The Island of Bali situated at 8 degree of Equator is lying 3.2 km away east of Java, Indonesia. It has been a tourist haven and the largest tourist destination in Indonesia for decades, attracting 2 1/2 million visitors annually. The Island is renowned for its highly developed arts including tradition and modern dances, music, sculpture, painting, leather and metal working. Bali was inhabited by around 2000 BC by Austronesian people migrated originally from Taiwan through Maritime South East Asia, and today it is a home to most Indonesia's Hindu minority. Out of its 3 million population 93% are adhered to Balinese Hinduism while remainder follow Islam. The island culture is strongly influenced by Indian and Chinese particularly the Hindu culture. There are 9 Hindu sects existed in ancient Bali and each sect revered a specific deity as its personal Godhead. Tanah Lot Temple, one of the 7 sea temples in Bali, sitting on a large offshore rocky island that has been shaped continuously over years by Indian Ocean Tide is just off the south west coast of Bali.
Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most important sea temples in Bali and has been known as Temple of Land in the Middle of Sea. The tiny island where the temple was built, is a rock formation off the Indonesian Island of Bali which was formed by the gradual erosion of the ocean tide over thousands of year.
The rock surface at Tanah Lot started to crumble and the area around and inside the temple became dangerous in 1980. Japan offered a loan of 130 million US dollars to Indonesia for a supervised renovation and stabilization program to improve the situation. Today, 1/3 of the Tanah Lot is actually smartly disguised with artificial rock created during that period.
.
Tanah Lot Temple is one of the most sacred temples around Bali and had significant Hindu influences. It has been a part of Balinese mythology. Temple was claimed to be the work of the 16th century priest Nirartha who was one of the last priests who came to Java. During his travel along the south coast of the island, he saw the beautiful setting 0f the island resting there. He spent a night over there, and told the fishermen who came to make offering to him, to build a shrine on the rock for he left it to be a holy place to worship the Bali Sea God. It was said that there is a giant snake created from the priest's scarf, purportedly protect the temple.
Tanah Lot Temple was dedicated to the guardian spirits of sea. It is believed that the poisonous sea-snakes at the base of the rocky island are to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders.
Tanah Lot is a home to pilgrimage temple, a popular tourist cultural icon for photography and general exoticism.
Tanah Lot Temple built on the rock facing Indian Ocean has its background screen turning into exquisite golden color every evening when sun begins to set. Crowds of people gather on terraces nearby to watch the glow of sunset behind the temple everyday.
Though the temple is not accessible to visitors, magnificent views of Tanah Lot Temple still can be had from a variety of points nearby.
Beside gifted with the temple, Tanah Lot with the growling wave of Indian Ocean aside is also a natural surfing condition for surfers.
A spectacular sight of Tanah Lot at high tide.
Rock Formation bridge.
Tanah Lot is highly commercial. Beside paying entrance fee, visitors have to walk through a carefully planned set of Balinese market format souvenir shops which cover each side of the path down to the sea. And restaurants have also been provided for tourists on the mainland cliff.
On the same route to Tanah Lot, we visited the picturesque Taman Ayun Temple which is located at Mengwi Village of Badung Regency, 18km north side of the Bali Capital Denpasar Town. Taman Ayun Temple is a royal temple of Mengwi Empire set on the land surrounded by a big pond and look like a drift on the water. It was built in year 1634 by King of Mengwi and is also one of the most important temples in Bali.
Balinese name of Taman Ayun Temple literally means Garden Temple in the water. Ayun's original root word of Ayun carried the meaning of temple found in a park with pool and garden with ability in fulfilling one's desire.
Royal Taman Ayun Temple was enlarged in 1937, making some of its structures the most modern temple architecture in Bali. Picture shown one of the old structure of open meditation halls for monks and the new building at the entrance courtyard.
Taman Ayun Temple acts as a special altar for the King's family from Mengwi Palace especially for Igusti Agung Putu, the founder of Mengwi Empire.
The impressive complex of Taman Ayun Temple stands on an island in a river with inner temples surrounded by a moat. The lotus flowers in moat around the temples were large and elegant.
The Temple Complex was built as a series of garden terraces with gorgeous landscape courtyards on different levels.
The entire complex was designed to symbolize the mythological home of Gods, Mount Meru and floating in sea of eternity.
