Bangli & Gianyar: Worth exploring

Bangli & Gianyar are 2 areas of Bali that rarely see large numbers of tourists, with the exception of Ubud (located in Gianyar). There are points of interest for those who make the trip.

The road from Bangli to Rendang is quite scenic, with views of Gunung Agung and rice-fields, especially appealing in the wet season, when all around is emerald green. The 12km stretch from Bunut to Bangbang Tengah is one of the best sections.

For people who like to explore on foot, its possible to start walking from Bunut (2kms east of Bangli ) from the Balai Perikanan office, and head in the north direction of Kubu, passing through rice-fields. On the way you’ll pass a couple of temples, Pura Melating and Pura Dalem. Around 4km later you will head west, then sharply head north towards the Bangli-Kintamani main road. Your driver can meet up with you or you might like to catch a local bemo bus back to your car if it is still in Bangli.

The bamboo community of Penglipuran.
The village of Penglipuran still has pre-Majapahit housing structures. In 1992 the village was named as a desa wisata (tourist village) in order to promote visits from tourists interested in Balinese culture. The village is not so busy with tourists and might make a good stop off point of interest. Penglipuran is 5kms north of Bangli, just 500 meters west of the main road. The great thing about taking a pitstop at a Balinese village is you can ask to use the bathroom at a local drink shop, enjoy a Bali coffee and say hello to the amused locals. People will gather, so be sure to have photos of your family members to show them.

Penglipuran is a Bali Aga village and has 75 hectares of bamboo forest just to the north. The village architecture consists of earthen brick structures with bamboo and wood roofs. The quality of the work is impressive and the village is also known for its bamboo woven ceilings and partition walls. In many parts of Bali the old style architecture has already come to an end. You won’t find many people in Kuta using a bamboo and grass roof anymore.

Bamboo is also used by village craftsmen to make musical instruments and handicrafts. If visiting the Bali Aga village of Penglipuran was a good experience, head north another 3kms to another Bali Aga village, Kayubihi. The Bali Aga, or original Balinese occupy highland villages between Lake Batur and Lake Bratan, as well as the more famous villages of Tenganan and Trunyan.

After the cultural stuff is finished there is nothing better than a dip in a waterfall. The closest one to Bangli is just 1.5kms south of the petrol station on the way to Gianyar. The Kuning waterfall (air terjun) is 25m high and runs best from November to April.

The Natural Guide to Bali is a good book to pick up for this kind of adventure suggestion. From the main road you’ll turn off heading east, asking a local “demana air terjun?” (where is the waterfall) just to make sure. You have 2kms to go before the waterfall, so keep checking with locals. This place rarely gets tourists, so you’ll probably have your own private waterfall in Bali.