Bali lies 3.2 km east of Java and approximately 8 degrees south of the equator. East to west, the island is approximately 153 km wide and 112 km north to south (95 by 69 miles, respectively), with a surface area of 5,632 km˛. The highest point is Mount Agung at 3,142 m (10,308 feet) high, an active volcano that last erupted in March 1963. Mountains cover centre to the eastern side, with Mount Agung the easternmost peak. Mount Batur (1,717 m) is also still active. About 30,000 years ago it experienced a catastrophic eruption — one of the largest known volcanic events on Earth.

In the south the land descends to form an alluvial plain, watered by shallow rivers, drier in the dry season and overflowing during periods of heavy rain.

The principal cities are the northern port of Singaraja, the former colonial capital of Bali, and the present provincial capital and largest city, Denpasar, near the southern coast. The town of Ubud (north of Denpasar), with its art market, museums and galleries, is arguably the cultural center of Bali.

There are major coastal roads and roads that cross the island mainly north-south. Due to the mountainous terrain in the island's center, the roads tend to follow the crests of the ridges across the mountains. There are no railway lines.

The island is surrounded by coral reefs. Beaches in the south tend to have white sand while those in the north and west black sand. The beach town of Padangbai in the south east has both: the main beach and the secret beach have white sand and the south beach and the blue lagoon have much darker sand. Pasut Beach, near Ho River and Pura Segara, is a quiet beach 14 km southwest of Tabanan. The Ho River is navigable by small sampan. Black sand beaches between Pasut and Klatingdukuh are being developed for tourism, but apart from the seaside temple of Tanah Lot, this is not yet a tourist area.

To the east, the Lombok Strait that separates Bali from Lombok marks the bio-geographical division between the fauna of the Indo-malayan eco-zone and the distinctly different fauna of Australasia that is known as the Wallace Line, for Alfred Russel Wallace, who first remarked upon the distinction between these two major biomes. When sea levels dropped during the Pleistocene ice age, Bali was connected to Java and Sumatra and to the mainland of Asia and shared the Asian fauna, but the deep water of the Lombok Strait continued to keep Lombok and the Lesser Sunda archipelago isolated.
 

:: Weather :: Geography of Bali :: Maps ::

Getting Around
Metered taxis in the south are plentiful and cheap. For longer trips you can negotiate for a minivan or Bemo but for two or three people a taxi is often the most comfortable and coolest choice.

Restaurants
Restaurants of all sizes are everywhere, although standards and prices vary just as much as type of cuisine. In Kuta you can find anything from Japanese sushi to Wiener Schnitzel, pizza to paella, and enchiladas to espedata and even McDonald's or Pizza Hut! Some visitors like to brave the rather primitive little roadside foodstalls, "Warungs", to sample local cuisine, or pick a local "nasi padang", which is a 24-hour diner displaying a dozen or so different dishes where you can sample them all for just a few US dollars. Try the locally produced beer "Bintang" rather than the familiar imported brands.

Denpasar
The Pura Jaganatha Museum, Denpasar offers a fine variety of prehistoric and modem art, and its architectural design is based on that of a palace.

Werdhi Budaya Art Center
The vast complex is, apart from its very real cultural function, a showplace for Balinese Temple and Palace Architecture at its most opulent. The open stage Arda Candra with its towering candi gate, the rococo main Art Museum, and Balinese pavilions have become a major architectural attraction.

Uluwatu Temple
At the western most tip of Bukit Peninsula, this is one of Bali's nine "directional" Kayangan Jagat temples. The location is dramatic, perched on the edge of a high cliff with a picturesque sunset view. The temple was first used for worship by the holy 11th century priest, Empu Kuturan, who came to Bali to bring religious law and to form Desa Adat (tradional villages). The area where the spectacular sunset can be viewed is filled with the scent of frangipani blossoms and is also the home of friendly monkeys.

