The regency of Badung
Covers less than one tenth of the island, but is it the most highly populated region and plays an important role in modern Bali,

as the seat of the provincial government is in Badung, Bali´s capital city.

Badung

Sites and places of interest in Badung are:

Museum of Bali.
Puputan sq. Badung´s only museum was built in 1932. This ethnographical museum (ethnography being the study of a particular society and culture) contains many prehistoric and historic instruments and textiles.

Pura Jagatnatha.
One of Bali´s most visited temples, located next to the museum at Puputan sq.and near the Four faced Statue in centrel Badung. This temple is especially worth visiting for the Saraswati, Galungan and Kuningan ceremonies.

Art Centre Werdhi Budaya.
Puputan sq. Bali´s centre for dance and art. This art complex has a large amphitheatre that stages many of Bali´s traditional dances. It is the centre of activity throughout the Bali Art´s Festival held every year, mid June - mid July.

Indonesia Art Institute.
Bali´s dance, music and art institute. The STSI amphitheatre stages monthly full moon dance performances.

Badung/Kumbasari Market.
Recently renovated market that provides for all the locals needs. Beautifully arranged fruit, flowers for offerings, herbs, spices and all kinds of local handicrafts stretch out into two main buildings over the Badung River. Jl.Sulawesi is the neighbouring street that provides a myriad of fabrics and textiles.

Kreneng Market.
The second largest traditional market in Badung. It is renowned for its night stalls stelling many varieties of Balinese food and drink.

Bird Market.
Located on Jl.Veteran, this market sells an assortment of beautiful birds and other animals including the unique Kintamani dog.

Puputan
Badung sq. The city´s central park. A statue commemorates a heroic moment in the battle of 1906. It is the location for many of Bali´s pageants and processions. Nyepi and the opening ceremony of The Bali Art Festival is held around this square. One of Bali´s oldest temples Puri Jaganatha and the Museum of Bali are on one side of this square.

Catur Muka Statue (Four faced Statue).
Standing in the centre of Badung, to one side of the Puputan Square, is a large granite stateu depicting Brahma as the allmighty Creator of the world, nature and all its habitants.

Puri Satria, Pemecutan Jero Kuta and Puri Kesiman.
These palaces have seen better days but all are a good example of the traditional Balinese architecture.

Uluwatu Temple Perched on a high cliff on the southwest tip of Bali, Uluwatu temple is one of Bali´s oldest places of worship. Built around the 11th century by Hindu high priest Empu Kuturan. It is inhabited by a group of sacred monkey who guard the temple. This is one of Bali´s best sunset spots.

Beaches of Bukit Southern peninsula. Uluwatu, Geger, Goa Slulban, Padang Padang, Nyang Nyang, Bingin, Dreamland, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Kedonganan. Many of the above beaches are famous surfing spots. Some are difficult to access and the waves are generally for the intermediate to advanced surfer. Beware of corals and strong currants.

Nusa Dua A major tourist resort on the southern most peninsula of the island. Set on about 450 hectares, this well groomed tourist enclave boasts 3.5 kilometers of white sand beaches, a number of five star hotels and one of the world´s best golf courses, Bali Golf & Country Club, recently voted to be amongst the best 5 courses in the world. Convention halls, amphitheatres, shopping centers and immaculate landscaping make Nusa Dua an ideal place to stay if you wish to get away from it all.

Tanjung Benoa Benoa Peninsula. Bordering Nusa Dua to the north this peninsula offers travelers fine hotels, water sports and similar environs as Nusa Dua.

Jimbaran On the west coast of the Bukit Peninsula, near the airport is Jimbaran Bay. It is home to some of Bali´s top hotels, Four Season Resort, Ritz Carlton and Bali Intercontinental Resort. Guests can sail swim and even go fishing in the bay. Jimbaran village has long been one of Bali´s traditional fishing villages and the traditional fish market offers delicious seafood right on the beach.

Tuban The area, just slightly north of the airport, known as Tuban, has long enticed tourists to her reasonably priced hotels, well-groomed beaches and organized nightlife. The Waterbom Park & Spa, go-karts and hotel sports facilities fulfill daytime pleasures. Large shopping malls with many restaurants, local, international and fast food outlets stya open well into the night. Tuban is also well known for the horse drawn carts that can be seen taking visitors around the area.

Kuta World famous for sand, sun and shopping. This area is jam-packed with activity 24 hours a day. Kuta is a major hustling and bustling resort town, with hundreds of hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Here, small guesthouses and large hotels jostle for positioning along the beachfront. Beach sellers endlessly offer their wares to the sun-worshipper; sarongs, jeweler, shells, massages and manicures, even bows and arrows. Proclaim an interest in purchasing something and these beach marketers will crowd round the unsuspecting tourist until a sale is struck. This is part of the fun of Bali. Nightlife is a major happening in Kuta with a number of surf bars, cafes and restaurants offering video´s, cheap drinks and even cheaper food. The more upmarket restaurants are ensconced in Kuta´s small narrow (gangs) alleyways. Te internationally famous Poppies and a string of other hidden garden paradi offer the weary tourist a welcome respite from the haggling streest. Cold beers, exotic cocktails, delicious food, all at a fraction of the Western prices. If action is what is wanted, then Kuta is the place to be.

Seminyak Heading north along the main street of Kuta (Legian Street) is Seminyak, the slightly more up market area of Kuta, housing the quaint local hangous of some of the foreign Bali residents. Italian, Indian, Greek, French and many more are just a sample of not only the food on offer but also of the cosmopoliranism that Seminyak has become. Fashion boutiques, interior designers, candle makers, painters and many more are the chosen careers of these eclectic nomads. The most famous landmarks here are Teras, Pantarei, Ryoshi, all restaurants that usually start buzzing at about 10pm.: Café Luna, Café del Mar, The A-Bar & Liquid are the human watering holes all located on Jl.Dhyanan Puta that really come alive after midnight. Double Six (66) the only beach night/club in the area stays open until 06.00am.

Mengwi and Pura Taman Ayu Originally built in the 17th century, this royal family garden temple was extensively renovated in the early 1900´s. Surrounded by a moat and lotus lake, the temple´s inner courtyard has an impressive number of Merus - tiered shrines built for the Bali´s ancestors and heroes.

Bukit Sari Monkey Forest and Pura Bukit Sari Near the village of Sangeh, just north of Mengwi. A troupe of monkeys guard the impressive 17th century temple, which is set in the heart of a nutmeg forest. Beware of the monkeys as they have a reputation for being swift of hand and light of foot. Hold onto your cameras and bags tightly, it is best if you don´t wear jewellery.

Canggu Canggu, an extension of Kuta Beach development as a beach resort, offers a perfect escape from the tourist crowd. Many private villas or Balinese style cottages built with a blend view of rice terrace and ocean. Most of the villas are built and own by expatriates but many of them available for short or long term lease.

Serangan Island Serangan island, a 73 hectare island located just 250 meters off the southeast coast of Bali, is the resident of Sakenan temple - one of the most visited temples for religious purpose on the southern part. Serangan island also known as turtle island. Accoring to the legend Sakenen temple was founded in the 10th century by wanderer-priest Mpu Kuturan. The island can be reached by boat either from Sanur, Suwung or Tanjung Benoa. Since a road has been built as part of exclusive resort project on the island, now it can be accessed by car, make a right turn in east of Benoa harbour intersection.