Tag: bali

ulun danu beratan temple in indonesia

The Majestic Water Temple of Bali: Exploring the Sacred Beauty

On By namitadashIn Nature, places, Travel, Uncategorized9 Comments

Bali, the Indonesian island known for its picturesque landscapes and spiritual culture, is home to many stunning temples. One of the most iconic of them all is the Ulun Danu Beratan Water Temple. Located on the shores of Lake Beratan in the Bedugul Highlands of Bali, the temple is a picture-perfect postcard destination that attracts visitors from around the world. I recently had the pleasure of visiting this temple and was awed by its beauty and peacefulness.

As I approached the temple, I was struck by the temple’s breathtaking setting. The temple is surrounded by the tranquil waters of Lake Beratan and is nestled in the lush green mountains of the Bedugul Highlands. The temple complex consists of several shrines and pagodas, and the temple’s iconic multi-tiered meru (a type of temple tower) is a sight to behold.

The Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is dedicated to the goddess of the lake, Dewi Danu. The temple was built in the 17th century by the King of Mengwi to honor Dewi Danu, who is revered for her role in providing water for Bali’s rice paddies. The temple’s unique location on the shores of the lake is symbolic of Dewi Danu’s importance in Bali’s agricultural society.

The temple’s architecture is a beautiful example of traditional Balinese design, with intricate carvings and stone sculptures adorning the temple’s facades. The temple’s distinctive pagodas, which are designed to resemble lotus flowers, add to the temple’s aesthetic charm.

One of the highlights of visiting the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is taking a stroll through its tranquil gardens. The gardens are filled with exotic flowers and tropical plants, and visitors can take a leisurely walk along the paved pathways that wind through the gardens. The gardens offer stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains and are an excellent spot for taking photographs.

Visiting the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple was a highlight of my trip to Bali. The temple’s stunning setting, beautiful architecture, and peaceful surroundings made it a memorable and spiritual experience. If you’re visiting Bali, I highly recommend adding the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple to your itinerary. It’s a must-visit destination that is sure to leave you awestruck.

Feeling little adventurous?

On By namitadashIn Entertainment, Nature, places, Travel, Uncategorized2 Comments

Never thought that an ATV ride can be so thrilling and super adventurous. When we talk about Bali, we only visualize rice terraces, temples and beaches. But it offers so many adventure sports and sea sports that will blow your mind. Although we did many water sports, but the one we are talking about today is ATV ride in UBUD. Honestly speaking, I wasn’t very keen on going for it especially after experiencing amazing river rafting. My kids wanted to go so my husband and I decided why not!

It started with us recieving instructions on how to use brakes & handles of ATV and yes they also asked us not to overtake each other at any time and not race. We were all 10 to 12 ATVs together and it all started with giggles and laughters of kids and ladies involved. They took us around beautiful village which looked straight out of a coffee table book – So clean & asthetic. Then they manuvered us towards farms with rice growing and beautiful mountains setting as ideal backdrop. Mind it, the ATVs are quite heavy and not very easy to handle. There were inital hiccups but we were managing well.

The rice farms were scenic and it was all nothing short of a movie scene when the instructer flagged us to stop at a curve and started running passing us without saying anything. We thought the last ATV might have stopped working so he is going to help them. A farmer then shouted ” Fsy2ihdwhdhkbc,naskhdshdugskdjsbaklnjdlsjhldhskdhsl’ Of course we did not understand 🙂 But he kept showing two fingers upwards and then down thumb. Little did we know that our dear friend alongwith his wife had jumped the ATV down around 5 Ft in the rice paddies. Fortunately they were not hurt and they were able to pull them out.

Watch Full video –

An ATV ride in Ubud will take you through some of the most stunning natural environments in the world. You’ll travel through lush jungles, rolling hills, and picturesque rice paddies. Along the way, you’ll get to experience the sights and sounds of Bali up close and personal. Not only that, but you’ll also get to enjoy some thrilling off-road riding, making the experience even more exhilarating.

When you’re looking for an ATV tour, be sure to find one that fits your skill level and interests. There are beginner tours that are perfect for first-timers, as well as more challenging rides for those looking for a more extreme adventure. No matter which tour you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a blast.

So if you’re looking for an exciting way to explore Ubud, then an ATV ride is definitely the way to go. Just make sure you book a tour that fits your skill level and interests, and you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience.

Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu Bali

On By namitadashIn Nature, places, Travel, Uncategorized2 Comments

Kecak, also known as tari kecakilolahhe in Indonesian, is a type of Balinese Hindu dance and music theatre that originated in Bali, Indonesia, in the 1930s. Since its inception, men have performed it almost exclusively; the first women’s kecak ensemble established in 2006.

We had a chance of watching this incredible performance this time when we visited Bali. The set up is against the backdrop of gorgeous setting sun in Uluwatu Sea Temple. The most interesting fact about this show is that there is no music. All the sounds are created by the performers. I was amazed at their lung capacity and the enthusiasm never dropped.

Watch the amazing performance on my Youtube channel here – https://youtu.be/B5g9qQXcLgQ

The clips in my video includes the parts of Hindu epic Ramayana. You will see the scenes of Sita sending Ram & Lakshman after Gold Mrig and Ravan Kidnapping Sita. Jatayu tries to save Sita but gets killed. Then comes Hanuman and the best part of the show when they capture hanuman and set his tail on fire. He escapes and sets Lanka on fire.

The Kecak Dance of the Uluwatu temple is a pioneer in drawing a sizable part of tourists from all over the world among all the major traditional arts, theatre, and dance in Bali. One of Indonesia’s most recognisable glimmers of its rich cultural past is the Kecak Dance of Bali. It is a type of classical Hindu dance that is based on the tales from the well-known epic “The Ramayana.”

