tabanan

The Tabanan Regency is also called the green belt of Bali because of the large rice fields. However, you can also find a nice coast with some white sand beaches but also mountains in this district.

Founded in the 14th century, Tabanan had a mixed history with numerous conflicts, mainly with the neighboring kingdom of Mengwi. By the end of the 1700´s, Tabanan had managed to claim part of the Mengwi kingdom however lost it back to the Mengwi Royal household by the mid 1800´s. In 1906 the Dutch conquered Tabanan, imprisoned the king and his son.

Tabanan is the district capital of the Tabanan regency, located on the South Eastern part of the regency. Tabanan is a very large, clean town with wide-open streets. The Subak Museum dedicated to the rice cultivation, and the Gedong Marya theatre, dedicated to the famous dancer Mario, are the only real tourist sites in Tabanan, however, the rest of this fertile region has many diverse attractions.

Near the village of Kukuh, an ancient temple is located in this 12 hectares forest that houses both monkeys and large bats.

This village stages many dance performances, both old and new. It is also boasted the Whrahatnala School of Dance, which has now sadly shut down.

With the highest peak at 2276 meters above sea level, this volcanic massif has three small nature reserves on and around the three smallest peaks, Lesung, Tapak and Pohen.

Japanese caves on the West shore, a pleasure park on the Southern shore of the lake and the cool mountain air make this a pleasant place to spend a day. Various water sports are available at the pleasure park.

Raya Eka Karya Gardens. With a land area of 129 hectares the Botanical Gardens maintain up to 650 species of tree and approximately 450 species of orchid.

A cool, mountain, market town that supplies much of the fruit, vegetables and flowers that Bali consumes. One thousand five hundred meters above sea level, Bedugul is on the shores of Lake Bratan, the crater lake of Mount Bratan.

Famous for the view over endless rice terraces stretching as far as the eye can see. Here, at 850 meters above sea level, temperatures are cooler. Jatiluwih is having one of the most beautiful rice fields views, but is not so well known to tourists.

A small village near Tabanan that stages an interesting cattle market every three days.

Puri Gede, Puri Anyar Baturiti, are two 17th century palaces of the former Tabanan royal family. Interesting stone carvings and antique Chinese porcelain plates embedded in the walls of the gong pavilions are among the various items of interest.

National Monument of Margarana, built to commemorate the bravery of i Gusti Ngurah Rai and his followers in Indonesia´s struggle for independence against the Dutch.

A royal ancestral temple, with a seven-tiered pagoda, built on the foothills of Mount Batukau. Not as easily accessible as others, this temple remains off the beaten track. Its forest surroundings have an abundance of flora and fauna.

The Pujungan Waterfall is near the village of Pujungan. Coffee plantations can be seen en route to this waterfall, which plunges down between narrow white cliffs.

Soka has a wide, quiet, white sand beach with a few kiosks and colorful fishing boats.

This famous temple sits on top of an eroding sentinel rock and high tides cut it off from the mainland. Underground caves are said to house sea serpents that guard this temple. This is probably Bali´s most photographed temple, and is renowned for stunning sunsets.

A 17th century temple, dedicated to Sang Dewi Danau, goddess of the lake. Part of the temple juts out into the lake and a Buddhist stupa near the outer courtyard bears witness to this temple´s Hindu Buddhist roots. Early mornings are the best time to visit, as clouds or fog soon rolls in.

These hot springs are located on the banks of the River Ho. The bubbling water contains sulphur and sodium and is said to cure skin problems. Tourist accommodation is available.

A tradition of earthenware pottery-making has for centuries kept the village of Pejaten busy making useful pots, tiles and ornaments from fire- baked clay. The fragility of the pots ensures both continual supply and demand, and they are used all over the island. In the last few years a foreign aid project within the village has set up a new sophisticated kiln and fully equipped studio where the youth of the village are trained in the application of glazes, opening up a complete new market in durable kiln-fired ceramic ware.