Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue
Designed and built by Nyoman Nuarta, one of Indonesia’s foremost modern sculptor, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue or GWK and its pedestal building will be standing 150 meters tall with its wings span 64 meters across. Made from more than 4000 tons of copper and brass, the statue is picturing Lord Wisnu, as the source of wisdom, riding on the back of the mythical bird Garuda as the manifestation of conscience toward Amerta, the perennial goodness.
The statue and its pedestal will be surrounded by more than 240 hectares cultural park which was once an abandoned and unproductive limestone quarry. The cultural park will provide attractions for both local and foreign visitors with supporting facilities such as Lotus Pond, Festival Park, Amphitheater, Street Theater, Exhibition Hall, as well as Jendela Bali The Panoramic Resto and souvenir shop. At present time, the statue of Wisnu, the statue of Garuda, and the hands of Wisnu have been placed temporarily in three different plazas within the park.GWK Cultural Park is intended to educate, especially the young generations about the importance of preserving and cultivating world’s cultural heritage.
The Statue of Wisnu
As the anchor point of GWK, the 20 meter tall copper statue of the Lord Wisnu has been placed temporarily on the highest hill of Ungasan where visitors can enjoy sunset or sunrise over the magnificent view of Kuta, Benoa and Sanur. The statue of Wisnu is an illustration of the Almighty God in maintaining and caring all life and its being. The god Wisnu is the owner of Amerta in the form of water as the source of fertility , giving wealth and life to the universe.
The Statue of Garuda
Right behind the Plaza Wisnu is the Plaza Garuda where the 18 meters tall statue of Garuda placed temporarily. At the present time, Plaza Garuda becomes the focal point of a massive alley of carved limestone pillars which covers more than 4000 sqm open space area namely Lotus Pond. The colossal limestone pillars and monumental Garuda statue make Lotus Pond a very exotic space. With its room capacity that can accommodate up to 7000 people, Lotus Pond has gained good reputation as the perfect place to hold big and international events.
The Statue of Wisnu’s Hands
The statue of Wisnu’s hands was added to GWK Cultural Park in 2007. It’s one step closer to finishing the complete Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue. This piece was placed temporarily on Tirta Agung area.
Baha Village
The population at Baha Village is dominated by workers and the traditional farming community, who own wide rice fields, and by the “Subak” organization that mainly functions to regulate water distribution for irrigation. The uniformity of the typical entrance gates of the family compounds combines with the traditional housing structure present a charming appearance for the village. Baha Village is located about 4 km east of Taman Ayun Temple. The workers and the traditional farmers are the major population in Baha. The uniqueness of this traditional village is the uniformity of the entrance gates of the family compounds combines with the traditional housing structure, which portrays a fascinating appearance for the village.
The Holy Monkey Forest Sangeh and Bukit Sari Temple.
Friendly Monkeys and huge nutmeg trees around the forest makes the holy Monkey forest Sangeh much more attractive and more beautiful. The Holy Monkey Forest, Sangeh, and 14 hectares homogeneous Pala (nutmeg) forest, in habited by hundreds of tame monkeys. The trees cannot be found on any other part of Bali and their existence in this village remains a mystery.
This is the biggest and the first monkey forest introduced as a tourism resort in Bali. The high Pala trees shade a mossy temple of Bukit Sari amidst the forest. It is a Hindu temple heritage by Mengwi Kingdom, which was build, in the 17th century.
Bukit Sari Temple
In the Sangeh Monkey Forest, a protected grove of nutmeg trees where tribes of monkeys well as honored guests can be found a spacious temple known as Pura Bukit Sari Sangeh. This temple originally built by the royal family of Mengwi, and is now taken care of by the people from the village of Sangeh.
According to history Anak Agung Anglurah Made Karangasem Sakti, the adopted son of Raja Mengwi, Cokorda Sakti Blambangan, built Bukit Sari. Mengwi was once one of Bali’s major Kingdoms, nearby to Sangeh, only 18 km from Denpasar.
At the beginning of the 17th century the royal family of Mengwi ruled over the area Blambangan to East Java Anak Agung Anglurah Made Karangasem Sakti had from his childhood practiced “tapa rare” a kind of meditation wherein on the state of childhood.
