Travel in Bali and be amazed by the many beautiful sights...Don't be surprised when you travel in Bali and you are not able to make a choice from the many sights available. In every corner of the island there is something to see: from ancient temples set in an amazing mountain landscape to scenic water falls where you can take a refreshing swim. The sights can be visited individually or with a tour operator. Either way, you can check out the 33 sights listed here to see which one you definitely want to visit when you're in Bali. I hope I have made it easier for you...;-) The most interesting and beautiful sights to see when you travel in Bali are listed by the following region: Travel in Bali Sights -- North BaliThe landscape of the North Bali coast is dominated by the big mountain range and its black volcanic beaches. There's a main road that connects west with east Bali, parallel to the northern coast line.The major tourist sights in North Bali are located on this main road which makes it easy to keep on driving and to explore the area in the shadow of the majestic mountain range.... When spending time in North Bali, travelers usually stay in Lovina to enjoy the beach and the surrounding sights. Singaraja is located east of Lovina and is the largest city in the area. In the past Singaraja played an important role as it was the capital city of Bali during the colonial times and it was a major harbor were a lot of trade took place. Long ago travelers and explorers would arrive by boat at Singaraja and from there travel further inland by foot or horse and carriage. The majority of these travelers crossed the mountain range to settle in Ubud, the most inspiring place in Bali for painters and other artists.
Nowadays it's much easier to cross the mountains and to take in as much views as you can. The southern slope of the mountain is covered with picturesque rice field terraces while on the northern slope there is the magnificent view on the ocean. There are two routes that you can take if you want to cross the mountains, both just as wonderful. One road passes Batur Mountain with amazing view on its lake and the volcanic crater landscape. Here you can also find the Bali Aga village, Trunyan where the original inhabitants of Bali live. The other way is along Bratan Lake, where less tourist buses go to. You will pass the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and picture of this temple can be found in almost every book about Bali. The nearby lakes offer great opportunities to hike and to make some stunning pictures of the area. Travel in Bali tip #1 There is a deep pool right under the
waterfall, so we immediately jumped in screaming: the water is
freezing and... Travel in Bali tip #3 Travel in Bali tip #4 If you see them in the field munching on the grass, you will probably be surprised that the bulls can run up 80km/hr. The bull races are organized by a local cultural group, Yayasan Budaya den Bukit Lovina. You can arrange a ticket at any tour agent in Lovina. Travel in Bali tip #5 Travel in Bali tip #6 Travel in Bali tip #7 Travel in Bali tip #8 Travel in Bali tip #9 Travel in Bali tip #10 Lake Bratan lies in a old crater of the silent volcano Gunung Catur. The lake is a major source of water for the southern part of Bali and many ceremonies take place at the Ulun Danu Bratan temple to worship the Goddess of the Water, Dewi Danu. Her temple is on the lake with 3 meru (rooftops). The temple with 7 meru is dedicated to Shiva and the one with 11 meru to Vishnu. Built in 1633 this temple is a mix of Hindu and Buddism, which can been seen by the big stupa just before the main entrance of the temple. If you like, you can rent a boat and tour around the lake to see the temple from a different angle or you can admire the picturesque crater landscape around you. Travel in Bali Sights -- West BaliFor travelers who arrive by ferry from Java the first Balinese port of entry is Gilimanuk. Here you continue your journey to the beaches of Lovina in the north or to Denpasar and Kuta in the south.The influence of Java is recognizable in the villages along the west coast with mosques and stalls with Javanese food. This area is the less populated area on Bali and most of its inhabitants are either fishermen or farmer. The 134 km road from Gilimanuk to Denpasar is a busy one because Indonesians who travel in Bali take this route in the weekends and many trucks with products also use this road to find their way to the south. If you are planning to have lunch on this route I would go to the Garden Café at Balian beach. There are no signs so when you arrive at Lalang Linggah village keep your eyes open for the Gajah Mina sign. Next to the sign you find a narrow road that takes you to the beach. If you are travelling with an organized tour the driver will likely stop at Soka beach for lunch. Try to avoid this because this huge restaurant isn’t spectacular and bus loads of tourist stop here as well.
