Jumat, 31 Oktober 2014

On 18.11 by Unknown in    No comments

Tampaksiring Holy Spring Water Temple Bali


Tirtha Empul Temple is a Hindu Temple located in a valley between two hills with big springs and sacred by the local residents as a place to melt all the bad influences in the body and purifies the soul and mind. Tirtha Empul Temple or better known as Tampak Siring Temple or Holy Water Temple is a place to purify our self from the bad influences in life where we can discover the traditional showers sourced from the springs at this temple. The water that comes out from the shower is believed to eliminate all kind of diseases including adverse effect in the human life and give the new holy spirits. This place is very famous in Bali and many visited by local people and tourists every day since it has been appointed as one of the tourist destinations in Bali.

Tampak Siring, Holy Water Temple, Gianyar, Bali, Places of interest

Location

Tampak Siring Temple is located in Tampak Siring Village, Gianyar Regency, about 39 km to the east of Denpasar City. It is strategically situated beside of the main street to Kintamani, one of the famous tourist destinations in the island of god. It is set in the valley surrounded by the hill where the west hill was set a president palace of Indonesia Republic.
Tirtha Empul History
Tampak Siring, Bali, Holy Water Temple, Places to VisitTirtha Empul’s name contained in an inscription which is now stored at Sakenan Temple, Manukaya Village, Tampak Siring District about 3 km from Tirtha Empul. In this inscription, the Tirtha Empul was called Tirtha ri air hampul and slow down the name was changed into Tirtha Hampul and finally change into Tirtha Empul.  Tirtha ri air hampul means that the holy water is rising or the holy pond where the water is raising.
According with the Balinese believe that the springs rising from the earth is the God’s creation, hence in 882 Saka (990 AD) arranged to be a pond purified by the kind of Indrajayasinghawarmadewa with the name of Tirtha ri air hampul. The data contained on an inscription at Sakenan Tempe.
Transcription of the inscription that mention the Tirtha Empul was in row and 5 those are:  Indrajayasingha Warmadewa masamahin tirtha ri air hampul. In addition to the above epigraphic data, at Tirtha Empul temple is also found the following archeological items as follows:
  1. Linga Yoni is located in the second courtyard, on top of an altar (Bebaturan) behind the façade of the gate that faces to the west. Yoni Linga is a worship symbol of Lord Siva with Goddess Parvati to invoke the fertility, especially for the agricultural fertility.
  2. The Lion Statue that was worn on it faces making difficulty to be identified. In the Hindu mythology, lion is a vehicle of Durga Goddess which is the wife of Siva God in angry aspect. In that aspect, the Siva God as Siva Mahakala. In the angry aspect, the Siva God is manifestation as the god who returns home all the contents of the universe.
  3. Tepasana is a building or altar which was originally just a patio/Bebaturan. What seen now is a building that has been restored/renovated in 1067 AD.
  4. Tirtha Empul pond with it water source from the earth because it’s location on the ground surrounded by hills that can be said a bless from the god. In 960 AD, the spring had been built and expanded by the Indrajaya Singhawarmadewa King where on his inscription says Masamahin Tirtha, which mean to build and expand the holy pond.
Tampak Siring Legend
In the Lontar (Holy Bible written on palm leaf) of Usana Bali is mentioned that Tirtha Empul is created by Indra God when fighting against the king from Bedahulu. He is known as a very powerful king, could be lost or disappear suddenly called cyberspace (Maya). Therefore he is called Mayadenawa. Because of his power, he become arrogant and claimed he was a god. Mayadenawa King has an assistant called by Kalawong. The forbid the people to do the ceremony, so frequently happened the natural disasters, diseases outbreak, unsuccessful agricultures that make people live in poverty.
Holy Spring Temples, Tampak Siring, Gianyar, BaliTo overcome this problem, the God Indra with his army and fought against Mayadenawa King and his assistant. It is said that the in a battle occur in Tampak Siring area, the soldier of Mayadenawa King was troops pressed and eliminate traces. Mayadenawa walk with his feet in the oblique position (oblique position = miring), so that this area called Tampak Siring. In this area, Mayadenawa also created the pond with it toxic water. After fighting, the soldiers of Indra God feel thirsty then they drink it water that make them died. After knowing the emergency situation, Indra God sticks the Umbul-umbul to the earth immediately then suddenly the holy water come out from the land that is called Tirtha Empul. By drinking this water, all soldiers who have died able to life back successfully. Because the purity of spring water has efficacious as Tirtha Amertha Pengentas Urip (The holy water revive the spirits)
After the crisis from the battle, it is said that Mayadenawa with his soldiers getting squeezed and run to the north. Mayadenawa disappear and change into a big bird and then that place is called by Manukaya (Manuk = bird, raya or aya = big). His tricks were soon known by Indra God and then finally Mayadenawa fled to hide behind of rock located in Pangkung Patas area. Nevertheless, because of his sin, finally Mayadenawa was killed, died because of Indra God’s arrow and his blood flow condemned as a river called by Petanu River.


