Discovering the Land of Temples – Bali
Batur Temple, Tegallalang Rice Terraces and Ubud
The most convenient, hassle-free and an amazingly economical way to see the sights of Bali ‘Land of Temples’ is to hire a chauffeur driven car. Madi picked us up from the lobby in a smart, air-conditioned vehicle and headed inland towards the mountains. We stopped along the way to see some of the traditional arts and crafts that Bali is renowned for, such as silver jewellery making and wood carving.
Batur Temple ‘Pura Bat
Batur Temple, Pura Bat is the magnificent Balinese temple, dedicated to the goddess of rivers and lakes Dewi Danu, located near the still active Kintamani volcano; appropriately attired in sarongs (yes, both men and women!) a local guide showed us around, explaining the history and customs of the sacred Hindu site. There are actually nine different temples, and almost 300 shrines and pavillions!
On this occasion, the temple was being painstakingly decorated by hundreds of villagers especially brought in from Sumatra, for an important purnama ceremony to take place coinciding with the full moon.
Lake Batur
From here we were driven through some spectacular scenery to an Indonesian buffet lunch at a restaurant, in the cooler mountain air, overlooking the volcanic Lake Batur with the majestic Kintamani volcano in the background. This is one of the most sacred volcanoes in Indonesia!
Apart from Lake Batur, there are three others on the island which are worth a visit, these are Lake Bratan and the Bali Twin Lakes (Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan) which are located quite close together some 60 kilometres to the west.
Bali ‘Land of Temples‘
There are several renowned public Hindu temples, where everyone is respectfully welcome, however there are countless private temples too which you can appreciate as you drive through the countryside and villages – many of these belong to groups of friends or associations, formed for generations, and there are also family temples which can be seen as simple shrines at almost all homes and premises range from the humblest to the opulent and ornate.
Tegallalang Rice Fields
We drove through lush, green countryside to see the rice paddy field terraces, in the scenic valley of Tegallalang – the vantage point from the winding road above like many places in Bali is exploited touristically, and a small toll fee is required to pass.
Ubud and the Monkey Forest
Our last destination for the day, Ubud is Bali’s cultural centre, a picturesque village in the foothills which is popular with artists and travellers. The climate here is cooler than the coast, and there is an attractive selection of accommodation, restaurants and craft-shops, which makes Ubud an interesting stay for a couple of nights.
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is another attraction; a fascinating place with temples and shrines hidden amongst luxuriant vegetation, streams and grottos, statues and wildlife. The playful little grey monkeys will clamber onto your shoulder as you take a photo if you let them!
Traditional dancing is part of Bali culture and a great way to end the day is to see an exciting performance of the Fire Dancers or the typical Balinese Barong Dance.
Related Features on Bali and Lombok
Discovering Bali – Sunrise at Sanur Beach
Sanur is a popular resort, conveniently located on the southeastern coast of Bali, where you can find traditional, beachfront 4* accommodation with true Balinese atmosphere and hospitality. Endless sands fringe a shallow bay which is protected by an off-shore reef…
Discovering Bali – Land of Temples
Discovering the land of Bali – Batur Temple, Tegallalang rice terraces and Ubud The most convenient, hassle-free and an amazingly economical way to see the sights is to hire a chauffeur driven car. Madi picked us up from the lobby in a smart, air-conditioned vehicle and headed inland…
Discovering Bali – East Coast, the real Bali
We rented a moped to tour Bali independently… Up past Padang Bai – where fast boats leave for the neighbouring island of Lembongan, or to Lombok and the Gili Islands a couple of hours away – you’ll discover quiet beaches, and some extraordinanary sites.
Discovering Bali – Beaches and Sunsets
Discovering the beaches and chasing sunsets in Bali. I just wanted to relax and enjoy beach life. A ride south on our faithful moped took us to Nua Dusa, and reputedly Bali’s best beaches, with sumptuous five-star resorts where you can enjoy luxury of being pampered.
Best Places to Visit in Ubud (Bali)
Have you heard of Ubud in the highlands of Bali? The cultural heart of Indonesia’s favourite island, this mystical town lays in a perfect setting between rice fields and forests where streams cascade into sacred pools…
Gili Meno is a tiny island in Indian Ocean where it meets the Pacific by the Wallace Line, a few kilometres off the northwest coast of Lombok and 35 kilometres east of Bali; sometimes called ‘Robinson Crusoe Island’, it’s just like a castaway island with fabulous, fine white sands…
Loving it in Lombok – Rinjani Beach Eco Resort
Gliding through the ocean on our improvised ‘taxi’, a small longtail boat, Juan and I left the white sands of Gili Meno Island for the short trip across the waters to Lombok. From the sanctuary of our fabulous desert island retreat, I’d gazed across the straits…
Lombok – Pink Beach & Tanjung Luar Fish Market
Tangsi Beach (Pantai Pink), Lombok. Our second day day in Lombok and we were up before dawn to the haunting sound of the sunrise call to prayers from a mosque in the nearby village. After some Lombok coffee and tropical fruit, it was time to set off for ‘Pink Beach’
Discover the World with
the blog with a focus on independent travel
