Bali Heaven Official Blog

Tirta Gangga Water Palace

Tirta Gangga means the sacred water from the Ganges. It is the name of a village in East Bali and also the name of the water palace built in 1946 by the king of Karangasem, by the name Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem. Even to this date Tirta Gangga belongs to the royal family of Karangasem. Known for its extreme rural beauty, the place holds a special place of reverence for the Hindu Balinese people. The water garden incorporates a unique architecture with Balinese and Chinese styles.

Reaching Tirta Gangga

Tirta Gangga Water Palace is located in the Abang district in Ababi village. It is very easy to reach Tirta Gangga. The place is 83 km of Denpasar. Those arriving at Ngurah Rai International airport will find that Denpasar is very close to the airport. It is a 3 hour journey from Denpasar to Tirta Gangga. There is a large bus station in Denpasar and a lot of buses ply between the two places regularly. Besides Tirta Gannga is just 6 km from Amlapura which means a 10 minute bus ride form the place. It is also a common side trip from the resort towns along the coast like Candidasa and Amed. One can use the public buses or charter the buses from nearby towns such as Karangasem or even from Candidasa. The road route to Tirta Gangga, for those who are driving themselves, is also very easy to figure out.

Tirta Gangga Attractions

The Water palace
The king had built a magnificent complex measuring around 1.2 hectares studded with a maze of pools. The palace was destroyed in the 1963 eruption of Mount Batur but has been amazingly restored to its original royal grandeur. The palace’s centerpiece has two beautiful pools and an 11 tiered water fountain along with many sculptures and carvings. The palace also has the rest house of the kind and another complex full of swimming pools where one can enjoy themselves in the royal baths. The place is also called “embukan” or spring water by many people as there was a spring in the area before the palace was built. This spring is considered to be very religious and sacred because it was also used to wash the Gods.

Scenic Attractions
The rural area of Tirta Gangga is full of some stunning views that include rice paddy terraces, hills and at some points even the sea in the distance, situated as it is on a high ridge. One can enjoy the sunrise and sunset views too and bask in the old Balinese culture. The Lempunyang Temple is another attraction in the area situated 10km from Tirta Gangga. The temple is one amongst 9 directional temples in Bali. The upper part of the temple is closed, although a Balinese driver could arrange with the priest to have it opened for you.

The predecessor of the king who built Tirta Gangga had constructed another water palace called Taman Ujung, which isn’t as beautiful as Tirta Gangga but is worth a visit. Tirta Gangga is also a great area for trekkers and photographers.

Waterbom Bali consists of 3.8 hectares of beautifully landscaped tropical parks laced with fun and adventure for people of every age group. Whether you want to pump the adrenaline or enjoy being gently wafted over the water, you can get everything at Waterbom, an aquatic paradise with sparkling and clean blue water pools everywhere. It uses some advanced and sophisticated techniques like salt chlorinating while at the same time providing the feel of the unique Balinese culture and ambience.

How to Get There

It is said to be located in the best spot of Kuta. The famous Kuta beach is just a walk away. Tourists who come to Denpasar from all over the world can easily visit this water world as it is just 5 minutes from the Ngurah Rai International Airport situated in the vicinity of Denpasar, the capital city. This water kingdom is also only 15 minutes away from other popular tourist locations like Jimbaran, Seminyak, Nusa Dua and Sanur.

Popular Attractions

You can fill the day with 101 different ways and the varieties of water rides at Waterbom would simply leave you aghast and overwhelmed. There is no paucity of excitement and everyone from children to adults can have an absolute blast at the water world. It has as many as 15 adventure water rides.

Smashdown is a water slide where you will simply smash down from a water slide at 60 degree angle which is 8 storeys tall. You might achieve a maximum speed of up to 70kph.

Macaroni and Jungle Ride are two other adventure rides that let you taste the adventures of the jungle, get a bird’s eye view of the lovely lush green landscapes and also experience the thrills of the tropical jungles.

Raft river is another amazing ride where you will be thrown into a tube with 360 degree rides dizzying up your senses and churning everything in your tummies.

Boomerang is another hell of a water ride where you fall swiftly from 20 meters and are thrown up just when you were thinking the drop is over. The boomerang slide will have you screaming your lungs out. There are a variety of other water slides like the race track, super bowl and even lazy river, where you can gently drift around in calm waters, lazily enjoying the ambience and the distant noises.

