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Districts of Bali

The main party center of Bali, a place where life is in full swing regardless of whether the sun is hot or the moon is shining, is the “sweet couple” of Kuta and Seminyak. The format of recreation here is very similar: here and there there are round-the-clock parties, megawatts of light and sound, busy streets with bars and restaurants. However, Kuta, with its democracy, simplicity and cheap alcohol, is especially attractive to young people. In addition to fans of parties and having fun at night parties, numerous fans of conquering the waves come to Kuta: the conditions for surfing here are simply ideal. Accordingly, the surrounding area is full of rental shops, schools and private surf instructors.

Guides in Bali

Entertainment and attractions

Ubud is considered the cultural capital of the island. The city is inhabited mainly by artists, craftsmen and dancers. Every evening there are performances in all temples - you can see the Kecak, Barong, Legong dances and the Wayang Kulit puppet theater.

A corner of pristine nature and unearthly beauty is hidden in the Bali Barat National Park on the western tip of the island. It is home to equatorial savannah, mangrove and deciduous forests, and its coastal waters are home to 110 species of corals. On the territory of the Botanical Garden, in addition to the pleasure of contemplating luxurious plants, you can get a dose of adrenaline. There is the Bali Tritop adventure park with a network of cable cars, bungees and suspension bridges.

Bali for children

The children's entertainment program on the island is no less intense than that for adults. Safari parks provide a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the animal world and get to know its inhabitants better. Any child will love the prospect of spending the whole day with elephants - feeding them, bathing them and even drawing. Bali Waterbom is considered one of the largest water parks in Asia. It is located in the center of Kuta and is surrounded by 4 hectares of tropical gardens. Spend a day in the ocean - this opportunity is provided on floating pontoon beach clubs near the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. They are equipped with a system of water slides and pools, there are opportunities for snorkeling and diving, children's animation and restaurants - everything for a family holiday.

In the Monkey Forest in Ubud, kids can watch the monkeys (but be careful, the tailed ones can play and attack a person), admire the flying beauties in the butterfly park, and swim with sea turtles on Gili Island. And by the way, surf centers in Kuta start putting beginners on the board from the age of 5.

A real pirate ship is moored to the beach of the Nusa Dua resort. The ship's crew is constantly looking for cabin boys over the age of 4 years. While classes are going on at the sea wolf school, parents of young pirates can find something to do in the restaurant. The Pony Club riding center invites young riders from 3 years old not only to ride small horses, but also to take care of them. Bali Treetop Adventure Park will especially appeal to teenagers - there are all the conditions for conquering the jungle on bungees, ziplines and other equipment.

Schoolchildren will benefit from visiting the Green School in Sibang near Ubud. This jungle campus operates without any harmful impact on the environment. The buildings are made of bamboo, energy is from solar panels, sewerage and water supply are with the highest degree of purification. Representatives of different cultures and nationalities receive education there, including learning how to respect nature.

• Which resorts in Indonesia are suitable for families with children November

December

Eternal summer reigns in Bali. You can swim, sunbathe and engage in water sports here all year round. Thanks to the equatorial monsoon climate, instead of winter, the island experiences a rainy season - from November to March there are downpours at night and in the morning. Most often they are fleeting and by lunchtime there is no trace of precipitation left. If the rainy weather lasts, then in just a few hours you can reach the neighboring islands, where the weather is usually sunny. The most comfortable time in Bali is from May to October - when it is warm, dry and clear, and the southeast wind brings pleasant freshness. The peak of the dry season occurs in the calendar summer; in the evenings it becomes a little cooler.

Geography

Bali Island Map

The island's area is 5,780 km², its length is 150 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south. The so-called Wallace Line, stretching from Bali and Lombok in an easterly direction, serves as the boundary between the flora and fauna of tropical Asia and the natural areas of Australia and New Guinea.

Relief

The island of Bali is the extreme point of the Sunda Islands before the islands of Lesser Sunda and Nusa Tenggara. A mountain range stretches from west to east of Bali - a zone of high volcanic activity. Two large active volcanoes, Gunung Agung (3142 m) and Gunung Batur (1717 m), are located in the northeastern part of the island. Volcanic activity causes high soil fertility and affects the development of culture. The major eruptions of Gunung Batur and Gunung Agung in 1963, which resulted in numerous casualties, devastated the eastern regions of the country, forcing many Balinese to emigrate.

Among other mountain peaks, the highest are Batukau (2278 m) and Abang (2152 m). This mountain range, with a limestone plateau located in the south, which is called “bukit” - hills, divides the island into two completely different regions. Northern, rises quite sharply from the narrow coastline to the mountain slopes. The climate here is relatively dry, conducive to coffee cultivation. In this part of Bali there are two rivers that irrigate the rice fields around Singaraja and Seririt. The southern region consists of terraces stretching from north to south on which rice is grown. Numerous rivers flow through gorges with lush vegetation. The southwest is made up of small, well-irrigated tracts of land and arid lands of coconut palm plantations.

