Bali, Indonesia, one of the most Instagram-able holiday destination in the world. It has some of the most picturesque places on the planet, with various locations such as impressive temples, lush hiking trails, beautiful forests, sand beaches and plenty of wildlife. It is a tropical paradise. Here’s a list of some of the best places to capture unforgettable moments when you get the chance to go to Bali.
1.Mount Batur
This mountain is one of the central features for hiking on the island. Mount Batur is located in Kintamani District, which is in the highlands. This sacred active volcano offers a scenic and surreal hike to the 1,700-meter summit. If you manage to hike before dawn, you shall be rewarded by a beautiful sunrise that touches the mountains and the caldera below. The hike is well marked and is easy to navigate, with a hiking time of roughly three hours. On a clear day, one can see the Batur caldera and Lake Batur. To get a full experience, you can combine your hike with a visit to the Pura Ulun Danu Batur temple and the hot springs at Toya Bungkah village.
2.Nusa Dua Beach
If you are not really a hiker no need to fret as there are plenty of options for you while in Bali. Nusa Dua Beach is one of the many beaches on the island. Nusa Dua is regarded as the up-market district in Bali as there are many high-end resorts in the area. Many tourists go to Nusa Dua, looking for a relaxing beach holiday. Some of the activities at the beach include; sunbathing at Pantai Geger which is the beautiful public beach; marvel at the ‘Water Blow’ a natural site where water erupts from a rock formation; visit the Pasifika Museum; a boat ride to Serangan island and watch baby turtles in a hatchery; visit the Puja Mandala which is a religious and cultural site, also known as the Hill of Worship with several religious buildings and is representative of the religious tolerance in Indonesia among other activities at the beach.
3.Pura Ulun Danu
Also known as Pura Bratan, is a Hindu Shaivite Shiva temple that is set within the highlands of Bedugul Regency. The temple sits on top of a plateau near Lake Beratan, at 1,500 meters above sea level. The temple was built in devotion to the goddess Danu who in Balinese culture is the queen of water, lakes, and rivers. The temple site has four sacred buildings. These are Lingua Pura for the god Shiva, Pura Puncak Mangu for the god Shiva, Pura Teratai Bang, the main temple, and Pura Dalem Purwa for the worship of Sang Hyang Widhi. The reflections of these buildings on the nearby lake create some of the most beautiful views. Canoe rides across the lake are also available, allowing you to enjoy the site from different perspectives.
4.Ubud Monkey Forest
Like something out of the animated movie, ‘The Jungle Book,’ the Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and temple complex for lots of monkeys. It is a popular tourist attraction and is said to attract nearly ten thousand visitors in a month. The sanctuary is home to approximately 340 long-tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis). In the forest, one can hike through it and see several different species of trees, eat at a number of restaurants offering Balinese cuisine and see the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal temple that is inside the forest.
5.Pura Besakih
Located on the slopes of Mount Agung lies the Mother temple of Hindu Bali, the Pura Besakih. This temple is aesthetic, and its location offers unbeatable views of the surrounding landscape. The temple has been regarded as a holy place for a long time, with evidence of this dating back to 1007AD. It is believed to be the home of the gods hence its naming. Samudramanthana mythology, the same name “Besuki,” in fact refers to the Dragon-God “Naga Besukian,” who inhabited Gunung Agung, the main volcano in Bali. In the classical Sanskrit language, the name Besakih comes from the word “Basuki,” derived from the word “Wasuki,” which means Salvation. This is a great place to visit if you want to experience the rich religious history of Bali.
6.Sekumpul Waterfall
The Sekumpul waterfall is in the Singaraja region and is considered as Bali’s most beautiful waterfall. It is not only one, but seven falls that cascade beautifully off a cliff enveloped in lush green vegetation. Aside from the falls themselves, the trip to the falls is also scenic. It passes rice terraces and local villages filled with rambutan and durian trees as well as a tropical jungle. This experience is for the more daring tourists who wish to experience Bali away from the resorts.
7.Tegallalang and Jatiluwih Rice terraces
The lush green contours of rice fields are worthy canvas pictures. These places are definitely at the top of our sight-seeing agenda. The Tegallalang rice terraces are a thirty-minute drive from Ubud, and the Jatiluwih rice terraces triple the distance from Ubud. Both places are known to be tourist sites, so you might also come across a few cafes that add to the experience. An important fact to remember is that both these places use ‘subak,’ which is a traditional water management cooperative recognized by UNESCO. It is believed to have been used as early as the 9th century.
8.The Sidemen Valley
The Sidemen Valley is almost like a relic as it showcases the remnants of the old Bali. The valley is home to small villages surrounded by farmland and rice paddies. Aside from watching the locals carry out their traditional way of life, other popular activities include; rafting, yoga retreats, carving, and traditional weaving.
Indeed there is a lot to do in Bali, and this list is not exhaustive. It really is a picturesque place with several sites to visit and explore. Be sure to do your research and choose what places are the best for you to visit and carry your camera with you because it is Instagram-able Bali, after all.