On 18.07 by Unknown in    No comments

Mount Batur And Batur Lake


Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) is an active volcano located at the center of two concentric calderas north west of Mount Agung, Bali, Indonesia. The south east side of the larger 10×13 km caldera contains a caldera lake. The inner 7.5-kilometer-wide caldera, which was formed during emplacement of the Bali (or Ubud) ignimbrite, has been dated at about 23,670 and 28,500 years ago
The southeast wall of the inner caldera lies beneath Lake Batur; Batur cone has been constructed within the inner caldera to a height above the outer caldera rim. The Batur stratovolcano has produced vents over much of the inner caldera, but a NE-SW fissure system has localized the Batur I, II, and III craters along the summit ridge. Historical eruptions have been characterized by mild-to-moderate explosive activity sometimes accompanied by lava emission. Basaltic lava flows from both summit and flank vents have reached the caldera floor and the shores of Lake Batur in historical time. The caldera contains an active, 700-metre-tall stratovolcano rising above the surface of Lake Batur. The first historically documented eruption of Batur was in 1804, and it has been frequently active since then. The substantial lava field from the 1968 eruption is visible today when viewed from Kintamani, a town that stradles the southwest ridge of the greater caldera.
The caldera is populated and includes the four main villages of Kedisan, Songan, Trunyan and Toya Bungkah. The locals largely rely on agriculture for income but tourism has become increasingly popular due to the relatively straightforward trek to the summit of the central crater.
The lake, Danau Batur, is the largest crater lake on the island of Bali and is a good source of fish.
On September 20, 2012 UNESCO has made Mount Batur Caldera a part of the Global Geopark Network.


On 18.06 by Unknown in    No comments
On 18.01 by Unknown in    No comments

Tegalalang Rice Terrace

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is one of the famous tourist objects in Bali situated in Tegalalang Village north of Ubud Bali featured by the amazing rice terrace set the cliff. Tegalalang Village is located on 600 m above sea levels covered by good temperature where most of the villagers as a farmer. It offers the stunning view of rice terrace where we can see from the main road from Kintamani to Ubud. This rice terrace is one of the alternative tourist destinations to visit during Kintamani Tour or Ubud Village tour.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Ubud, Bali, Places of Interest

Tegalalang Village

Tegalalang Village, Ubud, Bali, Rice TerraceThis village is formerly as usually traditional Balinese village in Bali where most of the villagers are working on the rice field and some of them are working as government officer and other private sectors. Nowadays, Tegalalang Village is become famous because of the beautiful rice terrace that the tourist to come and see this amazing panorama. The visitors who visit this village will discover the beautiful green rice terrace on the cliff bank and understanding how does the local farmer work on it hardly to make rice. It is a beautiful site that you must go and visit directly and you will be in real Balinese ambiance.

Tourism

Tegalalang Rice Terrace is sometimes to be icon of agriculture tourism for Bali and Ubud where now it was quickly developing into famous tourist destination. Some of the souvenirs shops are spread out beside of road those are all handmade at this village for tourists consume and export purpose. From Ubud we just take 25 minutes away by vehicle accessing a good road until we found it.




 Ubud Monkey Forest



The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud, Bali. Its full name as written on a welcome sign is the Padangtegal Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. The complex houses approximately 605 Crab-eating Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys (39 adult males, 38 male sub adult, 194 adult females, 243 juvenile and 91 infants —2011—). There are four groups of monkeys each occupying different territories in the park. The Sacred Monkey Forest is a popular tourist attraction in Ubud, and is often visited by over 10,000 tourists a month.The forest comprises approximately a tenth of a square kilometer (approximately 10ha or 27 acres) and contains at least 115 different species of trees. The Monkey Forest contains the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal temple as well as a "Holy Spring" bathing temple and another temple used for cremation ceremonies. The Monkey Forest is owned by the village of Padangtegal, and village members serve on the Monkey Forest's governing council. The Padangtegal Wenara Wana Foundation manages the Monkey Forest and serves to maintain its sacred integrity and to promote the sacred site as a destination for visitors.
The forest has been populated by monkeys in greater numbers than an environment undisturbed by humans would allow for a number of years, with the population density now (2013) higher than ever. The visitor will notice the interesting phenomenon of numerous obese monkeys, a testament to the almost unbounded food supply the huge number of tourists entering in and near the forest provide. Tourists are bitten by monkeys daily and numerous of these attacks can be can be found by a key word searches on YouTube. The monkeys - crab eating macaques - will invariably approach human visitors in a large group and then grab any bags containing food. They may also grab bags not containing food. If the demanded food is readily provided the monkeys will usually not, although occasionally will, bite the human owner. If the demanded food is not provided quickly enough, one or more of the monkeys will certainly bite the human owner. Numerous bites occur because humans are not quick enough in producing a desired food item. Given that tourists don't enter and travel the monkey forest armed and ready to fight relatively small monkeys, and that dogs are not allowed inside, the monkeys have none of the normal environmental competitors to keep them in check. They have also lost the fear of humans normal to almost all animals.
Monkey bites are a very serious medical event given the variety of viruses monkeys carry that can be transferred to humans. For example, Herpes B virus is very prevalent in crab eating macaques, should be assumed to be very prevalent in the populations in Ubud Monkey Forest, and frequently causes death in humans. Given their apparently increasing aggressiveness, and the risk they pose to human health, there have been calls by Balinese politicians for a cull of macaques in Bali. These calls have not been formally accepted by authorities.