Climate

Flora and fauna

There are 4 types of forests in Bali: tropical evergreen forests in the west, deciduous forests in the northwest in inaccessible areas, savannah forests and mountain forests. Wet evergreen forests are represented in Bali Barat Park (translated as “Western Bali”). Here you can find rare plant species, huge centuries-old trees that are under protection. There are many plants of the ficus family, fig and banana groves. Deciduous forests grow in the northwestern part of Bali. They change their foliage depending on the season, and this flora is dominated by sapota trees. Mountain vegetation is rarely located above 1500 m above sea level; it is mainly casuarina and phyla. Banana palms are sacred in Bali, they grow very well, reproducing from their roots, and feed many animals: monkeys, squirrels, bats.

Palm trees are particularly well represented in Bali. The leaves of borassa palms, dried and pressed, are used to make “lontars” on which sacred texts are written. Sugar palm leaves are used to make bouquets that are brought to temples as ritual offerings. There are also other types of wood, such as ebony or ebony, as well as balsa wood, which is extremely light and a convenient material for traditional masks. There are many bamboo trees, some species of which reach 30-40 cm in diameter. They can be found almost all over the island, and bamboo is a universal building material for the Balinese.

Landscape architecture has become a real industry. The abundance of labor and fertile soil, in which everything planted easily takes root, contributes to the development of horticulture, especially in the south of the island and in the Bedugul region. Red, pink and white hibiscus, jasmine, bougainvillea, white and pink laurels, water lilies, lotuses and quite exotic plants such as Ingsoca, cempaka (yellow magnolia), manori and orchids.

Population

A total of 3,890,757 people live on the island (2010).

Bali is a Hindu society living in a Muslim country and constantly in contact with foreigners. All this only fuels interest in local customs. The Balinese themselves are quite proud of their traditions and usually follow a strict code of conduct. Tourists should take this for granted when visiting the island and adapt to local customs.

The Balinese are quite friendly towards tourists, but not towards Indonesians from other islands. Despite the abundance of tourists, the attitude towards them does not deteriorate significantly, unlike most popular resorts.

Cities

• Denpasar is the capital and largest city of the island.
• Singaraja is an industrial city in the north of the island.
• Kuta is a resort city.
• Ubud is the center of Balinese artistic life.

Administrative division

Together with the adjacent islands, Bali forms the province of Indonesia of the same name, which is part of the administrative region of the Lesser Sunda Islands. The province of Bali is divided into 8 districts (kabupaten) and one city municipality (kota):

Religion

Hindu temple in Bali

The majority of Balinese (93.93% of the population) profess a form of Hinduism called Agama Hindu Dharma. About 5% of the population is Muslim. They live mainly in Denpasar, Singaraja and small coastal towns. There are few Christians and Buddhists - these are the Chinese, the indigenous population, as well as foreigners living on the island (British, Australians, Dutch, French, Italians, Russians and others).

In total there are about 20 thousand temples in Bali.

Terrorist activity

Transport

The central and most important transport hub on the island is Ngurah Rai Airport. This is a modern and well-equipped airport located near Denpasar, 3 km from Kuta, 15 km from Nusa Dua and 12 km from Sanur. It is served by a large number of taxis available day and night.

The most inexpensive type of transport is large modern buses (less than $1), which appeared just recently, in 2011. There are still very few lines, but work is now underway to expand the transport base and build stops. In fact, only one line operates - Nusa Dua (a famous tourist destination) - Batubulyan (a city in the center of the island, near a zoo, a bird and reptile park, a center for the production and sale of batik)

The most common transport among the local population is a moped or scooter. There are a great variety of them, from young to old (from 10 years old). Local police respond to only 2 terrible offenses: driving without a helmet and driving beyond the stop line. They ignore everything else (driving in oncoming traffic, driving without a license, high speed).

Cars in Bali are super slow, because... Everywhere there is an economical small-displacement engine. And they themselves are usually large and roomy (minibuses), because... Families are usually large and it is less convenient to carry them in a regular sedan.

Numerous agencies are available to tourists and guests of the island, where you can rent cars and motorcycles and move around the island on your own. However, not everyone will decide to take this step, because... The traffic is on the left and is now quite active. An automatic transmission is very rare. So hiring a driver is a completely reasonable decision. Moreover, the cost of this service is low, from $30 to $50 per day.

Tourism

After recognition of independence, tourism was rather poorly developed, and the infrastructure was in its infancy. Even in the days of hippies, who flocked here from all over the world, there were only small bungalows without electricity on the beaches of Kuta, cheap rooms without amenities and seafood dishes for a few cents. However, in Sanur, tour operators were already developing tourism for the rich. The Indonesian government, whose economy was highly dependent on oil exports, needed to find other sources of income and greatly contributed to the development of the tourism industry.

