Bali Attractions - Things to Do & Places to Visit

Bali is a heavenly tropical paradise, known among locals as the Island of the Gods. This Indonesian volcanic island has a total area of approximately 5,000 square kilometres, and is at present one of the best beach destinations in Southeast Asia.

Bali has four major volcanoes, including the Mt. Agung, which violently erupted in the early 1960’s. While the volcanoes seem to make Bali a dangerous place to visit, the presence of volcanoes make the soil in the island very fertile, allowing for the growth of lush tropical rainforests and vegetation.

Bali was once home to a number of Hindu kingdoms, an important part of the island’s history still evident these modern days. The island, at present, is home to Balinese Hindus, with the Hindu culture still very much part of local life. Aside from these historical and cultural features, Bali is also home to many natural attractions and modern luxury accommodations that would make any holiday perfectly relaxing.

Temples

Balinese temples are designed according to their location and surroundings, and it would be difficult to find two identical temples. Balinese temple architecture emphasizes on the importance of each design element; structural and decorative features often have a very specific function and symbolism. When visiting temples in Bali, you should definitely check out the Uluwatu Temple, the Besakih Temple near Mt. Agung, the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan (shown above), the Pura Pasar Agung, the Goa Lawah, the Pura Luhur Batukaru, and the Pura Ulun Danu Batur.

Beaches

Beach lovers will definitely have the time of their lives at Bali. The beaches are pristine with powdery pale sand and turquoise waters, and really perfect for sunbathing and watersports. Head over to the Jimbaran Bay if you want to swim, but if you want a bit of variety, the Bukit Peninsula is definitely for you.

Arts and Culture

Balinese dance and music are very popular, and visitors to this slice of paradise can experience the island’s unique performing arts through the barong (lion dance), a ritualistic dance that depicts the eternal battle between good and evil, in which the performers wear scary lion masks. Even if you do not speak the local language, the movement of the dancers will make the storyline very easy to follow. Calonarang is another local traditional dance, which features a story involving dark magic and the infamous queen of the witches, Rangda. Kecak or the Monkey Dance is a local dance attraction, but was actually choreographed by a German artist named Walter Spies residing in the island in the 1930’s.

Local Festivals

Bali is also known for being a spiritual haven; the island is home to over 20,000 temples, each with its own biannual festivals—this only means that there are many festivals going on at the island. Make sure to time your visit to coincide with the Galungan, ten days of festivities celebrated every 210 days to commemorate the death of Mayadenawa, a hated tyrant. The last day of the Galungan festival is known as the Kuningan, and many visitors believe that this is the best day of the festival.