CategoriesTabanan Area By administrator

Bali Botanical Garden

The Bali Botanic Garden (Indonesian: Kebun Raya Bali) is the largest botanic garden in Indonesia and is located in the mountainous region of Bedugul, Tabanan Regency, central Bali, around 90 minutes drive north of Denpasar. The Garden was established on 15 July 1959 and is situated around 1300 metres above sea level overlooking Beratan Lake and the Ulun Danu Temple on the slopes of Tapak Hill. The Garden is a centre for botanical research, conservation, education and recreation. It is operated by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
The Garden has an area of 157.5 hectares (389 acres) and daytime temperatures range from 17 – 25 °C and 10 – 15 °C at night. The humidity averages around 70-90%.
The Garden contains more than 21,000 living specimens belonging to 2,400 species, representing various species from mountainous areas of eastern Indonesia: Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua. In addition its herbarium contains 10,000 preserved plant specimens ranging from algae to flowering plants.

Apart from plant collections that include orchids, ferns, cacti and carnivorous plants, there is also a traditional Balinese style guesthouse that functions as a guest house for visitors. One of the world’s largest displays of begonias is also on display in the conservatory building.


History
The Bali Botanic Garden was first established on 15 July 1959 by Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno. The Garden was first known as the Eka Karya Botanic Garden, where “Eka” means first while “Karya” means creation in the Balinese language, referring to the garden’s status as the first Indonesian botanic garden to be established after independence.
It was originally intended that The Bali Botanic Garden specialise in the cultivation of conifer plants (non-flowering seed plants, or Gymnosperms) and as a place for recreation. The garden accommodates scientific, cultural and recreational activities for visitors.
Development of the garden stopped in 1965 due to political instability and was only reopened on 30 April 1975. When the garden became operational once again, its area was expanded to 129.2 hectares. It also added a new function for ex-situ conservation of plants from the mountainous region of eastern Indonesia.
In 2001 the land area of the Garden was expanded to 157.5 hectares.


Attractions
The garden is made up of both open areas for recreation and remnant mountain rainforest. Attractions include a large orchid display (>300 species), carnivorous plants, bamboo garden (87 species), cactus greenhouse (100 species), a fern garden (188 species), traditional Balinese medicinal plants (300 species) and ceremonial plants (218 species), Rhododendron garden (>20 species), a rose garden, aquatic garden, conservatory and one of the world’s largest begonia collections (100 species). On a clear day, there are good views to Lake Bratan and one of the most photographed trees in the garden is a giant ficus or fig tree located on the upper slope of Tapak Hill.

The garden is home to at least 79 species of birds, treeshrews are regularly seen and occasionally macaques can be spotted entering from the adjacent Batukaru Nature Reserve.
Three Hindu temples are also accessed from within the Garden.
As of 2011, the botanical garden is visited by 350,000 people, including 10,000 foreigners, yearly.

CategoriesGianyar Area By administrator

Mas Village


Mas Village is one of the most famous Bali Places of Interest located very close to Ubud and is therefore of a similar landscape but Mas is not as developed in to the tourism market as Ubud and retains a traditional charm and feel. Mas is famous in Bali as being one of the main arts and crafts villages on the island. Where Ubud is the village of the painters, Mas is the village of the carvers where some of the most incredible woodcarvings are produced and have been produced for hundreds of years. If you wish to buy the balinese woodcarvings you may buy here with variable price between USD15 until USD100 for standard size products and USD10-USD10000 for big size products.

Carvings range from very small pieces that can be perfect gives up to larger ornaments and furniture and on to incredible elaborate pieces that can be as large as 25 square meters and even more such as murals ad great door arches that are traditionally reserved for temples and stately homes of the Balinese Royalty and wealthy. Mas Village is located in the same area as Ubud and therefore it can be included as part of a Ubud holiday and is a wonderful place to drop by at and look round the markets and take in the beauty and quiet that the village Mas entails.

Mas Village is located at around and hour and a half drive from the international Airport and is easily accessible from the south of Bali using the by pass road that leads through Sanur. Mas is located in the highlands and hill that lead up towards the mountains of the central of Bali and has some of the most amazing views of the island with many large and steep rice padi terraces and tropical woodlands that extend down towards the plains of the south, when looking north the huge impressive mountains are more prominent then anywhere else on the island.

This scenery coupled with the incredible culture of the area and low tourist presence makes for an ideal location to take some time out and there are some amazing traditional bungalows that extend into the 5 star class to do this from. The carving of Mas Village first began when the Royal Balinese families moved into Ubud and those who seek work wit them tried to offer to sell them goods. The royals then only started to buy and do business with the very best carvers from Mas and the best painters of Ubud. And soon all of the islands best craftsmen moved to their prospective villages creating subcultures orientated around there talents.

The carvings them selves differ between representations of the Balinese people often as farmers and in situations that the average Balinese worker can relate to, to amazing decorative carvings for the rich and then also some legends, myths representations of aspects of the Balinese religions and the stories that they entail. Today there is much to see and enjoy and many surrounding areas of interest in Mas Village and it can be worth staying to enjoy this area without the crowds on your doorstep. Whether you are an art lover or a couple looking to some time out, Mas Village will provide.

