Tabanan
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| The regency is just west of Badung, stretching from the coastline of massive black rocks up to the central mountains. Tabanan is an unspoilt part of Bali which is also richly fertile, containing the best agriculture and a place to give peace and prosperity to their villagers. In the northwest is a dense forest, part of the wild and natural park. Before the Dutch took control over Tabanan, the kindom was ruled by Ngurah Agung Tabanan, who died in 1903, after having ruled the Regency since 1844. He left two wives, brought up in an old tradition that declared that they would commit "Suttee" at the cremation seven months later. The two old women, beautifully dressed in white, walked along specially constructed bamboo paths. At the time, the Dutch Resident declared that this was the last "Suttee" allowed, though the tradition did continue covertly for a while afterwards. |
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Located about 20 Km north of Tanah Lot temple. This forest is inhabited by hundreds of monkeys that live amicably. There is a temple where one find something unique happens. It is when a ritual ceremony held there, no one is allowed to use any kind of fire offering equipment, such as incense and candle. Tens of big bats dwell on the tips of the leaves of big tress attract the visitors who come there.
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In the center highlands of Bali is the serene mountain area of Bedugul. Here, vegetable, fruits, and flowers thrive in the alpine climate, and a colorful little market at Bukit Mungsu offers a wide selection of produce including exotic wild orchids, roses, and colorful birds. There is a large botanical garden nearby. At Pancasari, an 18 hole championship golf course has been developed, with all the facilities to suit golfing lovers. At Lake Beratan, the area's climate is refreshing after being in the heat of the lowlands. Bratan Lake, approximately 60 kilometers from Denpasar (to the north), also provides exciting surroundings, with cool fresh mountain air.
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Approximately 20 kilometers from Tabanan, the road climbs up high into the hills to a small village named Jatiluwih. With a height of 850 meters above sea level, the view here is one of the finest imaginable. Bali's terraced paddy fields stretch into endless contours over the hills and valleys as far as the eye can see.
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The village of Krambitan, southwest of Tabanan, was once an extension of the ruling Raja's court and is still a cultural stringhold, with music groups maintaining ancient customs of music and dance, using bamboo instruments.
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This 2.278 meter peak towers over the local landscape, and strongly influence local spiritual beliefs. All local temples have a shrine dedicated to the spirit of the "coconut shell" mountain, and high on its slopes is the public (Kayangan Jagat) temple of Pura Luhur Watukaru.
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Carved out of the landscape by tides, wind, and rain, the huge offshore sentinel rock of Tanah Lot supports a small picturesque sea temple which can be reached by a scramble over the wet rocks. These are reputed to be several large caves just below the water line, at the base of the rock, which shelter large sea snakes, who are the guardians of the temple.
