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:
North Bali
West Bali
Central Bali
East Bali
South Bali
Travel
in Bali Sights -- North Bali
The 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
Sing
Sing Waterfall:
When we were at the Sing Sing waterfall we were the only ones here so
we had the place all to ourselves. There is a deep pool right under the
waterfall, so we immediately jumped in screaming: the water is
freezing and...
Travel in Bali tip #2
Banjar
hot springs:
This sight is not far from Lovina and can easily be visited at the end
of the day, when it cools down. The ancient looking pools with water
spewing dragon statues and the lush tropical garden surrounding the
pools make the whole setting really nice. The 38ºC degrees water will
have you relaxed and lazy in no time...
Travel in Bali tip #3
Dolphin
trip Lovina:
Every morning, off the coast of Lovina, a group of dolphins gather to
hunt for fish. This joyful spectacle is a must to see when you are in
North Bali. Boats can be arranged at the villages in Lovina and they
leave at 6 am. You might not want to wake up that early on your holiday,
but from my own experience I'm sure you’ll be right awake once you're in
the boat...
Travel in Bali tip #4
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.
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
Singaraja:
This former capital has played an important role throughout the history
of Bali and today you can still find many architectural reminders of
historical events. The library is also worth a visit as it has old holy
books. They say the Balinese are afraid to enter the library out of
fear of being cursed by the spirits...
Travel in Bali tip #6
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.
Travel in Bali tip #7
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 ;-)
Travel in Bali tip #8
Temples
of East Buleleng:
This region is known for its quiet farmer’s villages, black beaches and
its beautifully decorated temples. Some of Balinese finest temples are
found here. When you visit the temples you can see the differences
between the temples in the south and north of the island. The wall
carvings are more complicated and some show humorous and erotic
scenes...
Travel in Bali tip #9
Gunung
Batur:
One of the most impressive views in Bali is at Gunung Batur. You can
stand at the crater rim and see the beautiful mountain landscape
with Lake Batur in the centre. But the views from the inner crater
road
are just as amazing. Most visitors stay at the nearby villages to
ascend the
mountain in the morning.
Travel in Bali tip #10
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.
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.
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Travel
in Bali Sights -- West Bali
For 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
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. 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
Buffalo races in Perancak and Negara:
At these places you have the opportunity to see the buffalo races along
a 4km long race track. It takes place after the rice harvest, which is
every second and third Sunday in September and October. The race is
always between two clubs and is organized by the local government.
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
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.
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
Tabanan:
Along the main road you'll see a lot of signs indicating Tabanan. This
is the capital of the district with the same name. The last king of
this small city lived in the Puri Tabanan until 1906 when the Dutch
removed the kingdom and took colonial power over Bali.
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
Tanah
Lot:
You'll probably visit this sight when you travel in Bali. The sea
temple of Tanah Lot is one of the most famous temples on the island and
also one of the busiest. We have visited this sight a couple of times
and even though there are bus loads of tourists there’s something
magical about the place. Not surprising considering the perfect
location with stunning sunsets in the background...
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Travel
in Bali Sights -- Central Bali
Central 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
Goa
Gajah:
This temple is located in Bedulu, just north west of Ubud. We were
lucky to arrive early in the morning and see Balinese men and women
preparing several offerings for a ceremony. In the Goa Gajah
(Elephant’s cave) you can see the 1m high statue of Ganesha, son of the
god Shiva. In 1954 a bathing place in front of the cave was...
Travel in Bali tip#17
Yeh Puluh
is found 30m on foot through the rice fields from Goa Gajah. This is
also a bathing place even though a lot smaller than its neighbour.
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
Gunung
Kawi:
is a sight that should not be missed when you travel in Bali. I already
thought that Goa Gajah and Yeh Puluh were beautifully located but
Gunung Kawi wins every prize here with palm trees, rice field vistas
and the river Perikisan. It takes a while from the parking lot before
you reach the ten holy shrines, which are carved in the rocky hills...
Travel in Bali tip #19
Tirta
Empul:
This complex is down the road from Gunung Kawi in the north of
Tampaksiring. Tirta is derived from the Sanskrit word of ‘amrita’,
which means nectar or life elixir. The Balinese believe that the source
provides holy water with magical powers. Therefore the temple here is
very important to the Balinese...
Travel in Bali tip #20
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.
Travel in Bali tip #21
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.
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
Pura
Taman Ayun in Mengwi:
We discovered this temple by accident when we were on our way from
Lovina to Ubud. The parking lot is full with tourist buses but the
temple complex is very large so you will hardly notice the crowds. The
temple is beautifully maintained and you can see the inner courtyards
easily by peeking over the walls...
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Travel
in Bali Sights -- East Bali
East 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
Pura
Kehen in Bangli:
This temple is often described as the miniature version of the Pura
Besakih. Like the mother temple, this temple has 8 terraces and it is
built on the southern slope of the hill. Kehen means household or
fireplace and symbolizes the fire god, Brahmen who protects the temple.
Travel in Bali tip #24
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.
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.

The centre of Klungkung
The
palace Taman Gili was built in 1710 and was designed by the raja at
that time. The raja ordered the best craftsmen in the kingdom to create
a palace that had a mixture of Majapahit and former Balinese-Hindu
influences. Unfortunately the palace was severely damaged in 1908 by
the Dutch and has never been restored to its former glory.
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
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.
Travel in Bali tip #26
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...
Travel in Bali tip #27
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.
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
Tenganan:
The original descendants of Bali prior to the Majahapit’s arrival live
together in this little village, located near Candidasa. The village
looks very basic but the Bali Aga people are one of the richest people
on the island. The villagers are really friendly and are happy to tell
you everything about their history and daily life...
Travel in Bali tip #29
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.
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
Tirta
Gangga:
Just north of Amlapura you can find one of the most beautiful water
palaces in Bali. The water palace has several pools that are surrounded
by a big garden and many statues. It is possible to take a swim in this
amazing setting. The water is freezing though but after swimming a
couple of laps you’ll feel like royalty yourself...
Travel in Bali tip #31
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.
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Travel
in Bali Sights -- South Bali
The 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
Denpasar:
This is the biggest and busiest city of Bali with governmental offices,
Chinese businesses, Javanese food stalls and a lot of traffic jams. If
you travel through Denpasar on your way to the north there are a couple
of interesting sights you could visit. The Bali Museum, the Pura
Jagatnata temple and the Werdi Budaya Art Center are all close by and
besides learning about the Balinese history you can also see several
cultural performances...
Travel in Bali tip #32
Pura Luhur Ulu Watu:
This sea temple is one of the most impressive and also one of the six
most important temples on Bali. It’s small and if you come early in
morning you could be the only traveler here. The temple sits on top of
a 100 m high cliff with a view to die for. You could sit here for hours
watching the waves crash into the rocks below...
Travel in Bali tip #33
Uluwatu
beaches:
If you want to see something else besides Kuta beach, Sanur beach or
Nusa Dua beach take a look at some remote and beautifully located
beaches such as Balangan beach with its puddles, Padang-Padang beach
with its excellent surfing conditions, Dreamland beach for endless
strolling or surfers’ paradise Pantai Suluban for the most amazing
ocean colors...
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