Tours and Sightseeing Gianyar Regency

Puri Lukisan - Gallery

The Museum Lukisan Ratna Warta, usually called the Puri Lukisan (the palace of paintings) was opened in 1953. Set amongst a restful sculpture garden, this museum contains a magnificent collection of modern Balinese paintings and sculptures, chosen under the discerning eye of the Dutch artist, Rudolf Bonnet (1895-1978), over the years since has first arrived in Bali.

Celuk

Balinese jewellery is unique, and Celuk is the home of much of it. Nearly every family in Celuk is involved in some aspect of the delicate gold and silver work, which has become very famous over the years.

Mas Village

That is a village specializing in woodcarving of any kind most of the prominent woodcarvers of Bali dwell in Mas village, producing elaborate and find woodcarvings and this is where they teach the young generation to carver by imitating the master carvers.

Batubulan

Just outside of Denpasar, on the road to Ubud, is a small village where stone statues line the roadside in an impressive array. Terrible fanged demons, noble warriors, and animals of all shapes and sizes and at all stages of completion rest under the shady trees.

Ubud

Famous for its painter's community, Ubud is special in more ways than one. It has its own magic, and its particularly beautiful surrounding and gracious way of life have drawn celebrities and artists from all over the world in recent decades, some have even adopted Ubud as their own home. The magic is easy to find - just take a walk south of the village through its terraced paddy fields to the monkey forest. Fresh water spouts out of the sheer rock at the ravine, and a bath in a secluded shady spot is purifying.

Goa Gajah

Literally means Elephant cave, and it is a "T" shaped caved. This was an ancient monastery of Hindu and Budhist monks who used to meditate in the cave. It is believed that the cave was built in the early 11^th century. Its face is elaborately carved, depicting a demon head splitting open the rock with its bare hand at the mouth of the cave.

Tampaksiring

The holy spring which bubbles up in the inner courtyard of the Tirta Empul Temple in Tampaksiring is believed to have magic curative powers, and throngs of people visit the special bathing pools where clear cool water spouts from mossy walls. Legend has it that God Indra created the spring, piercing the ground in search of holy water.

Gunung Kawi

These 11^th century tombs, carved out of the rock face of the gorge of the Pakrisan river, are approached by a step descent through breath - taking rice terrain scenery. Historically, the tombs probably have some connection with King Anak Wungsu. Across the gorge are some more impressive tombs that were the resident meditations caves of the holy men who were the keepers of the tombs.