Jimbaran Bay
Jimbaran is a sleepy cove with 3 international hotels, the Four Season's Resort, The Ritz-Carlton and the Inter-Continental Hotels. It is still a popular spot for windsurfing and sailing small boats which are available for rent. Grilled seafood restaurants have sprung up at a rapid pace along the beach, attracting many visitors here watching the sunset and eating the freshest seafood around. Choose your fish from a tank, negotiate your price and wait for it to be cooked.
 

Batubulan
Driving northeast from Denpasar, stone figures on the roadside mark the village of Batubulan. Divinities and demons are carved from sandstone for ornaments of houses and temples. Workshops can be visited to watch artists at work.

Celuk
North-east of Denpasar, the village of Celuk is noted for its silver and gold works of jewelry in many styles.

Mas
A village of woodcarvers, many of Bali's old masters still live here. Art galleries exhibit some of their best works. Visitors can wonder through the Balinese-style houses to view the carved wooden pillars and the artists instructing apprentices.

Goa Gajah
Goa Gajah, dates back to the ll^th century and is believed to have been built as a monastery. Carvings on the wall show a demon head over the entrance, flanked by two statues. The cave contains a statue of Ganesh. Excavations have uncovered a bathing place with six statues of nymphs holding waterspouts.

Tampak Siring
The temple of Pura Tirta Empul is built around the sacred spring at Tampak Siring. Over 1000 years old, the temple and its two bathing places have been valued by the people because of the spring water's curative powers. Regular ceremonies are held for purification. Specialties of the area are bone and ivory carvings.

Temples
It is distinctive from the rest of Islamic Indonesia as the Balinese population's belief is predominantly the Hindu faith, incorporating ancient animist followings that natural objects are inhabited by good or bad spirits in every aspect of local life on the island. This is manifested in ceremonies, daily rituals and attitudes, visible in the offerings of flowers and food that adorn the roadsides, the charms hung inside taxis, and the numerous vibrant festivals that occur throughout the year.

Temples are the meeting points of humans and gods and are resting-place for the gods during their stay on the island. Temples come to life only on certain festival days or at temple anniversaries (odalan), when they are elaborately decorated to greet the gods with offerings. There are temples for almost all aspects of Balinese life. There are house temples, village temples, family temples, banjar temples, subak temples, cave temples, temples for ancestors, rice fields, and even for monkeys. For the entire island, Pura Besakih, also known as "the mother temple", is the most important of all temples.

It is perceptible in their reverence for the Holy Mountain, the soaring volcanic cone of Gunung Agung, which is the spiritual centre of the Balinese universe.
 

Goa Lawah
About 43 km east of Denpasar one of the most sacred temples in Bali, which was built in 11th century by the high priest "Empu Kuturan" Inside the temple, one will find a natural cave inhabited by thousand of bats hanging down from the ceiling, flying around, and singing as well as holy python snakes that often appear around the cave.

Nusa Lembongan
This small island is one of the most popular destinations for day trippers from Bali. The trips can takes about one and two hours from the Badung strait, depending on whether you sail or motor boat. One of the main attraction of the island is diving and snorkeling, with amazing corals and tropical colorful fishes, crystal clear water and white sandy beaches. Lembongan's large neighboring island, Nusa Penida has a somewhat more ominous reputation and less popular.

Batur
In 1926, during the violent eruption of Mt Batur, the original village of Batur, at the southern foot of the mountain, was totally destroyed. The villagers, unharmed but homeless, moved up onto the high ridge overlooking their original home, and began the task rebuilding their temple, Pura Ulun Danu. Work on this temple is still underway, and they are creating one of the most impressive temples on the island. Its stark meru towers stand out against the backdrop of the smoking volcano.

Kintamani
The villages of Kintamani and Penelokan give a view of the active Mt. Batur and Lake Batur. The caldera of Batur is 7 miles in diameter and 60 feet deep. From Penelokan, a road leads to Kedisan on the shores of the lake where boats can be hired to cross over to Trunyan. This ancient village is inhabited by people who call themsleves “Bali Aga” or “original” Balinese, and have maintained many of their old ways.

