According to MCAT-TEST-CENTERS, Denpasar is located off the southern coast of Bali and has been its capital since 1958.
At the center of the city is Puputan Square, from which Denpasar ‘s main roads radiate. On it stands a monument erected in honor of the battle of local soldiers against colonial troops in 1906. Then even ordinary residents of the city, armed with spears and daggers, went to the enemy. Away from this monument is a 5-meter statue, symbolizing the god Shiva. The temple of Pura Jagatnath rises in front of the square. It was erected in 1953 in honor of the Balinese deity Sang Hyang Vidi. The temple is built of coral and stands on a turtle surrounded by dragons, which symbolizes the creation of the world. Not far from the temple is the Bali Museum.. Items related to the culture of the island (masks, daggers, paintings and sculptures) are exhibited here, as well as objects of the prehistoric period – sarcophagi dating back to the 2nd century BC, anthropology and ethnography pavilions work, where the architecture of local palaces and temples is reproduced.
On the way from Puputan Square, at one of the crossroads, you can see a statue of the god Brahma. God is represented with four heads that watch the streets of the city, a statue made of volcanic stone. In Denpasar, it is also worth visiting the Maospahit Temple, which was built in the 14th century of brick without any architectural decorations. Inside it there are several courtyards with statues.
Around Denpasar on the way to Sanur in the coconut grove is the Art Center, which was built from 1973 to 1976. On an area of 5 hectares are the Museum of Art and three art galleries, as well as the largest building of the center – an amphitheater with an area of 7,200 square meters. m, which can accommodate up to 600 people. Performances are constantly arranged here, and a large dance festival is held annually in June. Bedugul mountain reserve is located
18 km north of Denpasar. Its height above sea level is 850 m. Botanical gardens are located on the territory of the reserve. They occupy 120 hectares, on which a wide variety of trees and hundreds of species of orchids grow. 20 km from Denpasaryou can visit Bukit Sari Monkey Forest. A lot of monkeys live here, who willingly make contact with visitors. Also in this Forest is a temple with the same name, which was built in the 17th century.
Bali is located 3 km east of Java. The length of the island is 152 km, the width is 112 km, and the highest point is the Agun volcano (3142 m).
Agun is an active volcano that last erupted in March 1963. Despite this, trekking routes have been laid along the slopes of the volcano. They are all pretty heavy. The way to the top takes about 6 hours. Agun is a sacred mountain for local residents, so it is not possible to climb during religious holidays. The best time for trekking in terms of weather is from April to mid-October.
Mount Batukaru is the second highest mountain, its height is 2276 m. Batukaru, like Agun, is a sacred place. The path to its summit lies through dense forest, populated in abundance by monkeys, birds and reptiles. The ascent will take about 6 hours.
Also within Bali is the Batur volcano, next to which there is a picturesque lake. Batur is the third sacred mountain of Bali. Its height is 1717 m. It is a popular route for tourist climbs. The ascent takes approximately 2 hours. Along the way, hot springs come across, at which they make stops for rest.
Bali is called the “island of a thousand temples”, but in fact there are more than 2000 of them. The most important and largest temple on the island is Besaki, located on the slope of the Agun volcano. In order to enter the first courtyard of the temple, you need to overcome fifty steep stairs decorated with Balinese carvings. The Besaki Temple is dedicated both to the founders of the village of Besaki, located 1 km to the north, and to Betara Vishnu, the God keeper of life and water. Besaki is over a thousand years old. In his courtyard are tombs wrapped in red, black and white cloths and decorated with wreaths of flowers.
No less impressive is the temple of Tana Lot. standing on a rock that is surrounded by water at high tide. According to legend, the temple was founded by a wandering Hindu priest, Nirartha, who was led here by the radiant light emitted by a sacred source. Due to the sacred status, only true believers are allowed to climb the stairs carved into the rock and enter inside. Everyone else is ordered to stand on a patch of gray sand at the foot of the cliff, which is hidden under water at high tide.
Another famous Uluwatu temple located at the southernmost point of the island and rises to 70 m above sea level. It is not so much the temple itself, almost entirely built of whitish-gray blocks of petrified coral, that is remarkable, but its location. He stands on the very edge of the abyss on a ledge that juts out into the sea. From this place it is good to watch the sunset. A huge number of monkeys live on the territory of the temple, who strive to steal something from visitors.