On 17.54 by Unknown in    No comments

Uluwatu Temple


45 minutes from Nusa Dua, or 1 hr 15 minutes from Kuta or Tuban area. From Nusa Dua, the hilly road will pass through Pecatu, (in)famous for its uncompleted monument and luxury homes. If you are from Kuta, similar hill climbing road through Kedodongan and Jimbaran Hills (and Bay) will bring you here.

Officially known as Pura Luhur Uluwatu (yes, that's the real name: "Luhur" means "something of divine origin" while "Uluwatu" can be broken into "ulu" which means "land's end" and "watu" means "rock" in the old language). Nonetheless, merely mentioning Uluwatu will get you here in no time.

To me, this is the most spectacular temple on the island of Bali. The inner sanctum of the pura is perched majestically on the edge of a steep cliff that towers above the legendary surf breaks of southern Bali.

While I'm not too sure what the view is like from within the inner temple itself, the views are best enjoyed on two different vantage points on both northern and southern portions of the area.

I try not to mention much about the monkeys here. Precautionary signs have been put at a few places to remind about their aggressiveness. I did not experience any bad incidents with them, but I did take off my sunglasses and hid my camera in my pocket, just in case. At sunset, Kecak dance performance is held here everyday. And, it goes without saying that sunset viewing at Uluwatu is one of the must-do in Bali.

Pura Luhur Uluwatu is regarded as one of the six most important temples in Bali (along with Pura Besakih, of course!). Its location on the south westernmost precinct of this magical island guards the Balinese from the evil spirit of the ocean.

There is a minimal entrance fee to enter. I'm not particularly sure about the need to have a "local guide" to explore the pura just like what I have experienced in Pura Besakih. Sarongs are available for rental at the entrance. It was indeed a hassle free experience for me. And the view is out of this world.



On 17.52 by Unknown in    2 comments

Goa Gajah Temple


Goa Gajah word probably derived from the word of Lwa Gajah, the name of Vihara (Buddhist Temple) or the park for Buddhist monks. This name had been written on Lontar (palm leaf) of Negarakertagama compiled by Mpu Prapanca in 1365 AD. Lwa or Lwah/Loh means river so what is meant here is the hermitage located in Gajah River or Air Gajah. It was also mentioned in the inscription year 944 Saka that Ser Ring Air Gajah that is means the chief of Subak (irrigation system organization) at Air Gajah. It is signaled that the hermitage of Lwa Gajah located at Gajah River Subak. In the inscription year 1103 Saka issued by Jayapangus King (the king who famous with it authority, which make the Bali’s name become famous in that era) mentioning that Air Gajah is a hermitage for Shiva Priest. Based on this date, it can be concluded that the hermitage is now renamed to Goa Gajah.
In the past named:
  1. Air Gajah is a hermitage for Shiva Priest
  2. Lwa Gajah is a hermitage for Buddhist monks
Gua Gajah, Elephant Cave, Ubud BaliIn addition to the name of Air Gajah and Lwa Gajah, it is also mentioned the hermitage’s name of Antakunjarapada that is on Dawan Inscription year 975 Saka and Pandak Bandung inscription year 993 Saka. If we consider the sense of word, then Kunjara means Gajah, Anta means end or limits, Pada means area/region. When it is combined the word means Gajah Border Region, probably means the hermitage located on the Subak Border Region (Air Gajah). Based on this prediction, the hermitage of Antakunjarapada is the hermitage of Gua Gajah. So in the past century, the Goa Gajah has 3 designations to name of hermitage located on the Subak Border Region (Air Gajah) includes Air Gajah (name in the ancient of Bahasa Malayu or Bali), Lwa Gajah (name in the ancient of Java Language) and Antakunjarapada (name in the Sanskrit).