Temples and culture of Bali island

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Temples and culture of Bali island

Read my travel stories about Bali as well – Part 1 and Part 2

For more ideas on interesting things to do in Bali, check HERE

For more about the beaches and natural sights, check HERE.

The Indonesian island Bali is one of the most dreamed-of tourist destinations for millions of people around the world.

Безспорен фаворит сред повече от 17 000 острова в Индонезия, Бали е известен като Островът на Боговете и”Островът на хилядата храма” като той  гарантира райско изживяване на всеки, който го посети. Можете да се гмуркате в коралови рифове, да изкачвате древен вулкан, да опознавате специфичната култура на местните хора или да се печете по обширната плажна ивица. Заради богата си история, култура, танци, склуптура и живопис, красивите плажове, природа и тропическия климат, Бали е смятан за едно от най-красивите места в света.

As soon as you land at the airport, at the terminal you will be greeted by countless tourist brochures with excursions and tours to all the sights in Bali. Agencies compete with each other on what more to offer within a day or half a day. The variety of activities on the Indonesian island is truly huge and the maxim "something for everyone" boldly applies here, and I would even paraphrase it – "many things for everyone". Everything depends on your interests, adventurous spirit, physical preparation and of course – the time you have available on this paradise corner. Therefore, below I have prepared a detailed list of the island's sights, as well as some things that you must definitely do and try while you are there.

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CITIES AND VILLAGES:

  1. DENPASAR (Denpasar) – Denpasar is a city in Indonesia, the capital of the island of Bali. Its population is 788,445 residents (2010), making it the largest and main city on the island. It is also the administrative center of the island, contrasting sharply with the Hindu temples, green terraced rice fields, and incredible beaches. Denpasar is a modern cosmopolitan city with a typical urban look. Jalan Gajah Mada is Denpasar's main street – usually full of cars and traffic jams. Puputan Square (Medan Puputan) is the heart of Denpasar's center, with lawns and plenty of greenery. Here you will find the Governor's Residence, the Bali Museum, and the Monument to the Royal Family, shot by Dutch troops in 1906.
  2. UBUD – The cultural center of Bali! There are countless art galleries, museums, art shops, and workshops here. Ubud is considered a holy town and is nestled among terraced rice paddies. In it, theater, music, and dances bring ancient traditions and customs into the present. The Monkey Forest in the town attracts many tourists. Although long appreciated as a wonderful place to experience Bali's culture, tourism here is progressively flourishing after Ubud was featured in the book and movie "Eat, Pray, Love." Explore the royal palace and the local market.
  3. CELUK VILLAGE. The residents of the village are exceptionally skilled in working with gold and silver. The jewelry made here is exported for sale, but visitors can watch them being crafted with their own eyes and buy whatever they like on the spot. This way you will acquire these unique pieces at a much lower price than what you would buy them for outside the island.
  4. SEMINYAK (Seminyak). Located on the southwestern coast of Bali, Seminyak is a small town and one of the most elite places on the island. High-end boutiques, five-star restaurants, luxury hotels, and spa centers attract wealthy tourists from all over the world. Seminyak Beach offers visitors a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean, and professional surfers – big waves!
  5. BATUBULAN е художествено селище, което се намира на около 8 километра от град Денпасар. Когато се разхождате по улиците на Batubulan, срещате много други галерии и занаятчийски магазини. Има различни религиозни статуи и фигури за продажба. В това село не се намират само каменно произведения на изкуството. Има и много други занаятчии с елементи от дърворезби и бамбук. Батулулан обаче има много работилници, в които каменни скулптури са направени от вулканична пепел, “Paras”. Прилича на пемза; тя е мека и изненадващо лека. Този камък изглежда стар бързо, така че “старата” работа може да бъде няколко години, вместо векове. Най-голямата забележителност в селото е храмът, известен като Пура Пуше. Храмът е украсен със сложни дърворезби и камък и е известен със своята фина каменна облицовка. В този храм може да присъствате на представление на танца Barong в залата.

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    TEMPLES:

  6. BESAKIH MOTHER TEMPLE (Pura Besakih) – This large temple complex is most important because it symbolizes the religious unity of Bali. It consists of over 20 separate temples, situated consecutively across 7 ascending terraces. Make the journey to harmony and perfection by exploring the temples one after another and climbing to the top! This is the message that "Besakih" carries – to always strive upwards.
  7. TANAH LOT TEMPLE – Locals believe this temple protects Bali from epidemics. It is one of the seven sea temples along the island's coastline – each of them offers a view of the next, thus forming a chain along Bali's southwestern coast. Its name means "Land from the Sea." Built on a rock in the ocean, Tanah Lot is accessible only when the tide reveals the rocky path to its entrance. Then you have the opportunity to reach the base, where the legendary guardians – sea snakes live in the crevices around the Tirta Pabersihan spring. This is the natural source of holy water for all temples in the area. Entering the temple is not allowed, but at its entrance, priests bless visitors by sprinkling them with the holy water. You can take a sip and see for yourself how sweet the water is. According to the legend of Tanah Lot, Dang Hyang Nirartha, a high priest from the Majapahit kingdom in Eastern Java, arrives in Bali in 1489 to spread Hinduism. Reaching the beautiful area, he creates a cult in honor of the god of the sea. Nirartha begins to preach his teachings to the locals, but faces disapproval from the village chief and soon the high clergyman is chased away. Nirartha, however, does not give up. He moves the huge rock into the water, which he uses for meditation, and at its base a multitude of snakes appear – the guardians of the holy place. For centuries, huge waves have been crashing at the foundations of Tanah Lot. The temple is under constant threat from rock erosion. In 1980, the authorities launched a program to preserve Tanah Lot and other historical landmarks, jointly with the Japanese government. Today fully restored, 1/3 of Tanah Lot are actually artificial rocks.
  8. BRATAN TEMPLE is dedicated to water and as a true water temple is located on the shore of the lake whose name is Bratan. Here you can enjoy gentle sunrises and fiery sunsets. Beginning or end of the day, whatever you choose, you will be energized with inspiration for days, weeks, months ahead.
  9. THE TIRTA EMPUL TEMPLE is built around the sacred spring "Tampak Siring". Crossing the threshold of the temple, a stone pool that fills with holy water from 12 fountains will be revealed before your eyes. Many visitors hope that its healing waters will cure their bodies and relieve their pain. Is the water the one that heals, or is it faith?
  10. ХРАМЪТ ГОА ГАДЖА (Goa Gajah) – Още един уникален храм, който трябва да видите! Построен е в пещера. В нея има статуя на слон и затова наричат храма „Слонската пещера”. Гоа Гаджа датира от 11-ти век, построен като духовно място за медитация.. Името Goa Gajah  е малко подвеждащо, създавайки впечатлението, че това е гигантско жилище, изпълнено с слонове. Въпреки това, слонската пещера “Goa Gajah” е археологически обект със значителна историческа стойност, което го прави специално място за посещение. Басейнът, разкопан през 1954 г., се състои от пет от предполагаемо седемте статуя, изобразяващи хиндуистки ангели, притежаващи вази, които действат като водни дупки. Различни структури разкриват хиндуистки влияния датиращи от 10-ти век, а някои реликви съдържат елементи от будизма, датиращи още от 8-ти век. Пещерата е плитка; Вътре има три каменни идоли, всеки увит в червено, жълто и черно.
  11. THE GUNUNG KAWI TEMPLE (Pura Gunung Kawi). This is a sacred 11th-century temple. The sacred complex is located on both banks of the Pakerisan River and includes 10 shrines (called candi) in 7-meter niches carved into the cliffs. You are left speechless by the view and hearing only the sounds of nature.
  12. THE ULUWATU TEMPLE AND THE KECAK DANCE. The Uluwatu Temple (Pura Uluwatu) is built in honor of the sea god on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. It is reached by a path where you are accompanied by curious monkeys. At sunset, locals perform the ritual Kecak dance. A spectacle that will not leave you indifferent. In the past, the Kecak (Kecak Dance) was performed only by men, accompanied by a male chorus. Today, women are also included in the dance, along with some theatrical elements – retold stories from the Ramayana. The sound accompaniment is made by the dancers themselves using their mouths, hands, and feet – there are no musical instruments.
  13. THE ULUN DANU BRATAN TEMPLE. When the waters of Lake Bratan rise, the Ulun Danu Bratan Temple (Pura Ulun Danu Bratan) looks as if it is floating on its surface. When the water level normalizes, it is seen that it is built on the edge of the lake. For hundreds of years, believers have been visiting it to honor the goddess of rivers and lakes Dewi Danu (Dewi Danu), and tourists to enjoy the temple architecture typical of this region, the magnificent views of the lake and the mountain, and the majestic sunrises and sunsets.
Tanah Lot Temple

TIP:

For someone who wants to see as many places as possible in a short time, it is best to rent a taxi, with the driver often taking on the role of a guide.The daily rate varies from 500,000 rupiah (about 40 dollars) to650 000 or more,depending on how the bargaining went. And in Bali, you must bargain.

It is not recommended to rent just a car, because traffic is heavy, the streets are narrow and unsigned, so for someone unfamiliar with the characteristics of driving, even with a jeep, it would not be easy to navigate. Driving in Bali would bring you a lot of headaches and a lot of wasted time.Tourists often rent mopeds, but this also carries risks due to the uneven roads, often covered with fine gravel, which trick drivers and often cause traffic incidents.

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