If lying on the beach is foreign to your nature and you consider yourself to be one of the noble caste of adventurers, then go ahead to explore the sights of Bali!
So what is a must to see in Bali? The answer is: you should definitely visit Batur Volcano, Tanah Lot Temple, Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Gitgit waterfall, Monkey Forest, Goa Gajah Caves (Elephant Caves), and of course the sacred Bratan lake and Pura Ulun Danu temple. In addition, it is binding to visit the cultural center of the island – the district of Ubud and to try sea adventures on the island! In total there are nine of the fascinating places to visit in Bali, but first things first.
1. Batur Volcano
In Bali you have a unique opportunity to see majestic sleeping volcanoes, and one of the most unusual – Batur Volcano. This is a volcano in a volcano. You just have to see this! A new volcano towering over the surrounding area formed in a huge basin (over 14 km) of an old volcano. This volcano is active, but don’t be afraid – it erupted just three times – in 1927, 1929 and 1947. The largest and the most amazing lake on the island – Lake Batur – formed in one of the craters. For local people this lake is sacred – the fact is that the depth of the lake has never changed even during rainy seasons. This phenomenon has given rise to the legend that the Goddesses of mountain lakes care about this one.
Also it is believed that this lake gives rise to all the springs on the island. Volcano still erupts in some of its craters, and often you can see smoke and lava coming down to the very lake sometimes. The most convenient way is to watch it all from the sightseeing platform (sitting in a cafe or restaurant), or going down to the very foot of the majestic volcano Batur, which simply cannot to be skipped during a trip around the island! Batur is an indispensable place to visit in Bali!
2. Tanah Lot Temple
This temple was the main sanctuary in Bali almost until the end of the nineteenth century.
According to the legend, in the XV century a wandering monk came to the coast, and he was astonished by the extraordinary beauty of those places. He sat on a cliff and started meditating and praying the sea gods. A few days later his presence was discovered by local fishermen, who brought him offerings after a while, so as the monk was so serene and bright. A few weeks later the rumor of a wandering monk, who had found his refuge in the cliff on the south coast, traveled around the neighboring villages, and crowds of locals started visiting him. The monk told them that was a sacred place for worship to Balinese Gods of the sea.
Meanwhile, a local priest who had lost his flock because of the competitor, decided to get rid of the monk. He told all sorts of foul things about him and interfered with the monk, and then the stranger plunged into meditation and pushed the cliff into the sea with his will power. That raised both the monk and the place to the status of a saint.
Now Tanah Lot Temple stands on a rocky island and attracts people from around the world to visit it. And there really is something to see – a gorgeous sunset, waves crashing on the rocks, buildings worn a little with time, but still majestic and proud. The temple has become a real unofficial symbol of the island of Gods and this sight of Bali is a place to see first hand!
You can find descriptions of all excursion programs over Bali offered by The Seven Team on the excursions page.
3. Tirta Gangga Water Palace
Tirta Gangga was a residence of Raja Karangasem built in 1942. The palace is relatively new, but it contains architectural achievements of Balinese and Chinese masters of construction of that times. Raja loved beautiful places greatly, so for the Tirta Gangga palace (it means “sacred water of the Ganges”) he chose one of the most picturesque places deep in the heartland of the island – here the purest springs burst forth out of the earth and vicinity cannot be described otherwise, but only as “beautiful and peaceful”.
Completed architectural structure of Tirta Gangga Water Palace includes three large lakes, several swimming pools and dozens of different sculptures. Water in these areas is considered to be sacred and is used by locals in various religious rites and ceremonies. You need to go to the eastern part of Bali to see this water palace, and that’s worth the effort! Many tourists find the east of Bali to be the most picturesque part of the island.
4. Gitgit Waterfall
This waterfall is the highest (over 40 meters) and the most full-flowing waterfall in Bali. The waterfall is located in 10 kilometers from Singaraja – a town in the north of the island. There are many sightseeing platforms near the waterfall to enjoy excellent views. Also, if you dare to overcome 340 stairs, you can walk down to the waterfall and even swim in it.