At first, these efforts were aimed at changing in the eyes of the entire world community the unsightly image that was attached to the ruling elite of Indonesia after the military coup.

A professional analysis of the situation in Bali and a tourism development plan was made in 1969. The project was financed by the UN under the guarantee of the World Bank. Particular emphasis was placed on the Bukit Badung area. In 1978, Balinese Governor Ida Bagus Mantra invited interested parties to pay attention to the island's rich culture. Since that time, music, dance, religious festivals, sculpture and painting have played as much a role in the tourism business as the constant improvement of infrastructure. The airport has been reconstructed, luxury hotels and modest inexpensive hotels are being built to cover the entire social spectrum of travel lovers. Rice fields are being drained and water pipelines are being built in the driest areas. Inexpensive tourism has been replaced by luxury tourism. Now world-famous stars come to Sanur for wedding ceremonies, and European ministers spend their holidays at the Mediterranean Club in Nusa Dua.

From 2001 to 2008, the annual women's tennis tournament Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic was held in Bali, in 2009 it received Tournament of Champions status and became known as the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions.

From 18 to 26 October 2008, Bali hosted the 1st Asian Beach Games, which took place on the beaches of Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Mertasari, and Serangan Island became the venue for sailing competitions.

In 2009, the XVI Asian Archery Championship took place in Bali.

Bali has several golf courses. In 1994, the Bali Golf and Country Club's golf course was chosen to host the Alfred Dunhill Masters.

Bali is a real surfing mecca, where there are good waves almost all year round. In the summer (May-September), eastern winds predominate, so surf spots on the western side of the island, such as Batubalong, Kuta, Balangan, Padang Padang, work well. In winter (November-March), due to southwest winds, spots on the southeast side, such as Serangan, Nusa Dua, Geger and Greenball, begin to work well. Bali often hosts world-class surfing competitions such as the Padang Padang RipCurl Cup. There are Russian and international surf schools and camps.

Attractions

• Pura Besakih is the largest and most important Hindu temple in Bali.
• Taman Ayun is the main temple of the Mengwi kingdom.
• Botanical garden in the crater of a volcano.
• Ulun Danu Temple on Lake Bratan.
• Uluwatu Temple, where the Kecak dance performance takes place.
• Tanah Lot Temple.
• Royal graves.
• Git-Git waterfall
• Gunung Kawi
• Goa Gaja - temple in the mouth of a demon
• Tirtaganga

Notes

1. Official website of the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency
2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia . - Soviet encyclopedia. - T. 2. - P. 572.
3. Ageenko F. L. Proper names in Russian: Dictionary of accents. - M.: Publishing house NC ENAS, 2001. - P. 35. - 376 p. - ISBN 5-93196-107-0
4. Encyclopedic Dictionary of Geographical Names / Kalesnik, Stanislav Vikentyevich. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1973. - 808 p.
5. Abramenko V. G. Southeast Asia (reference book). M.: Crystal, 1996. - 168 p.
6. Orlinkov A. F. Geography of Asia. M.: Nauka, 1994. - 296 p.
7. Petrov S.S., Petrova I.G. Large directory of Asian countries. M.: Mysl, 1997. - 134 p.
8. Volodin A. A., Mikhalev P. I. Balinese Hinduism. St. Petersburg: Iris, 2001 - 98 p.
9. "Bali death toll set at 202". BBC News
10. CNN report
11. Golovina E. I. Bali. M.: Le Petit Fute, 2001. - 192 p.
12. Tales of the island of Bali. Arranged by J. Heuckas-van Leeuwen Bomkamp. Per. with him. Z. A. Mirkina. M.: “Nauka”, 1983. 272 ​​p.
13. Indonesia Sailing Federation (English).
14. “The journey to Bali has begun” - article on the official website of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions (English).
15. Bali Golf and Country Club - description on the website allbalitours.com (English).

Literature

• Demin L. M. Bali Island / USSR Academy of Sciences, Institute of Asian Peoples.. - M.: Nauka, Chapter. ed. eastern lit., 1964. - 304 p.(region)

Located in the Malay archipelago, it is one of Indonesia's 27 provinces and the country's main tourist destination. The island belongs to the Indonesian waters and is washed by the Pacific Ocean in the south, the Java Strait in the west and the Lombok Strait in the east. The province is rich in attractions, has a developed tourist infrastructure and picturesque landscapes, which makes it different from other regions of Indonesia. More than 5 million tourists come to Bali every year, most of whom are Russian. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. Bali is called the "Island of a Thousand Temples" or the "Island of the Gods" due to the large number of temples and cultural sites that are found here.

Where is the island

Bali (Indonian: Bali) belongs to the Lesser Sunda Islands. Bali is part of the Malay Archipelago and is a province of the same name in Indonesia. The total area is 5.7 thousand km2. The length of the coastline is 145 km. It forms the Wallace Line, which is the western limit of biogeographic diversity between the islands of Bali and Lombok.

