Sights in Bali
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Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana
This cool and dense swath of jungle, officially called Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana, houses three holy temples. The sanctuary is inhabited by a band of grey-haired and greedy long-tailed Balinese macaques that are nothing like the innocent-looking doe-eyed monkeys on the brochures.
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Museum Le Mayeur
The Belgian artist Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpes (1880-1958) arrived in Bali in 1932. Three years later he met and married the beautiful Legong dancer Ni Polok when she was 15. They lived in this compound from 1935 when Sanur was still a quiet fishing village. The house is an interesting example of Balinese-style architecture.
Almost 90 Le Mayeur paintings are displayed inside the museum, with information in Indonesian and English. A free guidebook in English is available and is filled with useful information and beautiful colour photos.
Some of Le Mayer's early works are interesting, Impressionist-style paintings from his travels in Africa, India, Italy, France and the…
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Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
This cool and dense swathe of jungle, officially called Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana, houses three holy temples. The sanctuary is inhabited by a band of grey-haired and greedy long-tailed Balinese macaques who are nothing like the innocent-looking doe-eyed monkeys on the brochures.
They are ever vigilant for passing tourists who just might have peanuts and ripe bananas available for a quick handout. They can put on ferocious displays of temperament if you fail to come through with the goods and have been known to bite if provoked. Don't hand food directly to these creatures.
The interesting Pura Dalem Agung (Temple of the Dead) is in the forest, for this is the inauspicious…
reviewed
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Pura Luhur Ulu Watu
Pura Luhur Ulu Watu is one of several important temples to the spirits of the sea along the south coast of Bali. The temple is perched precipitously on the southwestern tip of the peninsula, atop sheer cliffs that drop straight into the pounding surf. You enter through an unusual arched gateway flanked by statues of Ganesha. At sunset, walk around the cliff top to the left (south) of the temple. Watch out for monkeys, who β when not reproducing β like to snatch sunglasses and anything else within reach. The views far out to sea are mesmerizing.
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Bali Orchid Garden
Given Bali's weather and volcanic soil, no-one should be surprised that orchids thrive in abundance. At this garden you can see thousands of orchids in a variety of settings. Fans will love everything, others will enjoy the back areas which have a wild tropical feel. The gift shop sells orchid plants as well as books about the flowers. It's 3km north of Sanur along Jl Ngurah Rai just past the major intersection with the coast road, Jl Bypass Tohpati.
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Bali Safari and Marine Park
Kids love Bali Safari and Marine Park and their parents are happy they love someplace. This big-ticket animal theme park is filled with critters whose species never set foot in Bali until their cage door opened. Displays are large and naturalistic. A huge menu of extra-cost options includes camel and elephant rides. The park is north of Lebih Beach; free shuttles run to tourist centres across south Bali.
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Pura Taman Saraswati
Just a bit west of Pura Desa Ubud is the very picturesque Pura Taman Saraswati. Waters from the temple at the rear of the site feed the pond in the front which overflows with pretty lotus blossoms. There are carvings that honour Dewi Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and the arts, who has clearly given her blessing to Ubud. There are weekly dance performances.
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Bias Tugal
Walk southwest from the ferry terminal and follow the trail up the hill to idyllic Bias Tugal, also known as Pantai Kecil (Little Beach), on the exposed coast outside the bay. Be careful in the water; as it is subject to strong currents. There are a couple of daytime warung here.
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Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali
The Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali was originally established in 1910 by a Dutch resident who was concerned by the export of culturally significant artefacts from the island. Destroyed in a 1917 earthquake, it was rebuilt in the 1920s, but used mainly for storage until 1932. At that time, German artist Walter Spies and some Dutch officials revived the idea of collecting and preserving Balinese antiquities and cultural objects, and creating an ethnographic museum.
Today the museum is well organised and most displays are labelled in English. You can climb one of the towers inside the grounds for a better view of the whole complex. Museum staff often play music on a bamboo game…
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Kuta Bay
Including the beach sites of Kuta and Legian, this area has been a major drawcard for more than 25 years, offering cheap accommodation, Western food, great shopping, surf, sunsets and riotous nightlife. However, the events of October 2002, when 200 people were killed after the bombing of the Sari and Paddy's nightclubs, put a severe dent in tourist numbers.
