INTRODUCTION
PLACES OF INTEREST
ACCOMODATION
 

The ancient Kingdoms of the Rajas and princes of Bali were dismantled by colonial governments in the early part of this century, but many of their royal descendants still own traditional palaces and are very much respected as patrons of the arts. Art and culture are strongly bonded to Bali’s unique form of Hinduism called Hindu Darma. Classical dance dramas are based on the old Hindu epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabarata, but contain all elements of local folklore peculiar to the island. The very soul of Bali is rooted in religion and is expressed in art forms that have been passionately preserved over the centuries. It seems that almost every person is an artist. Whether expressed through beautiful and intricate paintings and dances, extraordinary carvings, superb weaving or even in decorations made for the myriad of shrines, the island is alive with art.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Denpasar
The capital city of Bali, Denpasar has many community temples called pura. The Pura Jagatnatha is dedicated to the Supreme God, Sag Hyang Widi Wasa. The statue of a turtle and two dragons (prevalent in all temples) signifies the foundation of the world.

The Pura Jaganatha museum offers a fine variety of prehistoric and modem art, and its architectural design is based on that of a palace. The government supervised Sanggraha Kriya Hasta 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, and an art contests.

Wherdi Budaya Art Center
The Werdhi Budaya Art Center was designed by Bali’s foremost arcchitect, Ida Bagus Tugur, also the architect for Indonesia’s new National Art Gallery. The vast complex is, apart from its very real cultural function, a showcase for Balinese Temple and Palace Architecture at its most opulent. The open stage Arda Candra with its towering candi gate, the rococo main Art Museum, and Balinese pavilions have become a major architectural attraction. Built on one of the few remaining coconut groves in central Denpasar, the center has quickly become a busy forum for the performing and fine arts. With three Art Galleries and a host of stages, the Center is only rivaled by Jakarta’s Taman Ismail Marzuki as a venue for diverse and rapidly changing cultural programs. Since 1975 the Center has been home to the island’s Dance Academy (ASTI), a tertiary level Conservatorium, Dance and Drama School for traditional Balinese Performing arts.

Sanur
Sanur beach has long been a popular recreation site for people from Denpasar and elsewhere. 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 night. Offshore reefs protect the beach and make it popular for windsurfing, boating and other water sports.

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 popular beach for surfing although currents make it less suitable for swimming. Lifeguards are on constant duty during the day. Kuta faces the west, offering beautiful sunsets.

Accommodation ranges from international hotels to home stays. The town 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 town is ideal for meeting and mixing with locals as well as visitors from abroad.

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 clear 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.

Batubulun
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 artisans at work.

Batuan
An old and famous center of the arts, it is now known for its dancing, wood panel carving and paintings.

Celuk
Northeast of Denpasar, the village of Celuk is noted for its silver and gold works of jewelry in many styles.

Mas
A village of woodcarvers, many of Ball'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 instructing apprentices.

Ubud
The center of Balinese painting, Ubud’s Museum Puri Lukisan has a permanent collection of modern works of Balinese all 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 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 highly collectable. The Neka Museum has a wide collection of paintings by Indonesian as well as foreign artists who used to live in Bali. Ubud has several hotels of all sizes and is located in the foothills of the central mountain range, giving it a cool, pleasant climate.

Peliatan
Peliatan is located between Ubud and Mas. It is known as the center of traditional music and dance.

Goa Gajah
Goa Gajah, dates back to the 11th century and is believed to have been built as a monastery. Carvings on the wall show a demon head over the entrance, flanked by two statues. The cave contains a statue of Ganesh. Excavations have uncovered a bathing place with six statues of nymphs holding water-spouts.

Tampak Siring
The temple of Pura Tirta Empul is built around the sacred spring at Tampak Siring. Over 1000 years old, the temple and its two bathing places have been valued by the people because of the spring water’s curative powers. Regular ceremonies are held for purification. Specialties of the area are bone and ivory carvings.

Kintamani
The villages of Kintamani and Penelokan give a view of the active Mt Batur and Lake Batur. The caldera of Batur is 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, and have maintained many of their old ways.

Bangli
Pura Kehen is 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.

Klungkung
The founder seat of the Javanese Hindu Kingdom in Bali, from which Balinese royalty draws its bloodline; 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 known for its ceiling murals, painted in the traditional wayang style, portraying punishment in hell and the rewards in heaven. The floating pavilion, garden and lotus ponds in this walled-in complex are a reminder of the former glory of this kingdom.

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 Wisnu), are 18 separate sanctuaries belonging to different regencies and caste groups.

To the Balinese, a visit to the temple’s 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.

Sangeh
Ten hectares of nutmeg trees in the Sangeh forest abound 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.

Tanah Lot
One of Bali’s most important sea temples, the temple sanctuary at Tanah Lot is built atop a huge rock surrounded by the sea. Built by one of the last priests to come to Ball 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 intruders. The best time to see Tanah Lot is in the late afternoon when the temple is in silhouette.

Bedugul
The mountain resort of Bedugu1, 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 water skiing and parasailing is done as well.

ACCOMODATION

Bali has the biggest concentration of different types of hotels catering to the international tourist. There are several luxury properties such as Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, Club Mediterranee, Bali Sol, Putri Bali in the Nusa Dua area and Bali Hyatt, Bali Beach Hotel and Sanur Beach in Sanur and Pertamina Cottage and Bali Oberoi in Kuta.
All these hotels have convention facilities, swimming pools, sports grounds and a selection of res¬taurants, bars, nightclubs; or discotheques and beach fronts.