Batubulan
Driving northeast from Denpasar, stone figures on the roadside mark the village
of Batubulan. Divinities and demons are carved from sandstone for ornaments of
houses and temples. Workshops can be visited to watch artists at work.
Batuan
An old and famous center of the arts, it is now known for its dancing, wood
panel carving and paintings.
Bangli
Pura Kehen is situated in Bangli, Bali's second largest temple. Three terraced
courtyards are connected by steps, and their balustrades are decorated with
carvings and statues. A large Banyan tree with a tower shades the lowest and
second courtyard, while in the third courtyard several shrines for the gods and
ancestors are found.
Besakih
Known as the "Mother Temple of Bali", the sanctuary of Besakih on the slopes of
Mt. Agung is the biggest and holiest of all Balinese temples. Over a thousand
years old, steps ascend through split gates to the main courtyard where the
Trinity shrines are wrapped in cloth and decorated with flower offerings.
Around the three main temples dedicated to the Trinity: Shiva, Brahma and
Vishnu, are 18 separate sanctuaries belonging to different regencies and caste
groups.
To the Balinese, a visit to the temples sanctuaries is a special pilgrimage.
Each has its own anniversary celebration or "Odalan". The sight of the temple
against the background of the mountain is impressive and during festivals,
colored banners add a touch of gaiety.
Bedugul
The mountain resort of Bedugul, 18 km north of Denpasar, is known for its
excellent golf course. Located besides Lake Bratan, it is surrounded by forested
hills. A beautiful sight is the "Ulun Danu" temple which seems to rise out of
the lake. The area offers good-walks. Boats are available for hire. Water
skiing, and parasailing is done as well.
The Bali Handara country club has bungalows for rent and a restaurant.
Celuk
Northeast of Denpasar, the village of Celuk is noted for its silver and gold
works of jewelry in various styles.
Denpasar
The capital city of Bali, Denpasar has many community temples called "Pura". One
is the Museum called Pura jagatnatha which is dedicated to the Supreme God, Sang
Hyang Widi Wasa. The statue of a turtle and two dragons (prevalent in all
temples) signify the foundation of the world.
The Museum offers a fine variety of prehistoric and modern art,
whereas its architectural design resembles that of a palace. The government
supervised "Sanggraha Kriya Asta" has a wide variety of handicraft and works of
art. The "Werdi Budaya" presents a yearly art festival between June and July,
with performances, exhibitions, art contest and so on.
Goa Gajah
Goa Gajah, dates back to the 11 Th. century and is believed to have been built
as a monastery. Carvings on the wall show a demon's head over the entrance,
flanked by two statues. The cave contains a statue of Ganesha. Escavations have
uncovered a bathing place with six statues of nymphs holding water- spouts.
Goa Lawah
Nine km from Klungkung is Goa Lawah or bat cave. The roof is covered with
thousands of bats and its entrance is guarded by a temple believed to be founded
by a sage nine centuries ago
Kuta
Once a lonely village on the road from Denpasar toward the Bukit Peninsula, Kuta
is now a thriving tourist resort, popular mainly among the young. It is a beach
for surfing although currents make it less suitable for swimming. Coast guards,
however, are on constant duty during the day. Kuta faces toward the west
offering beautiful sunsets.Accommodation ranges from international hotels to
home stays. The village abounds with restaurants, shops, discotheques and other
tourist facilities. It is easier to find regular performances of Balinese music
and dance in Kuta, staged specially for tourists, than anywhere else in Bali.
Some performances are staged nightly. The village is ideal for meeting and
mixing with other people, locals as well as visitors from abroad.
Kintamani
The villages of Kintamani and Penelokan give a view of the active Mount Batur
and Lake. The caldera of Batur is impressive: 7 miles in diameter and 60 feet
deep. From Penelokan, a road leads to Kedisan on the shores of the lake where
boats can be hired to cross over to Trunyan. This ancient village is inhabited
by people who call themselves "Bali Aga" or original Balinese who have
maintained many of their old ways. The Puser Jagat temple has an unusual
architecture and stands under a massive Banyan tree.
Klungkung
The former seat of the Javanese Hindu Kingdom in Bali from where Balinese
royalty draws its blood line, Klungkung was the oldest kingdom on the island and
its "Raja" the most exalted. The Kerta Gosa or Royal Court of justice built in
the 18th century, is specially known for its ceiling murals painted in the
traditional wayang style, portraying punishment in hell and the rewards in
heaven and other aspects of moralities. The floating pavilion, garden and lotus
ponds in this walled-in complex, located on the main intersection of town are a
reminder of the former glory of this kingdom.