Facilities at Waterbom

You can get a lot of facilities at Waterbom too, with uniqueness that you wouldn’t find elsewhere. European Body Arts is one such center which will fulfill your long standing wish to get a tattoo. The temporary tattoo varieties exceed 750 designs that would last for more than a week. You can chill out in the pool bar with some cold beers, granitas or other drinks before you head out to the slides again. There is an internet hot spot too, if you cannot wait to upload your waterslide pictures and share them with friends. There is a kiddy park and kiddy slide too to keep the kids safe and happy making Waterbom a perfect getaway for the entire family.

The name Jatiluwih itself comprises of two parts. Jati means real and Luwih means special or beautiful. Hence Jatiluwih is a place of real beauty. It is located at a height of 700 meters from sea level with a cool climate. It is also one of the more culturally rich places in Bali boasting of the Petali Temple which is famous for the power of Ida Dalem Waturenggong, king in Keraton Gelgel. Located in the Kecamatan Penebel, Kabupaten Tabanan administrative area, Jatiluwih is very close to the border of Mount Batukaru national park.

How to get there
Jatiluwih Rice Terrace is just 65 km from Denpasar making it easy to visit for those tourists especially reaching Bali through the Ngurah Rai International airport located very close to Denpasar. For those travelling by road, Jatiluwih can be approached through the road that leads from Denpasar to Bedugul. Then you need to take the left downward from the Baturiti town. One can also travel from Tabanan to the north, which leads to Batukaru or the Wangaya village. This route is best for those who want to enjoy the journey too as it is beautiful with its vegetation. There is a hot spring at Penetahan village. One can also visit the Batukaru Temple en-route Jatiluwih thus making the most of the trip.

Major Attractions
Jatiluwih produces one of the best qualities of rice in Indonesia. Obviously tourists will be treated to a vista or beautiful paddy fields and terraces filling the sight with greenery. It is one of the tourist places in Bali for those who want to unwind. Even the Dutch built their security headquarters here. One can enjoy the colors, especially during harvest time when there is the green of the paddy fields and the dark yellow. There is in fact, a view point right on top of the hill from where one can enjoy the scenic beauty of Jatiluwih. The western and eastern borders of the places have many traditional red clay houses where the rice is sold.

Trekking and Leisurely rides
With Mount Batukaru close by, trekkers have a field time with many hills. The peak of Mount Bautkaru rises 2671 meters above sea level making it the second highest in Bali after Mount Agung. There is also a temple on top of Mount Batukaru. One can also hire a horse to ride up and down the green slopes and enjoy the nature that has been so well preserved in this land.

Cultural Attractions
Jatiluwih is known for some unique ceremonies such as Patirtan, conducted in the Petali Temple on Wednesdays based on the Balinese calendars. This temple is very sacred to the locals purely because they believe it is the worship center of the God of agricultural power, Hyang Widhi Wasa. Another temple in the area that can be visited is the Pucak Rsi Temple. Tourists can also undertake a day trip from Jatiluwih to the Watukaru temple. Jatiluwih has been listed as one of the heritage sites of the world by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), with the irrigation systems used in the area being an interesting aspect due to the way they are organized and the water shared between farmers.

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Candidasa Beach

If you wanted to enjoy a vacation in a serene setting, the beach at Candidasa is the perfect place and marks a great contrast to the socializing hub of Kuta famous for its nightlife. The tranquility of the Candidasa Bay is very charming. It was previously called as Teluk Kehen, which means Bay of Fire and is located in the town of Samuh Bugbug, 12 km from Amlapura, Karangasem’s main town. What makes Candidasa special amongst the tourist attractions of Bali is that it is located on the lagoon’s edge.

The boom in the tourism industry in Bali fuelled the need for the construction of lot of beach bungalows and villas. In the late 70s, the locals started digging the reefs that have been holding up the beach to fulfill their requirements. Once the reef was destroyed erosion started washing away the beautiful beach which has been a concern. Some stunning golden beaches of this coconut village have been lost since and one can see signs of the loss only during a low tide.

Attractions at Candidasa

On the way to the best diving sites in Bali, you can spend couple of calm and quiet days at Candidasa and relax enjoying nature at its scenic best. One of the most famous attractions at this fishing village is the Bat Cave Temple of Goa Lawah. 9 km from Klungkung on the island’s eastern coast, this cave temple was built in the 11th century. The rocks of the cave walls are home to thousands of fruit bats. Legend has it that this cave extends all the way, 30 kms to Pura Besakih or the Mother Temple and the beach in front is where many funeral rites are performed. The temple near the lagoon has a statue of Hariti, the fertility goddess, surrounded by 10 children. Candidasa is also known as Cili Dasa, which means ten children in the Balinese language.