Bali is the last island of the archipelago in the west of the Lesser Sunda Islands. It is located almost near the equator. Starting from , a mountain range formed during volcanic eruptions stretches along Bali. On the island there are two dormant volcanoes, Agung and Gunung Batur. The height of Agung is 3142 m above sea level and is the highest point of the island. Due to high volcanic activity, the island's soils are fertile. In 1963, several major volcanic eruptions occurred. As a result, many local residents died, and some of them were forced to emigrate from the eastern regions.

The highest mountain peaks of the island are Batukau (2278 m) and Abang (2152 m). The mountain range is located in the south, forming a plateau of limestone and volcanic rocks. It is called "bukit" - the hills that divide Bali into 2 parts of the island. The north is characterized by a sharp rise from gently sloping beaches to mountain slopes. It has a dry climate, which is ideal for coffee plantations. There are 2 rivers Singaraji and Seririta flowing here, surrounded on both sides by rice fields and terraces. The southern part is completely dedicated to rice terraces. This part of the island is characterized by lush vegetation, due to the numerous rivers that flow through the gorges. The land here is well irrigated, so there are entire plantations of coconut palms, strawberry fields and rice terraces.

The geography and topography of the island are determined by the territorial location of Bali and its volcanic origin. The administrative center and capital of Bali is the city of Denpasar. According to the latest census, the island's population is 5 million. The island is divided into provinces and cities. , Singaraja is an industrial city in the north of the island, Kuta and Nusa Dua are popular resort towns, Ubud is a cultural center, Semenyak, Sanur, Jimbaran are cities where mainly local residents live.

What province is it in?

Bali is one of the 27 provinces of the Indonesian Republic with its capital Denpasar. It is an autonomous administrative unit with its own national flag and coat of arms. Despite the fact that Bali is the province of Indonesia with the same name, the island's territory is divided into smaller provinces and coastal islands, which are also part of Bali. The province is part of an archipelago located in Southeast Asia. Bali is one of the largest and most developed provinces in Indonesia.

Climate zone

Bali is located in the west of the Lesser Sunda Islands, where. This is due to the territorial location of the island south of the equator. Officially, the climate on the island of Bali is called equatorial monsoon, so there are not 4 seasons, as in a subtropical climate, but only 2:. The dry season begins in June and lasts until November, while the wet season lasts from December to March. Maximum precipitation occurs in January-February. During this time, from 900 to 1200 mm falls, while in other months, only 600 mm can fall in 6-9 months. , but heavy tropical downpours. Usually, it rains at night or early in the morning, so it does not create much discomfort for tourists. The driest month is November.

The average annual temperature is +26 °C. The difference between temperatures in the dry and wet seasons is 2 °C. The temperature during the dry season during the day is +27.4 °C, and during the wet season +25.6 °C. Ocean water temperature is +28 °C in summer and +25 °C in winter. Temperature at night averages +22°C. The least amount of precipitation is in November, which is only 46 mm, and the maximum amount in January is 320 mm. The climate of the island of Bali is characterized by stable temperature indicators throughout the year, so the beach season is open all year round.

Population

The island of Bali is multinational, so different ethnic groups and peoples live here. According to the latest data from 2014, the population was 4.2 million. Based on the amount of population growth, about 5 million people now live on the island. Bali is a Hindu province, but is territorially part of a Muslim country. Despite this, both Balinese and Indonesian are spoken on the island, and English is also used to serve tourists.

Most of the local residents are native Balinese, as well as Indonesians. It is worth considering that the island’s demographics are constantly expanding due to its developed tourism infrastructure. 30% of the population are emigrants from different countries. This was reflected in the ethnic diversity of the island. Despite the fact that the island has long become civilized, the indigenous Balinese and local tribes living in the provinces are still divided into castes according to social class. This is due to historical events and the long-term occupation of the island, first by Japan, then by Holland.
The population of the cities is employed in the tourism industry, while the inhabitants of the provinces of the island are typical farmers. The main activity is the cultivation of multi-layered rice terraces, coffee, spices, etc. Bali has a multi-layered ethnic composition, which is reflected in the culture and religion of the island.

Culture

The Balinese culture is original and does not resemble the typical Indonesian national way of life. Due to many historical events and long-term occupation by foreigners, local residents adopted some features from other cultures, while managing to preserve Muslim customs. The island has formed its own language, which is called “Bahasa Bali”. It is a mixture of Indonesian, Arabic, Chinese and many dialects. Bali has its own national flag and coat of arms reflecting the island's independence from Dutch occupation.

The culture of Bali is best reflected in handicrafts and wood carving. Typical Hindu and pagan wood cultures are a characteristic feature of the national culture. The most common art form on the island is batik. Hand-painted batik is a painstaking, but very exciting job. Such valuable fabrics are used to sew national women's clothing and other textiles. You can buy batik in the markets of Denpasar.