Thus he obtained the inspiration to build a temple in the nutmeg forest at Sangeh. To this day, the Bukit Sari temple remains as a testament to the duty and respect that the Royal Family of Mengwi pays to the Gods of Mount Agung.
Puncak Mangu Temple
Puncak Mangu Temple belongs to Kahyangan Jagat Temple with 2 function as Catur Loka Pala Temple and Padma Bhuwana Temple. Puncak Mangu has 2 penataran temples; Penataran Temple at Ulun Danu Beratan at Tabanan Regency and Penataran at Tinggan Village, Badung Regency. Penataran Tinggan Temple is located at Tinggan Village, Petang subdistrict, Badung Regency was built in saka 1752 or 1830 by Cokorda Nyoman Mayun.Annual ritual ceremony is “Ngebekin” ceremony.
This ceremony has the aim to worship God in his manifestation as God Sangkara to ask for His blessing for good crops especially rice.Tukad Bangkung Bridge Tukad Bangkung Bridge located on Petang village in Badung district. This bridge is the longest bridge in Bali and connect 2 district such as Badung and Bangli. In this bridge we can see beautiful mountain view and very fresh air. On Galungan and Kuningan day, this bridge usually crowded by people who want to make a picnic with their family or see the view.
It is situated at Kuning Hamlet in the south of Bangli, near Taman Bali Raja tourist object. This location can be reached by passing through a pathway along 500 meters surrounded by a verdant clove plantation on the right and left side. Here, visitors will perceive a cool and fresh air. The Kuning Waterfall itself is situated at an altitude of 25 meters from the surface of the water of Melangit River flowing southwards. Surrounding nature offers a very beautiful views and unspoiled atmosphere becoming the backdrop of waterfall. Tropical forest nearby still inhabited by thousands of grey monkeys makes this ecotourism object more challenging.
Accessibility
From Denpasar, direct your vehicle to Bangli either by passing through Sukawati/Gianyar road section or via Jalan Bypass Ida Bagus Mantra. When arriving at Taman Bali Village, approximately 3 km before the town of Bangli, you will see a T-junction. Take the right turn and follow the road until arriving at a junction near the NON MIN drinking water factory. Then, from the T-junction, turn right until the end of the road near the house of residents. From here, the journey should be resumed on foot along some 300 meters to reach the Kuning Waterfall.
Taman Bali Village has a beautiful park denoting a heritage of Taman Bali Kingdom. The park is equipped with a pool and sanctum in the form of clan temple building belonging to the big family of Tirta Harum Taman Bali. Other than functioned as worshipping place, it was also made a recreational area by the King of Taman Bali.
The park was established by Sang Anom from Taman Bali Kingdom with the extent of about 5,000 square meters and surrounded by amazing active rice fields where farmers are still applying old-fashioned farming techniques. Members of local subak organization also founded a temple of profession located next to the Tirta Harum clan temple.
In addition, there are also relics in the form of royal oxen-style toilets and Gold Pavilion used to store the king’s property located within the same complex as SDN 1 Taman Bali primary school. The gold pavilion was renovated in 1986 by villagers of Taman Bali.
Of course, this heritage has an attraction and potential to be developed into a tourist attraction, especially fishing attraction that can be combined with biking and cross-country run activity.
which is more familiar with the name Ulun Danu Temple for the Balinese nestles 900 meters above sea level. It is located precisely in Kalanganyar Village, Kintamani District, on the right side of the main road Denpasar-Singaraja, from the South. It faces West with Mount Batur and its solid black lavas as the backdrop, and Lake Batur at the foot of the mountain makes the beauty complete for the temple.
Beforehand, the temple was located at the southwestern slope of Mount Batur. The great eruption of Mount Batur in 1917 had destroyed everything, including the temple, except one, the highest God’s shrine. Then due to the initiative og village chief along with other village prominent figures, they decided to bring the remaining shrine to be built again on a higher ground, at the present place. The ceremony at this temple is held annually called Ngusaba Kadasa..