The serenity of the beach is accentuated by beautiful rice fields alternating with hills providing lush green scenery. Although night life is virtually absent in the fishing village, Tuesday and Friday evenings are enjoyable with Pandan Harum providing the dance stage for many Balinese performers giving a glimpse of the local art and culture. The beach is also the setting for many local handicraft shops and souvenir shops where one can stroll by in the evenings.

Where to Stay?

There are some popular restaurants and cottages that will allow you to enjoy the tranquility. One of the open air restaurants that offer a stunning seaside vista is the Lotus Seaview restaurant that offers Balinese feast, Italian delicacies and some amazing seafood. Vincent’s is another place which provides a cozy ambience and some soft jazz music playing in the backdrop. Bali Palms resort, Bali Shangrila Beach Club and Alam Asmara Dive resort are some of the places where you can stay and enjoy the serenity amidst all modern amenities. Some of these resorts have their own secluded beaches, Pagoda and Jacuzzi too.

About the divers’ paradise

It is a small fishing village situated in the north east coast of Bali, whose name has been derived from Batulambih, the local expression for many stones, due to the volcanic eruptions from Mount Agung. It is a divers’ paradise and has become a tourist hub since the famous wreck of the US army ship off the coast. There are other diving sites too and during the high season one can expect to find many famous writers and photographers in this place which offers unparalleled glimpses into a rich marine life and a colorful world of gorgonians, fishes and other corals contrasted by the black sand that hinders visibility in the area.

The Liberty Shipwreck – the famous dive site

One of the most famous spots in Bali, this cargo ship laden with guns during WWII was torpedoed by the Japanese and to save it from sinking was semi beached at Tulamben. The 1963 eruptions of the Mount Agung caused the wreck to slide further very close to the beach 30 m offshore. The location of this wreck which varies in depth from 9 – 30 meters with a shallow part touching the sand slope is ideal for diving for all qualifications being considered one of the easiest dives in the world. The 120 m long wreck offers a wonderful view of as many as 400 species of fishes including the famous 12 inch Big Eyed Trevally silver fish, wrasse, goatfish and the surgeonfish.

However, this wreck, as many people perceive is not the only diving site in Tulamben and there a couple of other sites too making the fishing village the diving capital of Bali.

Coral Garden

For those looking for snorkeling, there cannot be a better place. Also famous for the Night Dive with flashlight fish and Spanish dancers, this place is full of unexpected marine specimens like fine corals and sponges with an average depth of 8 – 12 meters.

Kelebit Rocks

One can reach this spot, south east of the Tulamben wall through a 15 minute ride in a local jucung or outrigger. It is one of the best diving sites with greater depths and better visibility too. The water is slightly colder and the diving is possible through offshore rocks arranged like 3 steep ridges and 2 channels providing home to a diverse marine life and some exotic species including the manta rays, the hammerhead sharks and the barracudas.

Drop Off Wall

This site is located 15minutes away from the stony beach and was famously formed by the lava flow from Mount Agung. This site too offers the same glimpse of marine life as other spots with an amazing aquarium section with many surprising treasures.

Learn a thing or two about marine life

There are very few sites in the world with a greater variety of marine life that includes Anglerfish, neon nudibranches, Sweetlips, black corals, sponges, Butterflyfish, Garden Eels, octopus, cuttlefish, boxer crabs, Whale Sharks, big Bumphead parrotfish, Napoleon Wrasse, Lionfish and many other varieties of fishes, coral reefs and other organisms.

Warung means a restaurant in Balinese local language. Warung Murni or Murni’s Warung is one of the most famous ones, capable of drawing visitors and tourists all on its own. Run by an American Balinese couple, Warung Murni was opened in 1974 and is one of the original eateries in the country serving various kinds of food.

Location of the restaurant

Warung Murni is located in the scenic place above the reputed Campuhan or the meeting point of the two rivers of Ubud. The 3 storey building is known for its coziness and the picturesque quality is enhanced by the Ayung River flowing at its feet. There is a steel cable in front of the hotel which is supporting the bridge next to it and the surrounding greenery is breathtaking. This bridge is called the Tjampuhan suspension bridge and it overlooks the Tjampuhan River.

History of the place

When this restaurant was opened in 1974, it became Ubud’s first real restaurant and till date remains one of the favorite of the people. In the entrance to the lounge, there is a large Ganesha statue, the Elephant God worshipped by Hindus for success in any task they undertake. This statue was commissioned in 1997 and was completed in 2002. Murni bought the property in 1975 and that is when the business started to expand, after starting out with just one bamboo table and a shop that sold sarongs, paintings and carvings.