Things are slowly recovering - the Sari nighclub re-opened in July 2003 - and tourist numbers are picking up, but the jury is still out on whether Kuta will ever be the same again. Some would say that's no bad thing - Kuta has long been disparaged for its rampant development, lowbrow nightlife and crass commercialism.
reviewed
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Pura Tanah Lot
One of the most popular day trips from south Bali, Pura Tanah Lot (adult/child 10,000/5000Rp, car park 5000Rp) is the most visited and photographed temple in Bali. Itβs an obligatory stop, especially at sunset, and a very commercialised one. It has all the authenticity of a stage set β even the tower of rock that the temple sits upon is an artful reconstruction (the entire structure was crumbling). Over one-third of the rock you see is artificial. For the Balinese, Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most important and venerated sea temples. Like Pura Luhur Ulu Watu, at the tip of the southern Bukit Peninsula, and Pura Rambut Siwi to the west, it is closely associated with the M…
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Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts displays fine examples of all schools of Balinese art. You just need to look at the lush composition of 'Balinese Market' by Anak Agung Gde Sobrat to see the vibrancy of local painting. It was in Ubud that the modern Balinese art movement started; where artists first began to abandon purely religious themes and court subjects for scenes of everyday life.
Rudolf Bonnet was part of the Pita Maha artists' cooperative, and together with Cokorda Gede Agung Sukawati (a prince of Ubud's royal family) they helped to establish a permanent collection
The first pavilion straight ahead as you enter has a collection of early works from Ubud and the surrounding …
reviewed
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Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali
The Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali was originally established in 1910 by a Dutch Resident who was concerned by the export of culturally significant artefacts from the island. Destroyed in a 1917 earthquake, it was rebuilt in the 1920s.
From the time it was rebuilt until 1932, the museum was used mainly for storage until German artist Walter Spies and some Dutch officials revived the idea of collecting and preserving Balinese antiquities and cultural objects in order to create an ethnographic museum. Now it's quite well set up, and most displays are labelled in English. You can climb one of the towers inside the grounds for a better view of the whole complex.
The museum compr…
reviewed
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Museum Le Mayeur
The Belgian artist Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpes (1880-1958) arrived in Bali in 1932. Three years later he met and married the beautiful Legong dancer Ni Polok when she was 15. They lived in this compound when Sanur was still a quiet fishing village. The main house must have been delightful - a peaceful and elegant home filled with art and antiques right by the tranquil beach.
After his death, Ni Polok lived in the house until she died in 1985. The house is an interesting example of Balinese-style architecture - notice the beautifully carved window shutters that recount the story of Rama and Sita from the Ramayana.Almost 90 Le Mayeur paintings are displayed inside the m…
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Pura Jagatnatha
The Pura Jagatnatha is dedicated to the supreme god, Sanghyang Widi. Built in 1953, part of its significance is its statement of monotheism. Although Balinese recognise many gods, the belief in one supreme god (who can have many manifestations) brings Balinese Hinduism into conformity with the first principle of Pancasila - the 'Belief in One God'.
The padmasana (shrine) is made of white coral, and consists of an empty throne (symbolic of heaven) on top of the cosmic turtle and two naga (mythological serpents), which symbolise the foundation of the world. The walls are decorated with carvings of scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Pura Jagatnatha is more frequently …
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Agung Rai Museum of Art
Founded by Agung Rai as a museum, gallery and cultural centre, the impressive Agung Rai Museum of Art is the only place in Bali to see the often haunting works by the influential German artist Walter Spies.
The museum is housed in several traditional buildings set in gardens with water coursing through channels. It features work by 19th-century Javanese artist Raden Saleh. It exhibits classical Kamasan paintings, Batuan-style work from the 1930s and '40s, and works by Lempad, Affandi, Sadali, Hofker, Bonnet and Le Mayeur. The collection is well-labelled in English. Look for the enigmatic Portrait of a Javanese Nobleman and his Wife by Raden Saleh, which predates the simil…
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Pura Ulun Danu Bratan
This very important Hindu-Buddhist temple was founded in the 17th century. It is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters, and is actually built on small islands, which means it is completely surrounded by the lake. Both pilgrimages and ceremonies are held here to ensure that there is a supply of water for farmers all over Bali.