Amed and Tulamben
Approximately 1.5 hours from Badung north of Padang Bai, There is most popular diving site or snorkeling in Bali. A shipwreck and a drop-off accessible from the beach offer easy access to colorful under water world. The magnificent coral viewing, also notorious for shark, rays and a wide variety of beautiful fish life. Diving course are also available.

Tirta Gangga
Just north of Karangasem, on the slopes leading up to Mount Agung, is Tirta Gangga, a veritable water playground designed by 6 princes in the Royal Family of Karangasem as a resting placa. The exotic pools and water fountains sustained some damage during the eruptions of Mt. Agung, but the water gardens remain as serene, and tempting as ever, to the weary traveler.

Lovina and Menjangan Island
About 10 km west of Singaraja. The black sand beach is safe and wonderful place for swimming and snorkeling. Lovina also offers dolphin viewing. Menjangan island part of the west Bali National Park has the most beautiful coral reefs in Bali. Along with the nearby Labuan Lalang, this is a great place for diving and snorkeling.

Gitgit waterfalls
To the south of Singaraja is Gitgit waterfall, Bali's highest waterfall. This beautiful wilderness area is a must for nature lovers who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the larger towns. This is a perfect place to take photographs of Bali's magical scenery.

Sangeh
Ten hectares of nutmeg trees in the Sangeh forest abound with monkeys. The forest is considered sacred, so no wood is allowed to be chopped here. Two temples stand in the middle of the forest and another at the edge. As they live in this sacred forest, the monkeys are also held sacred and are rather tame, but it is advisable not to play with them.

Tanah Lot
One of Bali's most important sea temples, the temple sanctuary at Tanah Lot is built atop a huge rock surrounded by the sea. Built by one of the last priests to come to Bali from Java in the 16th century, its rituals include the paying of homage to the guardian spirits of the sea. Poisonous sea snakes found at the base of the rocky island are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The best time to see Tanah Lot is in the late afternoon when the temple is in silhouette.

Bedugul
The mountain resort of Bedugul, 18 km north of Denpasar, is known for its excellent golf course. Located besides Lake Bratan, it is surrounded by forested hills. A beautiful sight is the "Ulun Danu" temple which seems to rise out of the lake. The area offers good walks. Boats are available for water skiing and parasailing. is done as well. The Bali Handara Country Club has bungalows for rent and a restaurant.

Mekepung (Buffalo races)
The Mekepung was originally held as part of the harvest festivities. The carts and buffalos were, until quite recently still used for transportation. The Mekepung consist of a race between two cars pulled by water buffaloes. The colorful decorated animals race a two km course.

Besakih
Known as the "Mother Temple of Bali", the sanctuary of Besakih on the Slopes of Mt. Agung is the biggest and holiest of all Balinese temples. The sight of the temple against the background of the mountain is impressive, and during festivals colored banner add a touch of gaiety.
 

Business:
Bali Temporary Tattoos, Bali Arts & Crafts, Bali Weddings, Solar Power Engineers, Tropical Architects, Team Building, Event Management

Conservation:
Eco Hotels, Eco Travel, Elephant Foundation, Orangutans, Komodo Dragons,
Bali Butterfly Park, Bali Elephant Park, Bali Reptile Park,

Culture:
Hindu Reliqion Belief System, Balinese Dance, Gamelan Music, Wayang Kulit, Balinese Dance, Balinese Temples, Balinese Ceremonies,

General Interest:
About Indonesia, About Ubud, About Sanur, About Kuta & Legian, About Seminyak, Indonesian Tropical Fruits, Bali Travel Books & Guides, About East Bali, Bali Maps, Local Transport, Learn Indonesian, Balinese Culture, Museums,

Government:
Australian Consulate (Bali), Australian Embassy (Jakarta), Australian Dept of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Consulates in Bali,
Visa Regulations Bali & Indonesia