Mas
The village of woodcarvers, many of Bali's old masters still live here. Art
galleries exhibit some of their best works. Visitors can wander through the
Balinese style houses to view the carved wooden pillars and the artists at work
or instructing apprentices who work in groups.
Menjangan Island
This little island off Bali's west coast is known for its beautiful coral reefs
found nearby and the wealth of tropical fish inhabiting the waters around it.
The island itself including Terima Bay, are by themselves worth a visit because
of the beautiful sceneries they offer.
Nusa Dua
The Nusa Dua tourist resort is part of the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali.
Some of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels are found here. The resort is
known for its clean white beaches and clear waters. The surf is gentle along the
northern side of the peninsula, bigger along the south. The most convenient form
of transportation to and from Nusa Dua is by taxi.
Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan, a small island between Bali and Nusa Penida in the Badung
Strait, is the perfect location for a holiday hideaway with few visitors and
pristine unspoilt beaches. Overlooking Sanghiang Bay with its clear
sapphire-blue waters, the Nusa Lembongan Resort offers a panoramic view of
eastern Bali and the majestic silhouette of Mount Agung.
Peliatan Ubud
Peliatan is located between Ubud and Mas. It has been known as the center of
traditional music, and dances. The fine art of local woodcarvers started a new
style of wood carving producing such things as fruits, flowers and trees in
their real shapes and colorings.
Sangeh
Ten hectares of nutmeg trees in the Sangeh forest abounds with monkeys. The
forest is considered sacred, so no wood is allowed to be chopped here. Two
temples stand in the middle of the forest and another at the
edge. As they live in this sacred forest, the monkeys are also held sacred and
are rather tame, but it is advisable not to play with them.
Sanur
Sanur beach has long been a popular recreation site for people from Denpasar.
The palm-lined beach curves from the Bali Beach Hotel toward the south, facing
the Indian Ocean towards the east. Sanur offers many good hotels, restaurants,
shops and other tourist facilities. It is only a short distance from Denpasar.
Public transportation to and from the city are easily available until well into
the night. Offshore reefs protect the beach against the waves to make it popular
for wind surfing, boating and other water sports.
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. Poisonous sea snakes found at the base of the rocky
island are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruder.
The best time to see Tanah Lot is in the late afternoon when the temple is in
silhouette.
Tampak Siring
The temple of Pura Tirta Empul is built around the sacred spring at Tampaksiring.
Over 1000 years old, the temple and its two bathing places have been used by the
people for good health and prosperity because of the spring water's curative
powers. Regular ceremonies are held for purification. Specialties of the area
are bone and ivory carvings, and seashell ornaments.
Tenganan
Protected for centuries from the outside world by its surrounding walls, the
village of Tenganan has maintained its ancient pre-Hindu customs through a
strong code of non-fraternization with outsiders. Here unique rituals offering
dances and gladiator-like battles between youths take place. Tenganan is famous
for its "double ikat" woven material called gringsing, which is supposed to
protect the wearer by magic powers.
Hindu Balinese Temple
The most important institutions in Bali, temples reflect the important role
religion plays in the life of the Balinese. A temple is a place for
communicating with the divine spirits through offerings and prayers. On holy
days, when the deities and ancestral spirits descend from heaven to visit earth,
the temples become centers of activity.
Temple festivals are guided by purification of the sprinkling of holy water.
Whole communities take part in these festivals, bringing baskets of food and
flowers for offerings. While pura means temple, a puri is the residence of the
local prince, which may function as a cultural center. Music, dances, food,
flowers, and fruits sacrificed began as part of temple rituals to please the
gods and to placate evil spirit. Following the caste system of Hindu and some of
its other rites and beliefs like reincarnation, one of the greatest ceremonies
are cremations, meant to liberate the souls ready for rebirth. Burial is only
temporary to give the family time to prepare or wait for others to arrange for a
common cremation within the community.
Ubud
The center of Balinese painting, Ubud's Museum "Puri Lukisan" has a permanent
collection of modern works of Balinese art dating from the turn of the century.
There are also several art galleries and homes of famous artists here, including
that of Dutch-born Hans Snel and the American Antonio Blanco. The "young artist"
style now popular in Balinese painting was introduced by the Dutch painter Arie
Smith. In the past, other foreign painters inspired Balinese artists to adopt
western techniques but traditional Balinese paintings are still made and sold.
Another museum called "Neka Museum" has a wide collection of paintings both by
Indonesian as well as foreign artists who used to live in Bali. Ubud has several
small hotels. Located on a higher altitude with a pleasant climate.
Yeh Panas
A little further east on the coastal road is Yeh Saneh, an idyllic spot few
people know of. Only a few meters from the splash of the surf is a cool
freshwater spring, around which has been built a large pool and gardens for
bathers and picnickers.
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