The island of Bali is located south of the equator and north of Australia in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago. Bali has a well-deserved reputation as an exotic and beautiful vacation spot. This 250 square mile island of more than 3 million people provides a wide variety of experiences for travelers. There are tranquil south sea beaches and luxury hotels for relaxation in Nusa Dua, surfing spots and a vibrant nightlife for partying in Kuta and Sanur, intriguing temples and traditional Balinese dancing to see in Central Bali and the arts, spirituality and wellness centers of the countryside around Ubud. All of these different parts of Bali share a common culture of tolerance and friendliness that manages to transcend the traffic and the 10 million visitors who come to the island each year from Australia, Asia and beyond.

Diverse History

Bali was anything but tranquil for most of its history. The Balinese were governed by a series of local sultans and kings for many centuries. Bali was one of the last areas of Indonesia to submit to Dutch colonial rule in the early 1900s which occurred only after several rulers refused to surrender and instead threw down their weapons and allowed themselves to be massacred in a traditional “puputan”. The Balinese also engaged in active resistance against the Japanese during World War II, rejecting the Empire’s claim to be liberating East Asia from western powers. During the “Years of Living Dangerously” which occurred in the 1960s after General Suharto took power, thousands of Balinese were killed, jailed or persecuted by the government or mob violence for their alleged communist sympathies or Hindu religious practices. Today, Indonesians have developed a greater sense of unity. The young population is focused on the country’s economic future rather than the legacy of colonialism, religious differences and the political strife of the past.

There is plenty to do during a visit to Bali beyond the beautiful beaches and warm waters.  Some places to visit during an initial visit to the island include the following:

Tanah Lot - Tanah Lot is a frequent tour stop for travelers because of the temple’s unique location and photogenic qualities. Perched on a rocky black promontory just three hundred feet offshore, Tanah Lot has served as a meditation spot for Buddhist devotes ever since it was established by a dissident priest in the 16th century.  The temple and its surrounding greenery appear to float on the water during high tide but can be approached across the sand and rocks at low tide.  Today, it still offers dramatic views at sunset and throughout the day.

Ulan Danu Beratan Temple - This temple is in the northern part of Bali at a lake resort area known as Danu Beratan. Popular among Indonesian and foreign visitors, the lake provides cool mountain air and has a mysterious quality to it because of the mist that often fills the extinct volcanic crater and obscures the mountain above. The pagodas at the temple date back to the 17th century and have a simple beauty and symmetry that makes them a frequent backdrop for wedding parties and romantics of all ages.

Ubud - Some visitors to Bali avoid the beaches and head to the scenic villages and boutique hotels of Ubud for enjoyment.  The features of this region include carefully sculpted rice terraces built into the hills and valleys. These ancient irrigation techniques not only efficiently use water to produce three harvests of rice annually, they also give the landscape a sense of caring and community which led to the “Cultural Landscapes of Bali” being awarded the status of a World Heritage Site. Once settled in Ubud, there are art museums, healing centers, yoga and meditation facilities, and numerous water temples like the Bubbling Water Temple to explore. 

Other Activities - There are many other attractions in Bali which make it a place people return to.  Frequent festivals, ceremonies and rituals in the area carry on the traditions of Balinese culture and most are not associated with the religious practices of the region’s Islamic majority Hindu and Buddhist population. Balinese dance performances are popular with tourists, as is the Buring Bali Bird Park which house hundreds of exotic and brightly colored species from the archipelago. Finally, outdoor enthusiasts can hike around Mt. Aguna when it is not erupting like in 2017, to see the temples there or the crater lake which is more than 5000 feet above sea level.