Within the lush and exotic scenery that the island of Bali is so famous for, there glows culture, tradition and deep rooted history. Just like nature picturesquely adorns this beautiful island so does history. Man’s mark on this island happens to be so poignant and intriguing that a Balinese tour is not complete without a visit to the many historical sites that pepper the island.
The sparkling blue waters and coastlines bordered by the exotic coral reefs are certainly an intoxicating advantage of Bali. Although it is the farthest island from Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands, this destination is famed around the world for its mosaic of unmatched beauty and exquisite cultural heritage. Culture opens the doors to the uniqueness of a destination. It is what makes Bali what it is. A tour through this island takes you through many eras; pre-historic, Buddhist-Hindu culture and the modern culture. The many temples, buildings, fields and monuments all open doors to the religious and aesthetic values that has moulded the Balinese history.
The Taman Ayun is a beautiful historical landmark that adorns Bali. This royal shrine is located some 12 miles from Bali’s capital Denpasar. The temple goes back to 1634 and was built at the epitome of the Mengwi Empire. Being a Hindu temple it boasts elaborate aesthetics such as the multi roofed architecture surrounded by lush lawns and lily ponds. Then there is the Badung Puputan Park. The park has a tragic history behind it as it is the location where over 3000 Balinese lives were claimed. The tragedy took place in 1906 during a battle against the Dutch colonialists. Today the park, being the site of the massacre, hosts several events that commemorate this incident.
For those of you interested in ancient buildings and museums, visit the Taman Gili. The site consists of 4 buildings and a museum and was once the home of the Klungkung Palace, the largest palace in the area during the 16th century. Today only the 33 feet tall palace gates remain. The location is adorned with rich history depicted by the several artefacts on display in the museum.
The island boasts some of the finest luxury hotels Indonesia has to offer. Choose Starwood Indonesia to experience the finest of Indonesia 5 star hotels.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+
