Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pura Meduwe Karang
300m east of the Kintamani road junction at Kubutambahan • Daily 7am-6pm • Donation requested, sarong
rental included
Given that it is probably the most arresting temple in north Bali,
Pura Meduwe Karang
is surprisingly little visited. It lies 7km east of Singaraja's Penarukan terminal and is dedic-
ated to Batara Meduwe Karang - the temple ensures divine protection for crops grown on
dry land, such as coconuts, maize and groundnuts. It's certainly built on a grand scale: the
terraces at the front support 34 figures from
the Ramayana
including the giant Kumbakarna
battling with hordes of monkeys from Sugriwa's army.
Yet what it's famous for are the
carvings
of Balinese villagers, including elderly people and
mothers with babies. In the inner courtyard, and typical of northern temples, a large rectangu-
lar base links the three central shrines, called the
bebaturan
. It is here, on the outer left wall,
that you'll find one of the most famous reliefs on Bali: a rather psychedelic cyclist in floral
shorts on a bike with a flowerhead wheel. He's sometimes named as W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp, a
Dutch artist who explored Bali by bicycle in 1904.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: SINGARAJA AND AROUND
By bus
Singaraja is a major transit hub for travel to Java as well as Bali. Private operator
Menggala, Jl Jen Achmad Yani 76 ( 0362 24374), operates daily night-buses to Surabaya
(10hr), and Safari Dharma Raya at Jl Jen Achmad Yani 84 ( 0362 23460) goes to
Yogyakarta (12hr) and Jakarta (26hr). Book a day in advance. The city's public bus and bemo
terminals are in the outskirts: Sukasada (aka Sangket) south of the city; Banyuasri in its west-
ern edge and Penarukan in the east.
Destinations from Sukasada
Gitgit (30min); Bedugul (1hr 30min); Denpasar (Ubung ter-
minal; 3hr).
Destinations from Banyuasri
Lovina (20min); Pemuteran, Seririt (40min); Gilimanuk (2hr
30min).
Destinations from Penarukan
Amlapura (via Tulamben; 3hr); Culik (2hr 30min); Gianyar
(2hr 20min); Kintamani, Kubutambahan (20min); Penelokan (1hr 30min; for the Batur area);
Tirtagangga (2hr 30min); Tulamben (1hr).
GETTING AROUND
By bemo
Small bemos ply main routes around town between terminals - cream between
Banyuasri and Penarukan, dark-red between Sukasada and Banyuasri, and blue between
Sukasada and Penarukan. There are no metered taxis.
EATING
Gandi
Jl Jen Achmad Yani 25 0362 21163.
One of several locals' options in a small
square, this place has decor that could redefine the word “plain”. Still, the menu of Chinese,