Anyway it is worth driving along the route to the south where you'll also see coconut plantations, astonishing sea views and beautiful rice fields with the mountains in the background. In West Bali there are a number of interesting sights you could visit such as... Travel in Bali tip #11 You can do 1-2 hours or 7 hours hikes however you are not allowed to enter the park without a guide. This can be arranged at the park’s headquarters in Cekik. From here you can also visit the idyllic islands of Prapat Agung and Menjangan. Travel in Bali tip #12 The races start early in the morning at 6am before the buffalo's get lazy from the heat of the sun. Only the best and most beautiful bulls are allowed to participate in the contest.
First there’s a parade for spectators where the bulls and their jockeys show their colorful decorations and outfits. After this the bull’s decorations are removed and the jockey brings his two bulls into position. Every pair of bulls pulls a two-wheeled cart on which the jockey has to find his balance. To gain speed he twists the buffalo’s tail and hits him with a small whip. The huge and often relaxed looking bulls can accelerate up to 80 km/hour during this race. They are judged by a panel on their beauty, style, color, power and of course speed. Travel in Bali tip #13 He is responsible for introducing Hinduism rituals and events and makes Bali the religious mixture what it is today with their belief in Hindu gods and animistic spirits. Traveling further to the south you find the most important temple of the area, Rambut Siwi near Yeh Embang village. Rambut Siwi means ‘holy hair’ and the Balinese claim that the priest Nirartha cut his hair here and left it in a shrine in 1546. From the temple you have a nice view on the black volcanic sand and the ocean. Travel in Bali tip #14 Today you can still see the ruins of this former palace. Across from the palace there’s the Gedung Kesenian I Ketut Maria, which is an arts complex named after the famous Balinese dancer I Ketut Maria. Tabanan is rich in dance and art traditions and there are even classical poetry clubs. Every June an art festival is organized here.
In the western part of town you can find the Subak Museum. This museum shows how Balinese irrigation systems work and also the various stages and tools used in the cultivation of rice. Travel in Bali tip #15 Travel in Bali Sights -- Central BaliCentral Bali is the most picturesque area of the entire island with its hills, deep river gorges, stunning rice fields, numerous temples and the cultural treat of Ubud.This area is also the most religious area of Bali where during the day you can see woman making offerings on the side of the streets and in the rice fields to honour Dewi Sri, the rice goddess. In the evening there are several gamelan music groups and dancers practising in the pavilions of the traditional courtyards. The sound of instruments fills the air...
Entire villages such as Sukawati, Batuan, Celuk, Batubulan, Mas are busy with the production of religious artefacts such as temple statues, umbrellas, offering baskets, religious masks and paintings. When I travel into the rural areas located above Ubud I often see women with baskets on top of their heads walking along the rice fields or packed together in a pick-up truck to prepare for the next of many ceremonies. Here I’ve come across some colourful sights, which I think are really worth visiting and where you can observe what everyday Balinese life is all about... Travel in Bali tip #16 Travel in Bali tip#17 This site has a 27m long relief dating from the 14th century with sculpted statues from Ganesha, men who carry their catch, an attacked bear and a man on a horse, which tail is pulled by a woman. It's still unclear but the Balinese think that the relief has been inspired by epics from the Mahabharata where the god Krishna went out hunting.
The site is very small but beautifully located between the rice fields and small river stream. Entrance fee to Yeh Puluh is Rp6000 and here you can also borrow a sarong and temple scarf. Travel in Bali tip #18 Travel in Bali tip #19 Travel in Bali tip #20 Travel in Bali tip #21 The 17m high Margarana memorial was built in 1954 and has eight roofs in Javanese style, which symbolizes the unity of the fallen warriors. There’s an inscription on the memorial: text from a letter that Lieutenant Ngurah Rai wrote to the Dutch officer in which he stated to give his life for the revolution. A picture of this lieutenant can be found on the Rp50.000 bank note. On the same premises there is an impressive graveyard of all the brave people of the puputan. Travel in Bali tip #22 Travel in Bali Sights -- East BaliEast Bali is dominated by the island’s highest mountain: the Gunung Agung. On a clear day the mountain seems to reappear everywhere when you travel in the eastern part of Bali.The Gunung Agung is the holiest mountain for the Balinese and is often referred to as the ‘mother mountain’ or the ‘navel of the world’. The Balinese believe that the gods live on this mountain and its height enables them to look over the daily lives of the people on the island. The Pura Besakih, the mother temple for all the Balinese people is located on the slopes of this mystical mountain. However, while the Balinese worship Gunung Agung the people have also experienced a lot of suffering. The volcanic eruption in 1963 killed thousands of people, ruined buildings, crops and displacing many from their homes. Miraculously the mother temple was still intact and could easily be restored to its original state.