7
The beautiful temple complex with multiple layers of roof and Balinese architecture at Taman Ayun. It was a place to pray the God in their manifestation. The special God in manifestation at Taman Ayun Temple was worshiped as God Wisnu, whose palace was located on top of Mount Mangu.
The eleven-tiered meru by right hand side of the complex is dedicated to the rice goddess Dewi Sri while the 3 bale is believed to be the abode of several different Gods. People also pray The Pitara God which they believed to be a holy deity of ancestor obliged to be worshiped by clan heir in the form of Temple ceremony like a God.
Almost all temples in Bali appear in black. One of the major roofing material is the inner part of a kind of palm tree. Black color is specially for temples and ordinary normal buildings are using light brown.
The floating Ulun Danu Temple is a Balinese Hindu Temple located at Candi Kuning country side at Bedugul, about 50km north of Capital Town Denpasar. It is set at a lakeside of Beratan with beautiful lake view and hills surrounded.
Ulun Danu Temple was believed to be found in the period of Mengwi Empire. It consists of 4 temple complex and like Beratan Lake and Beratan Moun, it is a symbol of Deity and Goddess for sources of fertility and prosperity to be kept in personal life as well as social life.
An auspicious panoramic scene of Beratan Lake with Ulun Danu Temple as a magnificence.
Beratan Lake, 1231 meter above sea level is a shallow lake with 3.8 sq km in size and is the 2nd largest lake in Bedugul. It is accessible through the dock around Ulun Danu Temple to enjoy water recreation activities like canoeing, para-sailing, water skiing, fishing or simply boating circling the lake.
With Lake Beratan and hills surrounded, Bedugul not only offers picturesque scenery but also a cooling and relaxing atmosphere for all its visitors.
The altar of an ancient monk, placed at the corner of the temple complex has a wonderful mountain backdrop for photography. In fact, scenic view is at every corner as Bedugul is nested amidst in hills and lakes. It has to its north, Mt Pucak Sangkur, to its east, Mt Tarate Bang and Mt Tapak and Wtukaaru at its other two directions.
Women prayers and their offerings at Beratan Ulun Danu Temple.
The Bali women in faith of their God, came in groups to make prayer for fertility and prosperity.
Religious women, carried with materials offering on their head and a sincerity in their heart, were going home with satisfaction and faith.
The main gate and a beautiful little resting pavilion at Bedugul Temple. Most of the Temples at Bedugul, are located on the slope of mountains and surrounded by rain forest. Men in checked sarong were musician playing religious tradition rhythm in the temples.
The elephant Cave at Bedulu village was once a Buddhist cultivating center. Hinduism and Buddhism influenced most of the Bali History.
The entrance of elephant Cave where ancients Buddhist monks practiced the meditation.
The fierce wild monkeys at the Temple in Monkey Forest in front of The Elephant Cave and the ancient meditation seat of the monks inside the Elephant Caves.
Candi Kuning market is the biggest traditional vegetables, fruits market at Kuning Village. It is only a few minutes drive from Lake Beratan.
The handicraft stalls at Candi Kuning market.
Panoramic view of mountainous Bedugul.
The Lotus pond and the limestone walls at the incomplete project of Mandala Garuda Wishnu Kancana.
A panoramic view of Southern tip of Bali Island from Garuda Wishnu Kancana cultural park.
Mandala Garuda Wishnu Kencana is a private cultural park on the limestone plateau of Bukit Peninsula at the southern end part of Bali Island, with Uluwatu to its west and Nusa Dua to its east.
The 23 meter high statue of Dewa Wishnu head and torso rising above the highest platform, looking on with semi-closed eyelids, impassively viewing the crowds, is to be reached by climbing up a long stairway. Dewa Wishnu is God of preservation, God of all Gods. Accordingly to the original concept of the Balinese modern sculptor Nyoman Nuarta, the statue would be 479 feet high depicting The Hindu God Vishnu riding aloft on his winged Mount Garuda compatible with Statue of Liberty of New York.
Due to the financial crisis in 1997/1998 and a Bali's law that forbids any building structure constructed higher than a palm tree, (Balinese religion teachers worried that the scale of the statue after completed would disturb the spiritual eddies circulating around the island) the project remained unfinished with head and torso rising on the highest platform, hands were set some distance away closer to the entrance and Vishnu's divine vehicle on the lower platform.
Garuda Wishnu Kancana though was incomplete still exists a breathtaking insight into Balinese culture, not just the folklore that their religion lives by, but also the arts and culture that make the place such an ambitious and controversial undertaking. Picture show the locals performed xylophone traditional music under an artistic roofing pavilion.