At around 6:00 PM, the Kecak dance performance begins in the sparse light of the setting sun. A big group of approximately 75 male dancers enter the stage and perform the first five chapters of The Ramayana at varied tempos depending on the atmosphere of the scene. The performance concludes with a magnificent rite that involves lighting up the central torch against the deep, dark sky while gradually singing in unison. The atmosphere is too compelling to pass up the opportunity to experience at least once in a lifetime when the silhouette of the fire against the night sky and the sound of the ocean combine.

Due to the dense jungles that surround the Uluwatu Temple and are home to numerous monkeys and long-tailed macaques, it is imperative to carry food and other necessities in fully covered bags or backpacks to protect them from the animals’ teeth.

Obtaining dancing tickets is not at all a difficult task. One to two hours before the dance starts at around 5:00 PM, you can walk up to the ticket booths without making an appointment. Because to the presence of many guarded routes, wild animals, and extremely steep slopes, the route to the temple may be difficult for pilgrims from the plains. Therefore, it is usually suggested to wear proper shoes and stay away from slippers to reduce any unwelcome incidents and the amount of trouble while travelling to the temple.

Image From Internet

Incredible Rice Terraces in Bali

On By namitadashIn places, Travel, Uncategorized2 Comments

An ideal vacation to Bali includes strolling along picture-perfect beaches, visiting temples, indulging in delectable cuisine, taking in colourful ceremonies, listening to the roar of waterfalls and taking in stunning scenery. Not many people know about the stunning & mesmerising view of rice paddies. No matter how many you’ve already seen, Bali’s dreamy rice terraces will win your heart.

We arrived at Jaltiuwih Rice terrace around noon and it was raining quite heavily. Though the view was great, the incessant rains were making it tough to step out of the car. We waited for around an hour at one of the lovely restaurants and had lunch in the meanwhile. The rain finally stopped and we were all excited and charged up. A small alley across the paddy fields was inviting us to explore this lovely view closely. We travelled the red route through the rice fields, passing a few farmers and cows that were taking a break in the nearby covered shacks. We eventually arrived at a paved road from which we could capture stunning images of the majestic rice terraces and the distant, dramatic views of Mount Batukaru.

Jatiluwih Rice Terrace

A staple cuisine in Bali, rice is closely associated with Balinese culture. The rice growth cycle very much establishes the framework for traditional Balinese living. The Balinese people consider rice to be a gift from God and a representation of life. The three types of rice grown on Bali’s stunning rice terraces—white rice, black rice, and red rice—have been produced by the Balinese people for countless generations. White rice is the most widely available, whereas red rice is considerably more expensive and unusual. My freind bought samples of each type of rice from the local farmer.

Asia is home to many beautiful rice fields, but what sets the Balinese rice terraces apart is the Subak irrigation system, which was even added to the UNESCO list of world historic monuments. The Tri Hita Karana philosophy, which is a part of Balinese culture, is manifested in the Subak system. 

This way of thinking permeates practically every element of daily life in Bali, including Balinese architecture, daily rituals and offerings, and the subak water system. Agriculture crops thrive in Bali’s fertile soil, which is the perfect combination with the island’s humid tropical environment. The subak method, which integrates spiritual, natural, and social aspects, is used to water all of these crops.

Although the Jatiluwih rice terraces are not yet as popular with tourists as Tegalalang is (the eateries and the marked trails indicate they will soon become one of the most popular rice fields in Bali), early access is usually advised. However, you shouldn’t worry too much because, because of their size, you can probably still find some peace and quiet even in the middle of the day.

We still have a few Bali rice fields on our bucket list for our subsequent trip because there are so many beautiful ones that it is difficult to see them all. Particularly the one in West Bali.

Gates of Heaven : Most Instagrammable Place in Bali

On By namitadashIn places, Travel, Uncategorized16 Comments

You’ve certainly seen photos of this location on Instagram, where the gate and clouds appear to be floating above water in a beautiful mirror-like reflection known as the “Gates of Heaven.” I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there is no pool of water. All of those reflection images were staged using a pocket mirror. A clever local sits here all day and takes the identical photo of each person who who pays and is willing to wait for at least an hour as there is a long queue to get this intagrammable spot picture.

The gate is also referred to in the west as “The Gates of Heaven,” and the entire setting is quite lovely. Approximately two hours from Ubud and two and a half hours from Canggu, the gates and its temple are situated in the eastern highlands of Mount Lempuyang.

Although the complex contains 7 distinct locations or temples, most visitors only throng to the “Gates of Heaven.”

The above photograph shows the temple bang opppsoite of the famous “gate” and the stairs take you up to the temple. The other temples are also quite lovely, so it is absolutely worthwhile to see them as well. You must ascend 1,700 steps to reach the mountaintop location of the steepest one. We did go and offered prayers and must say it was worth it.

Little bit of History

As per wikipedia, the establishment of places of worship around Mount Lempuyang is believed to predate the majority of Hindu temples on the island of Bali.The puras of Mount Lempuyang, represented by Pura Lempuyang Luhur, the highest temple in the area, is grouped one complex of pura which represents the Pura Sad Kahyangan Luhur Lempuyang. The temple groups are considered as part of the Sad Kahyangan Jagad, or the “six sanctuaries of the world”, the six holiest places of worship on Bali. According to Balinese beliefs, they are the pivotal points of the island and are meant to provide spiritual balance to Bali.The temple groups of Mount Lempuyang is also one of the group of temples in Bali known as Pura Kahyangan Padma Bhuwana. Each of the temple in the Pura Kahyangan Padma Bhuwana marked each of the eight cardinal directions. Pura Lempuyang Luhur represents the direction of east (purwa) and the color white. This direction is associated with the domain of Balinese the god Iswara.

Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang was restored in 2001.