Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WEST BALI
0
0
10 km
6 miles
Nungnung
Pacung
To Seririt (6km);
To
Lovina (12km);
Singaraja (17km)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Lovina (12km)
Seririt (6km);
To Bedugul
Pura
Pulaki
Grokgak
Pemuteran
Gondoi
Air Panas
Banyuwedang
Jatiluwih
Pulau
Menjangan
Pupuan
1
1
Pujungan
Pura Luhur
Payangan
Pujungan
Waterfall
Batukau
Labuhan
Batungsei
Dukuh
Lalang
Wangayagede
Gunung
Musi
Prapat
Agung
Penatahan
Penebel
Gunung
Merbuk
Sanda
Gunung
Mesehe
Gunung Prapat
(1224m)
Hot
Agung
(310m)
Gunung
Springs
(1388m)
(1344m)
Margarana
Banyuwedang
Sembung
Sangeh
(430m)
Ubud
Blimbing
Marga
Bukit Sari
Taman
(Monkey Forest)
Sumber
Nasional
Bali Barat
Kelompok
Wanasari
Gilimanuk
Kangetan
Manggissari
2
2
To
Ketapang
(Java)
Gunung
Kelatakan
Belayu
Bunut
(698m)
Pura Taman Ayun
Bolong
Cekik
Belimbingsari
Mengwi
Sibang
Alas
Kedaton
Tabanan
Palasari
Antosari
Muncan
Badung
Lukluk
Bajera
Air Satang
Pulukan
Kediri
Gubug
Yeh Embang
Lalang-
Kerambitan
Kutuh
Linggah
Medewi
Mendoyo
Sempidi
Melaya
Penarukan
Kapal
Jembrana
Pura
Rambut
Siwi
Pejaten
Tibubiyu
Candikesuma
Negara
Beraban
Selat Bali
DENPASAR
Delod Berawan
Kelating
Yeh Gangga
Munggu
Yehkuning
3
3
Kerobokan
Pengambengan
Perancak
Pura Tanah
Pura
Gede
Perancak
Lot
PURA TANAH LOT
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0361
The subject of a zillion pixels,
Pura Tanah Lot
(adult/child 3300/1800Rp, car park 1500Rp)
is the most
popular and most photographed temple in
Bali. It's an obligatory stop on many tours
from South Bali, very commercialised, and
especially crowded at sunset. It has all the
authenticity of a stage set - even the tower
of rock that the temple sits upon is an artful
reconstruction (the entire structure was crum-
bling). Over one-third of the rock you see is
artificial.
For the Balinese, Pura Tanah Lot is one of
the most important and venerated sea tem-
ples. Like Pura Luhur Ulu Watu, at the tip of
the southern Bukit Peninsula, and Pura Ram-
but Siwi to the west, it is closely associated
with the Majapahit priest, Nirartha. It's said
that each of the 'sea temples' was intended to
be within sight of the next, so they formed a
chain along Bali's southwestern coast - from
Pura Tanah Lot you can usually see the cliff-
But at Tanah Lot itself you may just see
from one vendor to the next. To reach the
temple, a walkway runs through a sort of carn-
ival alley with dozens of souvenir shops down
to the sea. To ease the task of making pur-
chases, there is an ATM.
To visit the temple you should pick the cor-
rect time - everybody shows up for sunset and
the mobs obliterate any spiritual feeling the
place has. If you visit before noon, crowds are
few and the vendors are all but asleep.
You can walk over to the temple itself at
low tide, but non-Balinese people are not al-
lowed to enter. One other thing: local legend
has it that if you bring a partner to Tanah
Lot before marriage, you will end up as split
as the temple. Let that be a warning - or an
inducement.
Dewi Sinta Restaurant & Villa
(
follow the signs. During the pre- and postsunset
rush, traffic is predictably bad.
By bemo (small minibus), go from Den-
pasar's Ubung terminal to Tanah Lot (6000Rp)
via Kediri, noting that bemo stop running by
nightfall. Alternatively, take an organised tour
which includes many other sights as well.
KAPAL
About 10km north of Denpasar, Kapal is the
garden feature and temple doo-dad centre of
Bali. If you need a polychromatic tiger or other
decorative critter rendered in colours not found
in nature, then this your place! (Although ship-
ping might be a bitch.) This is on the main road
to the west, so it might be worth getting out of
traffic just to walk with the animals.
The most important temple in the area is
Pura Sadat
. It was possibly built in the 12th
century, then damaged in an earthquake early
in the 20th century and subsequently restored
after WWII.
812933; www
%
)
Off a
souvenir-shop gang, not far from the ticket of-
fice lies this midrange hotel. The 27 rooms are
comfortable and modern. Some have views
across the pool and beyond to rice fields,
Others see a different green: the nearby golf
course. The restaurant offers buffet lunches,
with meals ranging from 18,000Rp to
60,000Rp.
Le Meridien Nirwana Golf Spa & Resort
(
.indo.com/hotels/dewisinta; r US$18-40;
as
815900;
%
)
Oc-
cupying a swathe of black-sand beach, this
large resort has 278 luxurious rooms and an
18-hole golf course. Traditional stone designs
are used throughout and the resort is attrac-
tive. There's a view of Tanah Lot, albeit from
a disrespectful viewpoint (it's set higher than
the temple).
www.starwoodhotels.com; r from US$120;
ais
Sleeping & Eating
If you want to join the sunset spectacle and
also avoid traffic afterwards, you can stay near
Getting There & Away
Coming from South Bali with your own trans-