Levels at Murni

Murni’s Warung has 4 levels. In the first level you will walk across a display cabinet of pastries and cakes, so you have an idea about what dessert you will order and in what quantity. You can also take a look at the high walls elegantly decorated by art from Murni’s own collection.

Level 2 with the famous Ganesha statue is the lounge area, where guests can sip on a drink and get nostalgic even as time gently drifts by. The aesthetic elegance of the ambience free of sophistication lends a natural aura to the restaurant missing in most modern eateries.

Level 3 of Warung Murni is reserved for parties. There is an amazing ambience where one can enjoy all out. Warung Murni has wedding and birthday cakes, Balinese music, Balinese dances, menus that can be personalized, aromatic incense and romantic lighting, floodlit trees and river gorge in the backdrop, display of art, champagne, Australian, Chilean, French and local wines, la carte and buffet menus and waiters and waitresses in Balinese costume all adding to the amazing feeling lent by the place perfect for socializing and parties where everyone can have a relaxed soothing time.

Level 4 is a personal favorite of many of the couples. You arrive to a place built right above the river. A candlelit dinner amidst an exotic locale with the sound of gushing stream in the background and greenery to view is really as good as it gets. All in all these 4 levels provide one of the most authentic setups for eating in true Balinese style.

Nusa Penida

There are 3 islands on the south eastern coast of Bali viz. Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Amongst these Nusa Penida is the largest island, totaling around 200 square kilometers. It is a hilly area with a maximum height of 524 meters and is much drier than the surrounding islands of Bali. Although better known that other islands the tourist infrastructure in this island is very limited. An interest thing about this island is that due to scarcity of natural water, nothing much can be produced which is why most of the food stuff is transported from elsewhere making the prices higher than other places in Bali. However, this island has great natural rugged beauty that is still virgin and fresh without any hint of commercialization anywhere.

How to Get here

You can arrive at Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan or from Kusamba, Padang Bai or Sanur, although travel services are not deemed very safe. There are public boats plying closer to the suspension bridge between Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan. You can also get charter boats especially on the Jungut Batu beach. There are daily cruises from Benoa Harbor in Bali which also includes water sports activities and hence is something tourists will really enjoy a lot.

Major Attractions for Sightseeing

If you are one of those who like places with great scenic beauty, then Puncak Mundi or Mundi Hill, the highest point of the island provides a magnificent view at 521 meters above sea level. Alternative energy is harnessed in the area to with wind turbines and solar panels. There is a temple atop the hill too.

Goa Karang Sari is certainly one place you wouldn’t want to miss because of its limestone caves. There are some attractive stalactites and limestone formations that you would really enjoy seeing. These limestone caves have spiritual importance too.

At Ped Village on the road between Toyapakeh and Sampalan, you can find the Pura Penetaran Dalem temple, a Hindu Balinese structure which is mesmerizingly grand and beautiful. Toyapakeh itself has a reef stretch that you would love exploring, along with various fishes. The place is famous for sea turtles, sunfish or mola mola and also coral pillars.

Crystal Bay is another lovely white sand beach at Banjar Penida to the west of Sakti village is another wonderful attraction. You would love this idyllic spot as it is perfect for camping besides being attractive for snorkeling and sparkling blue waters. You can also pay a visit to the Sebuluh waterfall near the Batu Madeg village. South coast limestone cliffs along with some rare karst formations are stunning and will take your breath away.

What can keep you busy

Nusa Penida is not all about sightseeing. In fact it is one of the best diving destinations in the world with as many as 20 diving sites including Manta Point, Suana Bay, Malibu Point, Crystal Bay and Toyapakeh. Malibu Point with its silver tips, reef white tips, gray reefs and a large number of sharks is especially beautiful. The Manta Point itself is a limestone rock off the Pandan cave.

There is no dearth of lovely coastal villages in Bali but Lovina is amongst the best of the lot. It was actually renamed by a Buleleng regency official keeping in mind the future tourism influx. On the North coast towards the West of Singaraja, there are 7 traditional villages that culminate into one in a 10 km stretch. These villages are Kalibukuk, Anturan, Temukus, Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Kaliasem and Banyualit with Kalibukuk considered as the town center of Lovina. Some of the beaches are made up of black sand but are safe for swimming with July and August being the crowded seasons.

