is the very heart of Bali, a modern and
prosperous center of the arts with history dating back
a thousand years. Most of the cultural activities
relating tourism on the island, from painting and
woodcarving to dance and music are focused here, as is
broad range of agricultural activities. Gianyar is the
administrative center, and main market town of Gianyar
regency, which also includes Ubud. The city is known
for its textiles factories at the western end of the
town where you can buy material by the meter, or have
it made into shirts, skirts, robes and so on. Not far away to this center of weaving
the small village Bona is located. It is well known for its Kecak, Trance and Fire dancers.
it is one of the state temple of
Klungkung regency. 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 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.
Marvel at the thousands of bats amidst the acrid smell
of their dropping that cover the shrines.
according to the legend, Mount Agung was created by the god
pasupati when he split the holy mountain mount Mahameru into two parts
as Mount Agung and Mount Batur. With 3142 m above the sea level, mount
Agung is the most sacred to the Balinese Hindu. In 1963, Mount Agung
that had been dormant for centuries, started rumbling. The glow of fire
became visible within the crater and ash began to coat the area. The
eruption killed thousands of inhabitants and destroyed thousands of
houses and temples.
Gunung Batukau is a 2276m high volcano with Pura Luhur Batukau at its southern slope.
Its an unusual complex of shrines and
pool set amidst lush, tropical forests. This was the
state ancestral temple of Tabanan court, and each
shrines represents a different dynastic ancestor. This
temple is one of the six axial temples sacred to all
Hindu Balinese. Standing in front of the newly
restored gates, it may take a moment to appreciate
that this is one of the most ancient sacred sites on
the island. According to some of the Balinese
chronicles, mount Batukaru was first inhabited by the
children of the god Pasupati sometime in 191 AD, about
70 years after the creation of the world. When the
saint Mpu kuturan came to Bali in the 11th century,
the temple at Batukaru was already in need of
renovation. He built towering meru and designed new
shrines. The temple was renovated in 1991, and the
grounds have been planted with the most modern civic
landscaping, thus robbing it of much of its former
mysterious quality.
is a small mountain village that's located
on the feet of mount Batukaru. Jatiluwih means a
"truly marvelous". It has the most spectacular rice
terrace view on the island. It is really a Paradise
for photography.
consisting almost entirely concrete
buildings with rusty corrugated iron roofs, it isn't
particularly appealing and it is too far north from
the rim of the crater for the best views of the lake
Batur. It is famous for its breed of furry dogs and
the huge outdoor market held every three days.
It is a volcanic black sand beach
close to Goa Lawah Temple known for its salt
production. Between Semarapura and Almapura are endless, mostly black beaches. Kusamba beach is one of them.
From here fishing boats are leaving to Nusa Penida.
MAKING SALT: on many parts of the island, particularly around
Kusamba beach and Lembongan island, you'll see the
salt beds and piles of white salt that indicate one of
the most backbreaking occupations on the islands. Vast
quantities of salt water are still hauled from the sea
in buckets and poured into specially dugs ponds, close
to the shore. When the water has evaporated, the
salty, sandy residue is placed in hollowed out
palm-tree trunks and mixed with more seawater. The
water becomes saturated with salt and a very thick
brined is poured off. This is then evaporated to form
salt crystals. Further stages of purification take
place, and you may see large bamboo baskets suspended
from frames at salt making sites. The liquid of the
wet salt crystals, which contains other more soluble
impurities, drips down a string hanging from the
baskets and forms long stalactites, leaving pure salt
crystals behind.
is the famous touristy beach resort of Bali that rates as the best
beach on the island by waves rising sufficiently for surfers and boogie
boarders to ride on them. The white sandy beach stretch for kilometers
>from the airport right up the coast through Legian, Seminyak, and on to
Tanah Lot. Kuta is also the center for cheap accommodations, bargain
travel throughout the country, but also features luxury hotels.
Restaurants, pubs and bars come in all shapes and sizes, offering every
culinary delicacy imaginable. In addition, Kuta is the center for the
fashion of Bali and here a lot of casual wear is manufactured. Going
through narrow alleyways shops abound, crammed full of various antiques
and not so-antique arts and crafts from throughout the archipelago.
LEGIAN is further up from Kuta beach and a bit calmer and less
crowded beaches. It is more for the laid-back travelers and surfers who
wish to stay longer. It has a better value accommodations with plenty of
mid range places offering air-con, hot water and swimming pool.
stretches along 8 km of black sandy beach,
west of SINGARAJA. The name "Lovina" was coined by the
last king of Buleleng. A convert to Christianity, he
gave the name to small tract of land that he purchased
at Kaliasem, where he built the Tasik Madu Hotel
1960s. The name Lovina signifies the love is contained
in the heart of all people. Lovina is a convenient
base for trips around the north coast, a good place to
meet other travelers, and there is a bit of nightlife
there. 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 the local boats are for hire. The sunset
here is particularly spectacular.