Balinese dances are famous. These are mass theatrical performances with costumes and masks. They tell the story of Hindu culture. The most popular dances are kecak, barong, lenong, shanghuang kharan, hauk. Each dance has its own theatrical and ceremonial significance.
The Balinese culture is rich in various rituals and customs. The traditional ones are the birth ritual, the childhood ceremony, the marriage ritual, the death and cremation ceremony. Since it is typical for Balinese families to have several children, they are given certain names according to the order: Wayan, Kadek, Neman, Kutut, and so on in a circle.

Religious and national holidays are celebrated on the island. Most of them are typical Indonesian and Muslim holidays, but there are also Hindu ceremonies, so Balinese holidays do not have fixed dates, but are counted from specific events. Bali is called the island of a thousand temples because of the numerous temples and monasteries located on the island.

Nature

The flora and fauna on the island are very diverse. Due to the peculiarities of the island's climate, favorable conditions are created here for tropical greenery. Bali is under the influence of the monsoon, so the abundant rainfall feeds the plants and they grow well. There are several varieties of tropical forests on the island. Most of the island is covered with evergreen forests, which are united in the Bali Barat Nature Reserve. It features rare plants and centuries-old trees. Mountain vegetation is almost never found higher than 1.5 km above sea level. Banana trees are considered sacred, so they are given special care. Palm leaves are used to make lontar paper for sacred scriptures, so palm trees also grow here for practical purposes. There are many rare species of trees that are characteristic of this area. Bamboo grows very well on the island. which are used as a universal building material.

Bali has truly fertile soil. Everything that is not planted survives, so the gardening and farming industry is the main one among local residents. Apart from rice terraces, different types of flowers are grown here. It is worth noting the variety of natural attractions, in particular waterfalls. The largest number of waterfalls are concentrated in the Ubud area. Also, Bali is famous for its mountain lakes, strawberry farms, coffee plantations, monkey forest, luxurious beaches and palm groves. The nature of the island is truly amazing, which explains the popularity of Bali among tourists.

Religion

More precisely, its variety is Agama Hindu Dharma. There are also Muslims on the island who live mainly in the capital. Christians and Buddhists meet. Since there are many foreigners on the island, there are also many other religious groups. Hinduism in Bali is a mixture of different religions that came from India. This is a modified teaching based on the teachings of Saivism and Buddhism, which is based on a modified representation of cults and ceremonies, more reminiscent of paganism. This is especially noticeable in cult rituals and offerings. The religion of Bali is distinguished by the presence of magical rituals, which is manifested in the culture (dancing, painting, crafts) of the local residents. Since the population of the island professes different religions, many temples have been built on the island. There are almost 20 thousand of them in total.

Bali is an ideal holiday destination. The island has long turned into a popular resort, and soaking up the local beaches is everyone’s dream. The tourism industry is developing rapidly and new hotels are constantly opening, attracting tourists from all over the world. In order to fully enjoy your vacation, you should definitely study the culture and religion of the local residents. When you go to the island, you will plunge into another world, where there is incredibly beautiful nature and colorful locals.

Useful information for tourists about the island of Bali in Indonesia - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Attractions

Guide

Enchanting Bali attracts hundreds of tourists every year with its splendor. The island is part of the Malay Archipelago and is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands. Bali is washed from different sides by the waters of the Indian Ocean and the Bali Sea.

Bali is considered an island and at the same time a province of Indonesia: the largest archipelago in the world, numbering more than 13,500 islands. At the same time, Bali is one of the least populated provinces of the country.

Bali is located near the island of Java, separated by the Bali Strait. The total area of ​​the island is 5,700 square kilometers, the length of the coastline from west to east is 150 kilometers, and from north to south approximately 98 kilometers. Bali was formed by rocks of volcanic origin and this fact explains the features of the island's landscape. The most important volcano for local residents is Agung, which in Hinduism is personified with “mother”, “the center of the earth”.

The territory of Bali is abundantly covered with volcanic ash, which enriches the soil and allows the island's inhabitants to engage in farming. Also, lakes of volcanic origin play an important role in the development of agriculture on the island, thanks to which the rivers are fed.

The island began to be developed back in the Bronze Age, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. The first inhabitants of Bali were the ancestors of modern southern Chinese and Indians. Subsequently, the island more than once became the object of occupation by such states as Holland and Japan. However, in the middle of the 20th century it gained complete independence, which it still retains.

The island of Bali includes the following resorts: the capital of the island -, a resort for family holidays -, an elite resort -, a great place for a holiday with children -, a youth resort -, original, miniature, cozy, educational and excursion resort, luxurious, a dream for surfers - and a relaxing holiday resort - .

How to get there

The distance between Bali and major Russian cities is significant, so you should prepare for the trip in advance. The only option to get to the island is by plane. Ngurah Rai air harbor receives airlines operating direct flights several times a week. The travel time will be 11 hours. This is the shortest and most convenient way to get to the island.