Some say this tropical waterfall is one of the most beautiful in the world, but we bet – there is no other waterfall as beautiful as this one on the island, that’s for sure!
5. Monkey Forest
If you love animals, then you just cannot drive by this place. The forest is located near Ubud – any guidebook will show you how to get to this landmark of Bali. This is a place where a variety of monkeys have created a real self-government. Their number is just amazing – they are everywhere! They are playing, washing up, raising offspring, communicating with each other and sleeping just on the walls of the neighboring temple. Monkeys became accustomed to tourists long ago and they are not shy at all, but be careful – do not go for a walk with glittering things, that can easily be stolen, and these little pranksters may not return your trinkets. But you can also take a little of goodies for them in advance – they always love it.
Deep in the Monkey Forest you can find an ancient temple, as well as a venue for Hindu ceremonies. Here you can have a walk, though visitors are not allowed to enter the indoor premises of the temple, there are a lot of things to see in the Monkey Forest even without this. Particularly as the whole Monkey Forest amazes with the abundance of floral forms, statues, and paths. This is a real city of monkeys!
6. Goa Gajah Caves (Elephant Caves)
Right there, near Ubud, you can find caves that served as the shelter for Hindu hermit monks in the XI century. Those hermit monks cut caves out of the cliff together with a face of a demon, which seems to be examining intently all of the travelers. There is a “T” shaped room inside cluttered with various sculptures and statues of Ganesha (son of Shiva).
It is worth noting that this cave had been built before aristocrats and priests of Javanese Majapahit Empire migrated to Bali in the XV century. This means, it is a temple of the indigenous inhabitants of the island, “Bali Aga”, rather than the present Balinese population.
Caves are one of the most popular places to visit in Bali, so it’s best to come at dawn, while not so many tourists are here – so you can feel the spirit of the ancient force haunting here. There are also several ancient shrines and temples just nearby.
7. Bratan Lake and Pura Ulun Danu temple
This complex was built in the XVII century at the foot of the mountain at an altitude of 1200 meters above the sea level. All the buildings look very impressive – they seem to have grown out of lake waters. This place is incredibly beautiful giving rise to enormous popularity among photographers – that makes sense, so as a combination of gorgeous scenery with powerful multi-level buildings is simply obliged to remain for centuries, and be sure to fill up your traveler’s facebook with pictures taken near Pura Ulun Danu.
This temple is the main Balinese water temple and one of the most beautiful temples on the planet. Local people have a belief that anyone who bathes in the waters of Bratan Lake will acquire youth and longevity.
8. Ubud – the cultural center of Bali
District Ubud is the heart of the cultural life in the island. Here you can find any and all kinds of crafts being practiced on the island – from works of woodcarving masters and to famous Balinese batik artists.
It is also advised to visit several museums, including the world-famous house-museum of Antonio Blanco, and also you should pop into the various galleries. This district is home for lots of creative people, including foreigners. We advise you to make a visit to Ubud lasting for a minimum of 2 days and 1 night to be able to see at least the most outstanding attractions of this creative area, and do not miss the opportunity to go to rafting (it is very close to this area). Just on the way to Ubud you can see Tegalalang Rice Terrace.
9. Underwater world of Bali
Bali Island, located on the collision of the Indian Ocean and the Bali Sea, is a unique instance of a place, where beautiful underwater world is combined with steady flows. That is why it is a real crime to visit the island without trying diving, snorkeling, or at least fishing!
For long the island has been attracting not only surfers but also divers from around the world to its shores. Sea streams are quiet here, so that even beginners can easily dive in most of locations for diving.
Detailed descriptions, photographs, itineraries and prices for all excursions you can find on the corresponding page. This list of places to see in Bali, of course, is not complete! After all, there are dozens of fascinating places to visit in the island of Gods!