Garuda was believed to be a big protector and was the divine vehicle of Hindu's God Dewa Vishnu. The head and shoulder of Garuda at the lower platform of The cultural Park was part of the massive and unfinished statue of the unsuccessful project that required about a fund of 270million at that time.
The scale of Garuda Head and shoulder that were made up of 4000 tons of brass looks apparently huge when people stands under his chin in picture. This part of the statue has become a great backdrop for all sorts of outdoor events in Bali.
The 240 hectare site of Garuda Wishnu kancana cultural park was actually a disused limestone quarry, rather barren compared to the lush landscapes in rest parts of Bali. The blankness of the place probably encouraged the Balinese Sculptor Nyoman Nuarta to have a big dream and start the project for a towering statue of Dewa Vishnu and his vehicle Garuda. He included in his foundation also a site plan for festival park, exhibition hall, lotus pond and many other facilities.
The blankness of this limestone quarry probably encouraged the Balinese Sculptor Nyoman Nuarta to have a big dream and start the project for a towering statue of Dewa Vishnu and his vehicle Garuda. He included in his foundation also a site plan for festival park, exhibition hall, lotus pond and many other facilities.
Although the massive and unfinished statue currently exists in pieces in Bali, the site of Garuda Wishnu Kancana Cultural Park today has become the first choice for holding large scale International events in Bali today, as well as a one stop art and cultural journey for tourists to Bali.
The Barong, Monster Thingy, is just like dragon to Chinese, a very positive symbol to Balinese, representing justness, straight, good, luck, kind and prosperous.
Bali is highly influenced by Hinduism since 11th century. The Barong musical show at Batubulan Village is all about an ancient Indian legend. Though Indonesia is a Muslim Country, Balinese persistently preserve and keep their history and finally make it becomes the culture of Bali and main attraction of tourists.
The legend during Ramayan period always is the story base of Drama opera and Monkey-like Venara would be one of the important character.
Uluwatu Temple is regarded as one of the 6 most important temples in Bali. Its location on the south westernmost precinct of this magical island guards the Balinese from the evil spirit of the ocean. This Balinese Hindu Temple was set on the cliff bank at Pecatu Village in southern part of Bali. It situates in the coral reef sordid to sea about 80 meters above sea level.
The magnificent spectacular views of the beautiful cliffs facing Indian Ocean at Uluwatu, totally exposed right in front of you, unveiled at the two different vantage points on both north and south portion of the sea.
Uluwatu Temple was officially knowned as Pura Luhur Uluwatu. Luhur means "something of divine origins" while the word Ulu means "end of the land" and Watu is the old version of Batu which means rock.
The 16th century built cliff temple and the wild monkeys are popular at this majestic cliff of Uluwatu.
Ulu Watu built at the tip of coral reef as it literally means was said to be one of the temples, constructed in 16th century by the Hindu Priest Mpu Kuturan, who came to spread Hinduism in Bali .
The inner sanctum of the temple is perched majestically on the edge of a steep cliff that towers above the legendary surf breaks of southern Bali.
Ulu Watu is featured by a small dry forest known as Alas Kekeran that dwelt with many animals especially monkeys.
The open stage of Kacak Musical Drama Show was set just in front of the Indian Ocean where audiences leisurely watch the show and freely admire the stunning sunset at the same time.
Over 150 dancers offers fantastic performance together with the lovely sunset in the evening at Uluwatu in Kacak Musical Drama Dance in Uluwatu.
The sun got ready to perform in line with the 150 dancers in Kacak Show at Uluwatu open stage.
The Balinese dance Kacak is actually a music drama originated in 1930s primarily performed by men only.
Kacak show performed by more than 150 dancers also is known as Ramayana Monkey Chant. The dancers wearing checked cloth around their waist throwing up their arms, percussively chanting the word "Cak" depict a battle from Ramayana where monkey-like Venara helped Prince Rama to fight the evil King Revana.
Exquisite sunset at Uluwatu act as the backdrop screen for Kacak musical drama show.
While audiences were concentrating in watching the interesting performance, the sky of Uluwatu had quietly changed the backdrop of the stage.
The monkey god dancing over a boufire - Kacak dance at Uluwatu.
The beautiful sky over Indian Ocean viewed from Uluwatu towards the end of the show.
