Bali doesn’t extend beyond the tourist leaflet: idyllic tropical beaches, lush green forest and happy islanders who work and play in childlike innocence. This vision of paradise has been turned into a commodity for the tens of thousands of western tourists who flood into Bali’s Kuta Beach, Tanah Lot, Kintamani, Ubud Village, Besakih Temple, Bedugul etc.
In actual fact the tourist trade is only a peripheral thing; awy from the commercial traps of the southern beaches you can still find Bali’s soul, towards the mountain where it has always been. It is there you will find rice paddies tripping down hillsides like giant steps, holy mountains reaching up through the clouds and dense tropical jungle. And it is there you’ll discover the extraordinary resilience of the Balinese people and their culture.
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| Giving the impression of a
bustling overgrown village, Denpasar is the largest city on the island,
the center of commerce and governmental administration. Belated town
planning is doing its best to control the urban sprawl of the bustling
little city, and the recent addition of traffic light at the busiest
intersection as well as a great number of one-way street Jalan Gajah
Mada is the commercial center of shops, banks and restaurant, and back
onto the PASAR BADUNG market place, a sprawling complex of stalls with
every imaginable commodity available from salted fish, spices and herb
to gold jewelry and fine woven cloth. The MUSEUM is well worth visiting n
Denpasar. In Denpasar, ethnic homogeneity is a thing of the fat. Non - Balinese now make up around 30 % of the city population. There are several Javanese Kampung, Chinese and Arab/Punjabi area. The Muslim call to prayer, the rumble of the Beleganjur Orchestra and the person's sermon represent just some of the sound in the Denpasar day. This Variety has important cultural consequences. The Indonesia language is increasingly taking over from Balinese in daily communication. Denpasar is where the Balinese scholars translate Indian holy books, new prayers are taught, and Hinduism reinterpreted. Other beautiful in Bali is Monument include the temple and palace of Kesiman, Panambangan Temple (near Pemecutan palace). And Satrian temple, with is near by bird market. Pemecutan, Kesiman, and Badung (now the name of the nearby regency) were the three " UNITED KINGDOMS " on the territory of Denpasar. |
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 Art CenterThe werdhi Budaya Art Center was built in 1973 to the design of the prominent Balinese architect, Ida Bagus Tugur, as a showplace for Bali's performing and fine arts. Strategically situated on Jalan Nusa Indah, Abian Kapas, Denpasar, the art center has Three art galleries, including one permanent art collection, and several outdoor stages and performance pavilion including the huge open stage and arena, Ardha Candra. Seminar and exhibition hall are often utilized by local art and three are groups, and the dance, drama and music school, STSI. Since 1979 a traditional of a Festival of the Art has been instigated as an annual fixture. This takes place each June-July, with a comprehensive programmer of Gamelan and dance performances, competition of traditional Balinese skill, and giant production of the Ramayana and Mahabarata ballets, lasting about 4 weeks in all. Open : Every day except on official holydays (08.00-16.00) A special performance is given on the Ardha Candra open-air stage every full moon. The performance of 'Kecak Dance' to be held at the Art Center Every Evening from (18.30-19.30). Originally the Kecak was just an element of the older Sang Hyang trance dance. It consistedof a male choir praying obsessively to the souls of their ancestors. At the initiative of painter Walter Spies, this religious choir was transformed into a dance by providing it with a narrative. |
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| Jagat Nata Temple One of the most beautiful temples of Denpasar is the Central Pura Jagat Natha, at the northeast corner of Puputan Square. This temple comes alive at the full moon ceremony, worshippers from all over the city gathering to make their offering and devotion. On the main street of Denpasar , its restful shade and gnarled frangipani trees offering a welcome contrast to the hubbub of city traffic, is the market temple. Pura Melanting, where busy vendors pause to make their offerings for a prosperous. |
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| Museum Manusa Yadnya The life of the Balinese is measured out in a series of relegious ceremonies which sanctify all stages of the life cycle, from birth until death and subsequent rebirth. These ceremonies are known as "Manusa Yadnya" and each is unique. The "Manusa Yadnya" Museum, within the Mandala Wisata Complex in Mengwi, 15 km west of Denpasar, has been created as a representative exhibition potraying the basic aspects of these all important life-cycle ceremonies. Exhibitits the major types of offerings used in each ceremony, as well as the accompanying constuction susc as the cremation sarcopagus and tower. Photograph of each particular ceremony gve an idea of the actual set. Museum Le Mayeur The house and collected painting of the Belgian painter Le Mayeur, on the beach in Sanur, are cared for by his widow Ni Polok, a famed Legong Dancer and beauty in her youth. Le Mayeur came to Bali in 1932, and lived here for 26 years, leaving his house to the Indonesia Goverment. Open every day. Jro Kuta Palace Jro Kuta Palace is located on Kumbakarna Street , Denpasar, about 100 m of Maospahit Temple . This palace has unique building complex such as Ancaksaji, Semanggen, Ranggi, Pewaregan, Saren Raja, Saren Kangin, Paseban, Pamerajan Agung, and Pekandelan which is a kind of fortress to protect the main part of the area. Kesiman Palace Kesiman Palace is located on W.R. Supratman Street, East Denpasar, closed to Petilan Pengerebongan Temple . The palace consists of a private mansion and the most highly structured family temple. Puputan Square Puputan Square is a large open square in the center of Denpasar city, the site of the famous ‘Puputan’ fight to death against the Dutch troops on 20 September 1906, when thousands of Balinese warriors, dressed in their finest Balinese regalia, and armed only with tradition weapons like keris (short draggers) and spears, hurled themselves against the lines of Dutch troops. A monument was built at the northern part of the Puputan Square to commemorate Puputan battle. The monument shows a man and his two children carrying keris (short draggers) and bamboo spears, ready to fight. Sidik Jari Museum Sidik Jari Museum Located on Hayam Wuruk Street, Denpasar, Sidik Jari Museum is a private fine art museum established and owned by I Gusti Ngurah Gede Pemecutan. The museum exhibits the work of its owner as well as other artists. The uniqueness of the collection in this museum is that the paintings are done using the tips of the fingers in applying different colors or paints in order to represent the artist's imagination. This museum consists of a hall for exhibitions, a library, a studio, an open hall for various activities, and an outdoor stage for dance performances. It is open daily from 09.00 am to 04.00 pm except on public holiday. |
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 Bajra Sandhi Monument Bajra Sandhi Monument is the Balinese people struggle monument, which is shaped like ‘bajra’ (bell). It is located on Puputan Margarana Square in Niti Mandala Renon area. Main government offices are located nearby. Bali Museum Bali museum was built on 8 December 1932 and has a large collection of old items. Located on Major Wisnu Street , this museum consists of 4 buildings: Buleleng, Karangasem, Tabanan, and the East Building . | |