Today you can see the remains of the eruption when you drive around Tulamben. Signs of where the lava flowed are still visible on this barren side of the mountain. On the southern side of the mountain the landscape is completely different. Here you'll see amazing rice fields terraces as far as the eye can see. It is really an unbelievable sight to see how the Balinese people have been able to create these complicated irrigated rice terraces. A great route to drive along these rice terraces is the road passing Sideman and Rendang, making a detour to the Besakih temple. The beaches in East Bali are volcanic black and are often visited by travelers for the good snorkelling and diving sights at Padangbai, Amed and Tulamben. Tulamben is especially popular for its shipwreck and the abundance of coral fish living around it. Besides the amazing landscapes there are many other sights to see located near the eastern cities that were once the capitals of mighty kingdoms. Travel in Bali tip #23
He survived the mass suicidal battle (called puputan) against the Dutch army in 1908 and returned to Bali after living in exile on the island of Lombok. Till the end of his life he lived in the Taman Gili palace with his 40 wives and 100 children. That is what I call a man who has lived life to the fullest... If you visit Klungkung you will easily find the palace on the main junction in the centre of the city, across the puputan square.
Within the palace walls you can visit the former royal hall of justice, where unsettled village disputes were trialled before the king and higher priests. You can also see the Bali Kambang, a floating pavilion where the king used to receives his guests. A unique feature in these two pavilions is the paintings on the ceiling. In the hall of justice these are Kamasan-styled paintings, while the paintings in the floating pavilion show rows of stories on subjects such as the astrological calendar, folk tales and adventures of the hero Sutasona. Travel in Bali tip #25 Travel in Bali tip #26 Travel in Bali tip #27 The Balinese believe that the Naga Basuki, a huge snake, lives in the bat cave. Naga Besuki is the gatekeeper of the balance on earth and is worshiped in the temple. It is said that in the cave there is an underground tunnel that leads all the way to the Besakih temple, located 25km from the cave entrance. However don’t plan to do some crawling from the cave to the Besakih temple because it is forbidden to enter the cave. Travel in Bali tip #28 Travel in Bali tip #29 In Amlapura you can find one of the few remaining royal palaces that had survived during the Dutch colonial period. Unlike its neighbouring kingdoms, the raja of the Karangasem kingdom cooperated with the Dutch rulers and so prevented any battles in the city. In the palace premises there are signs of Dutch influences, such as the main building called Maskerdam. The pavilion ‘Bale Pemandesan’ located between the main building and pond was used for royal tooth filling and cremation ceremonies. What I think is very unique about this palace is that members of the royal family still live here. The last raja had 35 wives and today around 100 descendants still live in the palace. Travel in Bali tip #30 Travel in Bali tip #31 Travel in Bali Sights -- South BaliThe south of Bali is characterized by the famous beaches of Kuta, Sanur, Nusa Dua and Uluwatu area. It attracts travelers from all over the world who love to spend a couple of weeks in luxurious resorts or budget accommodation and surf, get a tan or party at the beach.The south of Bali is also the perfect spot for sightseeing to the other parts of the island since all of the major roads end in Denpasar. You can leave early and visit the beautiful rice fields around Ubud or the mountain range near Kintamani and be back for dinner all in one day.
Even though the south lacks the wide variety of sights found in the other parts of Bali there are still of couple of attractions that are worth visiting... Travel in Bali tip #31 Travel in Bali tip #32 Travel in Bali tip #33 Return from Travel in Bali sights to the Bali Travel Life homepage
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Bull
race Lovina:
Every Friday at 4pm you can watch the bull races: ‘sampi gerumbungan’.