Getting to Lovina

Lovina can be reached through shuttle buses which leave from Sanur, Ubud, Padang Bai and Candi Dasa. Although there are mini buses called bemos, travelling long distance could be painful. You will get buses from anywhere in Bali. There is transportation made available by “Perama”. By car, one takes 3 hours from Kuta, 2 hours from Ubud and slightly less from Sanur. One can take rest by breaking journey at Bedugul.

Villas of Lovina

There are some wonderful villas where you can relax and enjoy the amazing view around. Master Pool Villas with butler service and some lush gardens offer one a relaxing vista from hardwood verandahs and pavilions with amazing sea view. The ceilings of hardwood, bathrooms with bathtubs and open air showers are amongst the many amenities available for the visitors. Rare antiques, royal fabric, Bale pavilions and private swimming pools are all part of the amazing villas. You can enjoy the charming rural life of Lovina and its rice fields along with sophisticated bedrooms, living room etc inside the villas. Umah Raja Villa for example, is lavish with a cinema and DVD library to give you the best of both the worlds.

The lovely black sand beaches are great for a soothing promenade. One of the places worth visiting is the Brahma Vihara Arama, Dencarik. This is the largest Buddhist monastery of Bali. With a clearly Buddhist orange roof, the monastery is popular for its Balinese carvings too. It offers stupendous views all around and within there are many stupas and gold Buddhas with amazing ornamentation. The Banjar Hot Springs nearby is another spot that attracts a lot of tourists. It is a quiet and lovely place that offers tranquility and peace.

The Banjar Hot Springs, 10km west of Dencarik have mouths carved out of stone that gush out hot springs. With a cleansing environment, the waters at soothing temperatures are rich in sulfur and have a therapeutic effect. There are lockers and changing rooms to encourage a cozy bath in the spring.

Diving enthusiasts can head off to Menjangan Island, Tulamben and Amed on day trips. One can also enjoy a traditional massage in the many spas like Bali Samdahi and Agung’s Spa. One can enjoy Thai massage and Thai food reflexology here too. There are some outriggers in various colors that take one on fishing trips where one can enjoy dolphin sightings on an enjoyable ride.

Mount Batur and Lake Batur

Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) is an active volcano which is located between two concentric calderas. It is located in the north western direction of Mount Agung in Bali, Indonesia. The larger caldera lake with an amazing dimension of 10 X 13 km has on its south eastern side a beautiful, picturesque lake that attracts many tourists.

History
These calderas and Mount Batur itself were said to have formed approximately 30,000 years ago after a volcanic eruption. The inner caldera which measures about 7.5 km in diameter was said to have formed by Ubud ignimbrite emplacement about 28,500 years ago.

Attractions
Two main villages Toya Bungkah and Kedisan are the two main villages near the caldera. These two villages primarily depend on agriculture. Danau Batur (Lake Batur) is Bali’s largest crater lake and is also a great fishing site, besides providing a breathtaking view to tourists from all over the world.  One can view the 700 meter high active volcano located on the edge of the caldera rising above the beautiful lake Batur. The crater is around 65 meters deep. There is a temple of Pura Ulun Danu Batur located on the rim of the caldera too which is dedicated to the Goddess of the Lake. Stunning views of the lake attract many photographers and nature enthusiasts. The lake often gets shrouded in mist while there are some hot springs that sometimes reach temperatures as high as 57 degrees Celsius. One can visit the caldera through the steadily rising road from Bangli to Tampaksiring and then across Penelokan towards Kintamani.

Trekking
Usually the trek starts around 3am so that one can reach the top of the crater at dawn. Most of the local guides and very well mannered and can speak English. They are patient and nimble and help trekkers out through a quite straight forward trekking route compared to Mount Agung. One of the common attractions of the trek is the guide cooking omelets with eggs on the smoldering rocks of the mountain. The luminous Bali sunrise and the craters spitting sulphur and the magnificent peaks all give tourists some unbelievable and memorable moments and the pictures stick to their minds for a long time to come.

If one is trying to reach Mount Batur by bike, it takes only an hour to reach it from Ubud. The greater part of the ride is full of rice fields on either side offering you some amazing scenes. One can also visit a few tiny villages and enjoy the local ambience. One such village is Penulisam on the western side of the volcano with a very nice temple complex too. Although one can take the trip anytime, locals believe many ghosts and spirits are trapped inside the crater. Many tourists come here to just take a relaxing boat ride on the lake which is about 10 km long and 65 meters deep at the deepest part. There are quite a few hot springs around the area too making it a wonderful terrain and a perfect tourist destination.