As for flights with transfers, their duration can vary from 22 hours to 2 days. This directly depends on the carrier’s conditions, the number of transfers and their duration. Most often, aircraft changes occur in Shanghai, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Once in Bali, tourists go to their hotels, which can be located in different parts of the city. As a rule, a taxi is pre-ordered for this. Another way to get around the island is by bus. You can also go on a rented scooter, but this option is not suitable for everyone.

Attractions

The main value of Bali is its nature with numerous waterfalls, mountain rivers, volcanoes, and jungles. One of the holy places where tourists like to go is called Agung Volcano. You can climb it only with an experienced guide. Such an excursion requires careful preparation, since the climb is fraught with a number of difficulties.

Don't forget to visit the Balinese waterfalls, which form entire groups. To see the magnificence of the cascading waterfalls with your own eyes, you need to go on a jungle tour. Each of the waterfalls carries a sacred meaning for local residents, as they have worshiped the water element since ancient times.

Among the architectural objects worth seeing is the Tirta Ganga Palace, located in the eastern part of the island. The palace is a large complex equipped with swimming pools, areas with green spaces, various sculptures, fountains and pavilions.

A visit to Bali's rice fields is included in most tourist excursions. The most famous are the Tegalallang rice terraces, which harmoniously combine pristine beauty with developed infrastructure. The tour of the terraces includes an introduction to the rice growing culture in Bali and a tasting of rice-based dishes.

Features of the hotel base

The choice of your place of residence depends primarily on individual preferences. Bali has a well-developed tourism infrastructure, so you won’t have any problems finding accommodation. Rooms in the best hotels should be booked in advance, since Bali is considered a fairly popular destination.

Most hotels are concentrated in the area of ​​southern Bali, as well as in such resort areas as Kuta, Bukit, Canggu, Sanur, Ubud, Padang Bai, Amed, Lovina. If you wish, you can find a budget option or stay in a luxury hotel.

Another option for accommodation in Bali is a hostel. They are scattered throughout the coast and are characterized by a combination of low prices and a good level of service. Some tourists prefer to stay in villas or bungalows. This option is suitable for large companies or married couples.

Beach holiday

The most common type of tourism in Bali is beach tourism. The picturesque nature and coastline stretching for tens of kilometers make it possible to actively develop this type of tourism. Beaches differ from each other in terms of topography, the availability of amenities, nature, coastline and other parameters.

Sanur is located southeast of Denpasar. The beach is about five kilometers long. It was from this place that beach tourism in Bali originated. Today, couples and elderly people who prefer a relaxing holiday like to settle in this resort area. The advantage of the beach is the coral reefs, gentle entry into the water and the opportunity for children to swim.

Kuta is a busy resort center with developed infrastructure. Inexpensive hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs, bazaars - all this can be seen in the area of ​​this beach. The territory has everything you need for a comfortable stay, including sun loungers, showers, and changing areas. It is worth noting that there are lifeguards on duty on the beach, ready to help at any moment.

Full Moon - a romantic beach with black sand. There are few people there, but it is famous among fans of unusual photo sessions. On the beach there are several statues of mythical deities guarding the area. It is best to swim on this beach during low tide, as high tide brings with it high ocean waves, which can be dangerous.

Balangan, or Martian beach, is popular due to its interesting bottom: it is formed by depressions of volcanic rocks, forming peculiar “fonts” that are filled with water. They can be seen at low tide under the surface of the water. There is also a sandy area on the beach where food stations are located. Newlyweds and lovers of amazing sunsets often come to Balangan.

Bias Tugal is located near the village of Padang Bai. The beach itself is a miniature lagoon filled with white sand and turquoise water. Numerous cafes serving national cuisine stretch along the coastline. In addition, Bias Tugal is convenient for swimming with children, since the entrance to the water is gentle.

Seminyak is a beach that has gained fame thanks to the luxury hotels located along the coastline. The beach is popular with surfers and lovers of boat trips. The beach is famous for its excellent restaurants, where tourists are offered national dishes.

Leisure

Those who prefer to spend their holidays actively come to Bali. The most common leisure activities on the island are diving, snorkeling and surfing. Almost every beach has specialized training centers for surfers who want to master the basics of this water sport. After completing the course, a certificate is issued confirming the student’s qualifications.

The optimal time for surfing in Bali is from March to October, when wave heights can vary from 2 to 4 meters. In such conditions it is convenient not only to train, but also to start getting on the board for the first time.

A network of professional diving schools is the pride of Bali. They are located in different areas of the island and offer tourists a comprehensive training program. In addition to theoretical classes, it includes practice. When a tourist completes his training, he is issued a PADI certificate, allowing him to dive in any country in the world.