Related Tours
Mas Village is a pivotal stop on various Bali tours, including the Ubud Tour, Rafting Ubud Tour, Elephant Ride Ubud Tour, and the scenic Kintamani Tour. These curated packages offer a holistic experience, combining the cultural immersion of Celuk with the natural beauty and adventure that Bali has to offer. Explore the island’s diverse facets through these thoughtfully designed tours and create lasting memories.

CategoriesDenpasar Area By administrator

Jagatnatha Temple

Jagatnatha Temple Denpasar is a beautiful Hindu temple situated in the center of Denpasar City that is the biggest Hindu temple in the capital city of Bali Province. The temple built in east of Puputan Badung square garden is a public shrine to worship for Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa.
Jagatnatha Temple Denpasar is strategically located on Major Wisnu Street that is very easy reached from any directions as well as famous temple and appointed as a tourist destination in Denpasar City. This temple many visited by the Hindu people especially during the Hindu Holiday season including full moon.

Philosophy Jagatnatha Temple Denpasar Bali
Name of Jaganatha Temple is taken from special name which is not similar with other familiar temples in Bali taken from the location where the temple is situated such as Besakih Temple, Ulundanu Batur Temple, Lempuyang Luhur Temple, Luhur Andakasa Temple, Puncak Mangu Temple, etc.

Among other famous Hindu Temple in Bali, the first ceremony held at Jagatnatha Temple is also similar with other temples by conducting small ceremony procession. The unique of this temple is not having the Pengemong (the group of people/organization/team who support, keep, maintains the temple) like other temples in Bali, but it is only own the small volunteers and people who worship at this temple.

At the beginning, this temple is managed by temple development committee of Jaganatha Temple and afterward managed by The Hindu Holiday Committee which is institutionally stipulated Badung Regency Government decree. But nowadays, this temple has been taken over by the government of Denpasar City.

When we look from the exposure of Jaganatha Temple Concept, it can be concluded the elements and structures of Jagatnatha Temple set in the main temple area (Utama Mandala) those are details as follows:

1. Padmasana
Padmasana is a main building of the temple as a symbol of a seat of Sang Hyang Widhi (god). The word of Padmasana is derived from the Sanskrit, old Javanese and laterally means a throne or a seat of god in lotus shape. In the concept of Arcanam and Citra-Lekha, lotus flower is a plant secret as a seat or throne for the god or the authority in many different forms which is famous called Istadewata of god and goodness.

2. Fish Pond surrounding of Padmasana
If we look the physical structure of the ancient temples in Bali, usually set a Titi Ugal-agil (bridge made from wooden rods) with the pond under it at the entrance gate. Please see and compare the Titi Ugal-Agil at Agung Taro Temple located in Taro Village and Taman Sari Temple located in Klungkung town. The function of Titi Ugal-Agil is to purify every Hindu people who entering the main temple area.

3. Twin Canopies
Jagatnatha Temple, Denpasar City, Bali IslandThe twin canopies are set in front of Padmasana and the canopies building at temples in Bali Island generally has function to put the embodiment of god or Gagaluh on the procession of ceremony (Pawedalan). However, the Pawedalan at Jagatnatha Temple has function as an altar to put the offerings especially on praying procession of Balinese Hindu Holyday such as full moon, dark moon, Galungan and Kuningan Days, Saraswati Day, Siwaratri Day and other important days.

4. Altar of Sang Hyang Anantaboga
This altar is located in north part of main temple complex.
The well for taking Holy Water or Tirtha
The well is set in north part of main temple complex.

5. Bale Paselang
If there is not specific big ceremony held in this temple, Bale Paselang is usually used to keep the offerings and sometimes used as a place for Mesanti (reading and singing the holy bible which is famous called Geguritan or Kekawin). If there are plenty of Hindu people do for praying, then this Bale Paselang is used as a resting place.

6. Perantenan/Kitchen
It is a building has multi functions where the context of kitchen activities, it is not has function on ceremony but it is also accordance with other religious activities at this temple.

7. Gudang/Store
This store is functioning to keep the gamelan and others temple belonging items.

8. Bale Gong
Bale Gong is a building to beat the gamelan during the ceremony procession and it is sometime also used as a rest place for Hindu people.

9. Apit Surang / Entrance Gate

In the west part of the main temple complex area from north to the south, it had been built some of the buildings as follows:
* Bale Kulkul is a beautiful tower building to hang the wooden bell
* Apit Surang Kiwe is left entrance gate
* Gelung Kuri is a center entrance gate
* Apit Surang Tengen is right entrance gate
* Dakam Karang Althar (Tugu)
* Bale Bengong is a canopy of rest
* Bale Pawedan is a canopy for Hindu Priest reciting the mantra.

Location Jagatnatha Temple Denpasar Bali
Jagatnatha Temple Denpasar is a beautiful Hindu temple stratecially located in the center of Denpasar City and it has been appointed as a Bali tourist destination which is many visited by tourist. Other places of interest that you can discover in Denpasar City such as Badung Traditional Market, Bali Museum, Bali Art Center and Banjra Sandhi Monument are just close with this temple. See the map below to find out Jagatnatha Temple location