occupied Bali during World War II during which time a Balinese military officer, Gusti Ngurah Rai, formed a Balinese 'freedom army'. Following Japan's Pacific surrender in August 1945, the Dutch promptly returned to Indonesia, including Bali island, immediately to reinstate their pre-war colonial administration. This was resisted by the Balinese rebels now using Japanese weapons.

On 20 November 1946, the Battle of Marga was fought in Tabanan in central Bali. Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai, 29 years old, finally rallied his forces in east Bali at Marga Rana, where they made a suicide attack on the heavily armed Dutch. The Balinese battalion was entirely wiped out, breaking the last thread of Balinese military resistance. In 1946 the Dutch constituted Bali as one of the 13 administrative districts of the newly-proclaimed Republic of East Indonesia, a rival state to the Republic of Indonesia which was proclaimed and headed by Sukarno and Hatta. Bali island was included in the ‘’Republic of the United States of Indonesia’’ when the Netherlands recognised Indonesian independence on Dec. 29, 1949. In 1956 Bali officially renounced the Dutch union and legally became a province within the Republic of Indonesia.

The 1963 eruption of Mount Agung killed thousands, created economic havoc and forced many displaced Balinese to be transmigrated to other parts of Indonesia.

In 1965, after a failed coup d'etat in Jakarta against the national government of Indonesia, Bali, along with other regions of Indonesia most notably Java, was the scene of widespread killings of (often falsely-accused) members and sympathizers of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) by right-wing General Soeharto-sponsored militias. Possibly more than 100,000 Balinese were killed although the exact numbers are unknown to date and the events remain legally unclosed.Many unmarked but well known mass graves of victims are located around the island.

On October 12, 2002, a car bomb attack in the tourist resort of Kuta killed 202 people, largely foreign tourists and injured a further 209. Further bombings occurred three years later in Kuta and nearby Jimbaran Bay.

source : balitourguides