The temple is truly beautiful, with classical Hindu thatch-roofed meru (multiroofed shrines) reflected in the water and silhouetted against the often cloudy mountain backdrop - one of the most common photographic images of Bali.
A large banyan tree shades the entrance; walk through manicured gardens and past an impressive Buddhist stupa t…
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Gunung Kawi
In the bottom of this lush green valley is one of Bali's oldest and largest ancient monuments. Gunung Kawi consists of 10 rock-cut candi (shrines): memorials cut out of the rock face in imitation of actual statues. They stand in 7m/23ft-high sheltered niches cut into the sheer cliff face.
A solitary candi (memorial) stands about a kilometre further down the valley to the south; this is reached by a trek through the rice paddies on the western side of the river.
Each candi is believed to be a memorial to a member of the 11th-century Balinese royalty, but little is known for certain. Legends relate that the whole group of memorials was carved out of the rock face in one har…
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Botanic Garden Ubud
Care to feed a pitcher plant? A huge collection of these Sumatran meat-eaters is but one part of the amazing new Botanic Garden Ubud. Spread over more than six hectares, the gardens - there are many - are devoted to various themes such as orchids (in greenhouses), Bali-grown plants like cinnamon and vanilla, flowering butterfly-friendly gardens, an enormous lotus pond and much more. The work of Stefan Reisner, this is a welcome addition to the Ubud scene. Get lost in the maze and when you finally escape, take comfort form Bali's medicinal plants. The exhibit about the cacti of East Bali is worth the cost of admission alone.
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ARMA
Founded by Agung Rai as a museum, gallery and cultural centre, the impressive ARMA is the only place in Bali to see works by the influential German artist Walter Spies. It also has works by 19th-century Javanese artist Raden Saleh. It exhibits classical Kamasan paintings, Batuan-style work from the 1930s and 1940s, and works by Lempad, Affandi, Sadali, Hofker, Bonnet and Le Mayeur. The collection is well labelled in English. Look for the enigmatic Portrait of a Javanese Nobleman and his Wife by Raden Saleh.
reviewed
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I Gusti Nyoman Lempad's House
This house is open to the public, but it's mainly used as a gallery for a group of artists, which includes Lempad's grandchildren. There are only a few of Lempad's own paintings and drawings here. The Puri Lukisan and Neka museums have more extensive collections of Lempad's drawings. The family compound itself is a good example of traditional Balinese architecture and layout - Lempad was also an architect and sculptor. It's also home to many animals in cages.
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Seniwati Gallery Of Art By Women
The Seniwati Gallery Of Art By Women exhibits works by over 70 Balinese, Indonesian and resident foreign women artists. The information on many of the artists makes for fascinating reading. The gallery and workshop aims to publicise Balinese women artists and to encourage the next generation. The works span all mediums and this place is an excellent example of the kinds of cultural and artistic organisations that can thrive in Ubud.
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Jungutbatu Beach
The beach here, a mostly lovely arc of white sand with clear blue water, has superb views across to Gunung Agung on Bali. The village itself is pleasant, with quiet lanes, no cars and lots of seaweed production. Pura Segara and its enormous banyan tree are the site of frequent ceremonies.
At the north end of town is a somewhat rickety metal lighthouse. Follow the path around east to Pura Sakenan.
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Museum Rudana
The large, imposing Museum Rudana is the creation of local politician and art-lover Nyoman Rudana and his wife Ni Wayan Olasthini. The three floors contain over 400 traditional paintings, including a calendar dated to the 1840s, some Lempad drawings, and more modern pieces. The museum is beside the Rudana Gallery, which has a large selection of paintings for sale.
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Ubud Palace
Ubud Palace & Puri Saren Agung share space in the heart of Ubud. The compound has many ornate corners and was mostly built after the 1917 earthquake. The local royal family still lives here and you can wander around most of the large compound exploring the many traditional and not excessively ornate buildings. If you really like it, you can stay the night.
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