Description

East Bali day tour

Explore the East of Bali which is rich in the historical and cultural legacy of the two kingdoms of Klungkung and Karangasem. Visit the 18th century Hall of Justice, learn how salt is farmed using century old methods, wander through a water palace, visit a picturesque village where time has stood still and finish your day viewing one of the six holiest temples in Bali.

Kertha Gosa (Hall of Justice)

Kertha Gosa is located in the heart of Klungkung, the smallest of Bali’s nine regencies. Kertha Gosa means – “the place where the king meets with his ministries to discuss questions of justice.”

Kertha Gosa

The Kertha Gosa Pavilion was built in the early 18th century with its first function being the court of law. Besides the beautiful architecture of the building, the uniqueness of Kertha Gosa lies in the ceilings of the pavilion which are covered with traditional paintings in Kamasan style.

Each part of the ceiling tells a different story; there is one part that tells the story of karma and reincarnation and another part illustrates each phase of human life from birth until death.

Traditional salt miners of Kusambe

Kusambe is a sleepy fisher village along the East Coast of Bali. Here salt is gained from the ocean by a centuries old tradition that is passed through many generations.

Several layers of salty seawater are sprinkled over a patch of black volcanic beach. After these layers of salt water have dried the top layer of black sand is collected. This sand is then watered down again to filter out a solution of highly concentrated salty water.

Artisanal salt mining

This salty water will go under the sun again to naturally dry until salt crystals start to appear. The salt is then collected and ready for consumption.
This naturally produced salt has a unique flavour and is popular among the Balinese. If you wish you can buy a small portion of this locally produced salt direct from the farmers.

Tirta Gangga Water Palace Bali

Tirta Gangga literally means water from the Ganges and it is a site of reverence for the Hindu Balinese. Tirta Gangga water palace is a maze of pools and fountains surrounded by a lush garden and stone carvings and statues.

Tirta Gangga

The one hectare complex was built in 1946 by the late King of Karangsem but was destroyed almost entirely by the eruption of nearby Mount Agung in 1963. It has been lovingly re-built and restored and has an air of authentic royal magnificence.

Tenganan Village

Life has stood still in Tenganan Village which is home to the “Bali Aga” people. These are the indigenous Balinese who were in Bali long before the Majapahit Era when the East Javanese Empire ruled over much of Indonesia, including Bali, in the 14th and 15th Century.

Tenganan Village

Tenganan is well known for their Lontar books which are created from the palm leaf on which intricate drawings have been etched, usually depicting scenes from the Hindu epics. In Tengenan you can also see the process of weaving the “Kamben Gringsing” which is a double woven cloth using a difficult traditional technique where both the warp and weft threads are dyed before the fabric is woven.

Goa Lawah “Bat Cave” Temple

Goa Lawah is one of the six Sad Kahyangan Jagad or the “six sanctuaries of the world”. These are the most holy places of worship in Bali and visited by Balinese Hindus from all corners of Bali.

Goa Lawah

The Goa Lawah temple was originally built in the 11th century around a cave. This cave is the home of thousands of bats hence the name Goa Lawah which translates to “Bat Cave”.

This bat cave is believed to connect underground to Mount Agung (Besakih Temple), Talibeng and Tangkid Bangbang. There are various accounts that when the Agung volcono erupted in 1963, ash emerged from the Goa Lawah cave.