Kitchen

Balinese cuisine is replete with spices and flavor combinations that may seem unusual to Russian tourists. The island's cuisine is based on different types of meat and seafood, rice, legumes, vegetables, and coconut milk. Some of the most interesting dishes we recommend trying are:

• Bebek betutu - stuffed duck baked with sauce on banana leaves. The minced meat can be a mixture of greens with chili pepper, or any vegetables.
• Sate are small skewers on wooden skewers served with a sauce made from peanut butter and water. These kebabs are made from chicken, shrimp, octopus, cuttlefish, and fish fillet.
• Lavar is a festive dish for honored guests. In ancient times it was prepared on exceptional occasions, but today you can try lavar in any restaurant in Bali. The basis of the dish is vegetables, coconut, garlic, chicken or pork. Lavar is always served on a banana leaf with lime juice poured on top.
• Brem is a wine made from rice. This traditional drink is drunk on all holidays. The taste of the wine is sweet and the consistency is viscous. Breem is often added to cocktails and other alcoholic drinks.

Geography

The island's area is 5,780 km², its length is 150 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south. The so-called Wallace Line, stretching from Bali and Lombok in an easterly direction, serves as the boundary between the flora and fauna of tropical Asia and the natural areas of Australia and New Guinea.

Relief

Climate

Flora and fauna

There are 4 types of forests in Bali: tropical evergreen forests in the west, deciduous forests in the northwest in inaccessible areas, savannah forests and mountain forests. Wet evergreen forests are represented in Bali Barat Park (translated as “Western Bali”). Here you can find rare plant species, huge centuries-old trees that are under protection. There are many plants of the ficus family, fig and banana groves. Deciduous forests grow in the northwestern part of Bali. They change their foliage depending on the season, and this flora is dominated by sapota trees. Mountain vegetation is rarely located above 1500 m above sea level, it is mainly casuarina and phyla. Banana palms are sacred in Bali, they grow very well, reproducing from their roots, and feed many animals: monkeys, squirrels, bats. Rare cave crab Karstama balicum included in the International Red List of the IUCN. Palm trees are particularly well represented in Bali. The leaves of borassa palms, dried and pressed, are used to make “lontars” on which sacred texts are written. Sugar palm leaves are used to make bouquets that are brought to temples as ritual offerings. There are also other types of trees, for example, ebony, or ebony, as well as balsa wood, which is extremely light - a convenient material for traditional masks. There are many bamboo trees, some species of which reach 30-40 cm in diameter. Found almost all over the island, bamboo is also a versatile building material for the Balinese.

Landscape architecture has become a real industry. The abundance of labor and fertile soil, in which everything planted easily takes root, contributes to the development of horticulture, especially in the south of the island and in the Bedugul region. Red, pink and white hibiscus, jasmine, bougainvillea, white and pink laurels, water lilies, lotuses and quite exotic plants such as Ingsoca, cempaka (yellow magnolia), manori and orchids.

Population

A total of 4,225,384 people live on the island (2014). Since the beginning of the 21st century, the island's population has increased by more than a million people.

Bali is a Hindu society living in a Muslim country and constantly in contact with foreigners. All this only fuels interest in local customs. The Balinese themselves are quite proud of their traditions and usually follow a strict code of conduct. Tourists should take this for granted when visiting the island and adapt to local customs.

Cities

• Denpasar is the capital and largest city of the island.
• Singaraja is an industrial city in the north of the island.
• Kuta is a resort city.
• Ubud is the center of Balinese artistic life.

Religion

The majority of Balinese (83.5% of the population) profess a local form of Hinduism called Agama Hindu Dharma. 13.3% of the population is Muslim. They live mainly in Denpasar, Singaraja and small coastal towns. These figures do not include “temporary” migrants from other parts of Indonesia. There are few Christians (1.7%) and Buddhists (0.5%) - these are the Chinese, the indigenous population, as well as foreigners living on the island (British, Australians, Dutch, French, Italians, Russians and others).

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Terrorist activity

Transport

The central and most important transport hub on the island is Ngurah Rai Airport. This is a modern and well-equipped airport located near Denpasar, 3 km from Kuta, 15 km from Nusa Dua and 12 km from Sanur. There are many taxis serving it. In 2013, a new, large international terminal was put into operation at the airport. In 2014, the terminal serving local flights was significantly modernized.

A project has also begun to build a new airport in the north of the island.

A common and inexpensive form of transport on the island is bemo, small minibuses. There are several bus companies.

The most common transport among the local population is a moped or scooter.

Numerous agencies are available to tourists and guests of the island, where you can rent cars and motorcycles and move around the island on your own.

Tourism

After recognition of independence, tourism was rather poorly developed, and the infrastructure was in its infancy. Even in the days of hippies, who flocked here from all over the world, there were only small bungalows without electricity on the beaches of Kuta, cheap rooms without amenities and seafood dishes for a few cents. However, in Sanur, tour operators were already developing tourism for the rich. The Indonesian government, whose economy was highly dependent on oil exports, needed to find other sources of income and greatly contributed to the development of the tourism industry.

At first, these efforts were aimed at changing in the eyes of the entire world community the unsightly image that was attached to the ruling elite of Indonesia after the military coup.