Temple Taman-Ayun is located in the town of Mengvi. It was built in 1634 and was Bali ‘s central temple until 1981. A characteristic architectural feature that makes Taman Ayun easily recognizable is the numerous pagodas towering above the courtyard. They personify the sacred mountain Mahameru – the axis of the world, standing in the center of the universe.
The Ulun Danu temple has been adorned for three centuries on the shore of Lake Bratan, in the north of Bali. According to legend, it was built by blacksmiths-gunsmiths who lived along the banks. The temple is dedicated to the life-giving power of lake water that nourishes people, animals and plants.
The Goa Lava temple is located on the east coast of the island. This is one of the darkest and most mysterious temples in Bali. Its name translates as “cave of bats”. Hundreds of these creatures, by the way, revered as sacred in Bali, hang peacefully on the walls of the cave, which is the entrance to the temple.
Brahmavihara Arama Buddhist temple in northwest Bali designed in a traditional style – orange roofs, colorful room decor and golden statues of Buddha, but typical Balinese carvings decorating the walls add color.
In Palasari you can see a Catholic church. Palasari has the largest Christian community in Bali. The temple is a relatively recent building, 1954-58, but very impressive: a beautiful white building, decorated with Balinese-style carvings. The architecture is influenced by the interpenetration of two cultures: Catholic angels are dressed in traditional Balinese costumes.
In addition to the large temples in Bali there are also many small ones. In every village, as a rule, there are at least three temples. The most important is pura puseh, dedicated to the founders of the village, facing the mountains. In the middle of the village stands the pura desa, a temple of spirits that guard the inhabitants and help them with their daily activities. The temple of the dead – pura dalem – faces the ocean, and there is often a cemetery near it. In addition to the temple buildings, which are in any village and town, each family has its own home temple.
Ubud is an ancient city in the central mountainous part of Bali, located 10 km north of Denpasar at an altitude of 600 m above sea level. Ubud considered the cultural center of the island. There are a large number of museums here. The most famous museum, the Puri Lukisan Art Museum, was founded in 1956. Its building is located in a garden and is surrounded by fountains and statues. The paintings are presented here in chronological order of their writing, so that you can trace the history of the development of painting on the island. In addition to paintings, there is a jewelry gallery and a batik gallery. Also of interest are the museums of Neka, the house-museum of the artist and sculptor Lempad and the Museum of Balinese Art in the east of Ubud in the village of Pengosekan. North of Ubud, in the village of Mas, there is a woodcarving center. In the numerous shops of Ubud, you can buy a variety of masks, statues and other wooden products.
Around Ubud it is worth visiting the local temples. 18 km northeast of the city in the valley is the Gunun Kawi complex. It was built in the 11th century as the tomb of King Anak Wangsu. A staircase with 371 steps leads to the complex. It consists of a small temple on one side of the river, which became the burial place of the king’s wives, and of the main temple, where the tomb of the king himself is located, on the other side of the river. The tombstones at Gunun Kawi are carved into the rock in the form of sanctuaries and are located four on each side of the river in 7-meter niches. The temple complex of Puoa Saraswati, which was built in honor of the local goddess Saraswati (goddess of water), as well as the ritual place “Elephant Cave” are of interest. Apparently, it served as a place for prayers, meditations and ascetic practices. The entrance is made in the form of a demon’s head, who should guard the sanctuary, and his mouth serves as a passage. On the inside, the walls are decorated with stone ornaments depicting animals, human figures and plants. Both Hindu and Buddhist sculptures were found inside, and there is a small park around the cave.
Ubud ‘s most popular attraction is the Monkey Forest. It is located on the southern outskirts of the city. This is a small nature reserve, which is a park with concrete paths. During a walk in the park, you will see more than 200 monkeys, long-tailed Balinese macaques. Usually visitors feed the monkeys, but care must be taken that they do not become aggressive because they think you have food. In addition to monkeys, there are 3 temples here. It is believed that they are the accumulation of magical power and the refuge of evil spirits.
North of Ubud Elephant Park is located in the jungle of Taro. Here, visitors can hand-feed the elephants, touch them, watch them swim in the pond, and go on elephant safaris. Moreover, all conditions have been created for children to ride these large animals.
There are many places in Bali suitable for ecotourism. For example, another Monkey Forest Bukit Sari. It is located 20 km north of Denpasar. Tradition says that it is he who is described in the ancient sacred epic Ramayana. Tourists come here to watch the monkeys, who easily make contact with the audience. Bedugul mountain reserve is located 18 km north of Denpasar.. Its height above sea level is 850 m. Botanical gardens are located on the territory of the reserve. They occupy 120 hectares, on which a wide variety of trees and hundreds of species of orchids grow.