Here, the bulls who usually plough the fields are colorfully harnessed
and ready to race against other bulls.
Git
Git Waterfall:
This waterfall is located south of Singaraja and is not difficult to
find. When coming or going towards the mountains you will see many
signs pointing towards the right direction. There are many entrances to
the waterfall, so don’t be confused if you see another sign about 500m
further. The lagoon-like pool right under the 15m waterfall is perfect
for a refreshing dip. A smaller waterfall is located about 3km further
up the hill but it can also be reached from the main road, which is
easier since it's located just 0,5km from this main road. 
Yeh Sanih:
This little fishing village is famous for its fresh (=cold) water
springs. It is said that its source is at Lake Batur. The tropical garden
and the way the water flows from the swimming pools in to the ocean makes
it a nice setting to relax. The beach at Yeh Sanih is also really good
and very quiet. Just like the whole Northern coast, the sea can be
quiet as a lake. Avoid the weekends when it gets busy ;-) 
Ulun Danu Bratan
temple:
Even though you can't enter this temple, it's definitely worth a look.
The temples at Lake Bratan create a mystical atmosphere and the
thick mist around the slopes of Gunung Catur just makes the whole picture
complete. 
Taman
Nasional Bali Barat (National Park):
This park consists of virgin forest on the slopes of the mountain, mangroves
and coral reefs at the north-western coast. It is considered the most
important conservation area of Bali. 
Pura
Gede Perancak:
Perancak is also home to the small white temple, Pura Gede Perancak
located at a lagoon and made out of coral. The temple is dedicated to
the priest Nirartha, who fled Java after the fall of the Majapahit
empire. 
Sangeh:
This sight is home to the Bukit Sari Monkey Forest and the Balinese
believe that the three monkey clans are the descendants of the monkey
army of general Hanuman. They can be very aggressive so be prepared and
watch your sunglasses and hats. The Bukit Sari temple in the forest has
been build by the royal family from Mengwi in the 17th century. They
build it to honour the god Vishnu and it was used as a place for
meditation. 
Marga Memorial: In
Marga you find the Margarana Memorial which commemorates a regiment of
guerilla warriors, who were killed by the Dutch after World War II. It
was a fierce battle where the Balinese warriors fought until death,
called puputan.
Semarapura:
Between 1710 till 1908 this city, formerly known as Klungkung, was the
centre of the mighty Gelgel-dynasty. Even today the people of the
Balinese noble society are mostly decendents of the royal Klungkung
family. Until his death in 1965 the last raja of Klungkung was highly
respected. 
Kamasan:
This little village is where the Kamasan wayang painting style
originated in the 14th century. In the past this was the only style of
painting found in Bali. Talented painters were ordered by the raja to
decorate the palace and temples with Kamasan paintings. The religious
stories of the Mahabharatha and the Ramayana were painted on long
narrow canvases which could reach up to several metres in length. Today
a couple of artists in Kamasan have workshops where you can still see
this old painting style. 
Pura
Besakih:
This is the mother of all temples and is considered the most important
by the Balinese people. Surprisingly though, the temple is not the most
beautiful one on the island and as a visitor you are not allowed to
enter most of the temple complexes. However during important festivals
the colorful dressed people who gather around with their offerings is
definitely a sight to remember... 
Pura
Goa Lawah:
The main attraction here is not the temple but the holy bat cave. To
reach it, you must pass the very old temple of the death, which is
still used and considered very important to the Balinese. 
Puri Agung Karangasem:
This palace is the remains of the last kingdom of this region which
lasted till the early 20th century and is located in Amlapura. Before
the eruption of Gunung Agung in 1963, Amlapura was called Karangasem.
The change of name was seen as a new beginning after the eruption had
destroyed parts of the city. 
Taman
Ujung:
The raja of Karangasem built this water palace in 1921. At that time
the water palace really looked like a royal palace and some describe it
as a miniature of the Taj Mahal. However due to lack of maintenance and
the earthquake damages in 1979, the water palace has lost its grandeur.
You can still wander around and admire the view though. If you want to
go for a swim, it's better to visit the other water palace Tirta Gangga
15 km north of Amlapura.