A professional analysis of the situation in Bali and a tourism development plan was made in 1969. The project was financed by the UN under the guarantee of the World Bank. Particular emphasis was placed on the Bukit Badung area. In 1978, Balinese Governor Ida Bagus Mantra invited interested parties to pay attention to the island's rich culture. Since that time, music, dance, religious festivals, sculpture and painting have played as much a role in the tourism business as the constant improvement of infrastructure. The airport has been reconstructed, luxury hotels and modest inexpensive hotels are being built to cover the entire social spectrum of travel lovers. Rice fields are being drained and water pipelines are being built in the driest areas. Inexpensive tourism has been replaced by luxury tourism. Now world-famous stars come to Sanur for wedding ceremonies, and European ministers spend their holidays at the Mediterranean Club in Nusa Dua.

From 2001 to 2008, the annual women's tennis tournament Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic was held in Bali, in 2009-2011 it received Tournament of Champions status and became known as the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions.

From 18 to 26 October 2008, Bali hosted the 1st Asian Beach Games, which took place on the beaches of Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Mertasari, and Serangan Island became the venue for sailing competitions.

In 2009, the XVI Asian Archery Championship took place in Bali.

Bali has several golf courses. In 1994, the Bali Golf and Country Club's golf course was chosen to host the Alfred Dunhill Masters.

Several marathons are held annually. Including the international BII Maybank Marathon with more than 5,000 participants, Bali Beach Run.

Attractions

• Pura Besaki is the largest and most important Hindu temple in Bali.
• Taman Ayun is the main temple of the Mengwi kingdom.
• Botanical garden in the crater of a volcano.
• Ulun Danu Temple on Lake Bratan.
• Uluwatu Temple, where the Kecak dance performance takes place.
• Tanah Lot Temple. It is also called the temple on the water.
• Volcano Agung.
• Git-Git and Aling Aling waterfalls. In total, according to various estimates, there are about 130 picturesque waterfalls in Bali.
• Gunung Kawi.
• Goa Gaja - a temple in the mouth of a demon.
• Tirta Ganga - Water palace with holy springs in Amlapura.
• Tirta Empul is a temple with holy springs a little north of Ubud.
• Taman Ujung is a royal residence in eastern Bali.
• Monkey forest in Ubud.
• Bali Safari Park.
• GWK Park.
• Taman Nusa Park.
• Hot mineral springs at the foot of the Batur volcano.

In popular culture

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Notes

1. Geographical encyclopedic dictionary: geographical names / Ed. A. F. Treshnikova. - 2nd ed., additional.. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1989. - P. 54. - 210,000 copies. - ISBN 5-85270-057-6.
2. , With. 86.
3. . - Soviet encyclopedia. - T. 2. - P. 572.
4. Ageenko F. L.. - M.: Publishing house NC ENAS, 2001. - P. 35. - 376 p. - ISBN 5-93196-107-0.
5. / Kalesnik, Stanislav Vikentievich. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1973. - 808 p.
6. , With. 53.
7. Abramenko V. G. Southeast Asia (reference book). M.: Crystal, 1996. - 168 p.
8. Orlinkov A. F. Geography of Asia. M.: Nauka, 1994. - 296 p.
9. Petrov S.S., Petrova I.G. Large directory of Asian countries. M.: Mysl, 1997. - 134 p.
10. (2010 Census). bps.go.id
11. Volodin A. A., Mikhalev P. I. Balinese Hinduism. - St. Petersburg: Iris, 2001. - 98 p.
14. Golovina E. I. Bali. M.: Le Petit Fute, 2001. - 192 p.
15. Dinas Pariwisata.. www.disparda.baliprov.go.id. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
16. Tales of the island of Bali. Arranged by J. Heuckas-van Leeuwen Bomkamp. Per. with him. Z. A. Mirkina. M.: “Nauka”, 1983. 272 ​​p.
17. (English) .
18. - article on the official website of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions (English).
19. - description on the website allbalitours.com (English).

Literature

• Korigodsky R. N., Kondrashkin O. N., Zinoviev B. I., Loschagin V. N. Large Indonesian-Russian dictionary. - M., 1990. - T. 1.
• Pospelov, Evgeniy Mikhailovich. Geographical names of the world. Toponymic dictionary. - 2nd edition. - M.: Russian dictionaries: Astrel Publishing House LLC: ACT Publishing House LLC, 2002. - P. 512. - ISBN 5-93259-014-9.
• Demin L. M. Bali Island / USSR Academy of Sciences, Institute of Asian Peoples.. - M.: Nauka, Chapter. ed. eastern lit., 1964. - 304 p.(region)
• Ulig G. Bali - the island of the living gods / Helmut Uhlig; Per. with him. - M.: Science. Main editorial office of oriental literature, 1990. - 264 p. - (Stories about Eastern countries). - 15,000 copies. - ISBN 5-02-016883-1.(region)

Links

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