In the western part of Bali is the Bali Barat National Park, whose office is located in the nearby town of Chekik. In order to get into the park, you must obtain a permit, buy a ticket and hire a local guide. The park was founded in 1983. It covers an area of 760 sq. km, this is about one tenth of Bali. Initially, the park was created as a reserve for the protection of an endangered bird species – the Balinese starling (now there are about 200 of them left). Among tourists, Bali Barat is known as one of the best places on Bali, where you can watch birds. Now, in addition to 160 species of birds, various monkeys and other animals, a rare Javanese deer lives here. In the park you can see wet forests, mangroves and savannahs. It is better to go here from July to September, when the probability of rain is minimal. On the peninsula of Parat Agung, the mountain of the same name rises, in the foothills of which trails have been laid that will appeal to lovers of hiking. The National Park also includes Menjangan Island, which is located off the northwestern coast of Bali and is known as one of the best diving spots on the island.
On the way from Denpasar to Ubud (about 30 minutes drive from Kuta), the Bird Park is located one after the other.and Reptile Park. The 2-hectare Bird Park is a rainforest with aviaries featuring over 250 species of birds, while the Reptile Park features a variety of reptiles, including pythons and the Komodo dragon. The island of Bali has received the greatest popularity due to its resorts with beautiful sandy beaches. The main resorts are considered to be Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua, which are located on the southern tip of the island. These beaches are dominated by fine yellow sand, on the beaches of the northern coast (Lovina, Amed) – black volcanic. Sanur resort is located near Denpasar. It is more suitable for a relaxing family holiday, as the nightlife here is represented by only a few nightclubs. The local beach stretches along the coastline for 5 km. Coastal waters are calm because they are protected by coral reefs, and the depth here is shallow. So Sanur is a great place to swim, especially with kids. But you need to remember that at low tide, the water here goes far from the coast. Kuta resort – the largest of the resorts in Bali, it is located on the southwestern coast of the island, 10 km from Denpasar. Kuta, together with the areas of Legian and Seminyak located a little to the north, forms an extensive resort area stretching along the coast for 8 km. This place is known as the noisiest and most crowded in all of Bali. Young people will like Kuta more, because life is always in full swing here, day and night. Along the main street Jalan Legian are hotels, shops, bars, restaurants and discos. Kuta – a great place for shopping, they sell all kinds of goods at fairly low prices, sales are held periodically. The coastal waters of the resort are restless – strong sea currents and big waves interfere with swimming, this can only be done in places marked with yellow-red flags. But for surfers it is a paradise. You can almost always catch a good wave close to the shore, and the abundance of board rentals and surfer shops makes this place ideal for learning to surf. For swimming, the southern part of the beach, protected by coral reefs, is more suitable. Beach vendors scurry almost everywhere, so it’s never quiet. Legian and Seminyak are considered to be calmer beaches in this sense.
Nusa Dua is located on the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali.. This is the most fashionable and expensive coast. Rest here is calm, without beach vendors and numerous local stalls, there are practically no local residents. Coastal waters in Nusa Duaare clear. Holidays on Tangung Beach are cheaper than in other areas of the resort, and if you decide to go to the central Nusa Dua beach, then the best places are located in its southern part. From Nusa Dua, you can go on a trip to the BukitPeninsula. Its hinterland is nothing like the rest of Bali.. Bukit is a limestone plateau with dryland vegetation – cacti, cassava and kapok trees. However, during the rainy months (October to March) the landscape changes and becomes green.
The coastal waters of Bali are known for their colorful underwater world. The best dive sites are located on the east coast of the island, as well as in the Majagan Island area, which is part of the Bali Barak National Park and is located north of the westernmost point of Bali. Be sure to go to Amed , where a large sunken ship and a coral wall are interesting, Padangbai , where coral reefs start 5 m from the shore.
The west coast of Bali is suitable for surfing. This sport is best practiced from March to July. Kuta is a real mecca for surfers. The resort is the best place to learn to surf in Bali because there are practically no underwater rocks nearby. You can also surf on the coast of Jimbaran (the western coast of the Bukit Peninsula), which is considered one of the best places for surfing in the world, because the wave length sometimes reaches 300m, but this place is suitable only for experienced surfers.
