Culture

Bali retains its own unique culture, which is probably similar to that of the other islands in the archipelago before the Moslem conversions. Curiously, the Balinese language has no word for 'art' or 'artist.' Art was something everyone did as part of everyday life. Now of course, Bali is something of an 'artists colony' and every other shop in the major tourist areas are galleries.

The traditional crafts of stone sculpture, woodcarving and silversmithing are still very much alive and well represented in the many galleries around the island. But is the dramatic dances that are often at the center of Balinese culture. Balinese classical dancing is comparable to ballet, in that the performances tell a story through music, dance and sometimes song. Story lines are often taken from the Hindu biblical epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Balinese Dances

Kecak

On Bali, dancing is still a regular part of Balinese life. Most Balinese dancing is closely related to the classical dancing of other Southeast Asian cultures. There are many similarities between the classical khon dances of Thailand and the Balinese Barong and Legong dances. These are all similar to western ballet, in that they tell a story.

But an absolute "must see" for visitors to Bali is the Kecak dance performance. This is the most unique form of Balinese dance, so be sure to reserve an evening for it. You've probably seen pictures of this dance. Rather than the Gamelan orchestra that is typical of other Balinese dances, as well as most Southeast Asian classical dancing, in the Kecak the only music is provided by a large chorus of bare-chested men and boys sitting in a circle just in front of the audience. This choir provides a constant accompaniment to the story, and even become actors towards the end.

Read more about the Kecak dance here at AsiaForVisitors.

Hindu Temples on Bali

Besakih Temple Complex: The most important temple on Bali is the Besakih Complex, often called the "mother temple" of Bali. Located up on the side of the Mount Agung volcano, the complex consists of more than 20 temples.
Goa Lawah Bat Cave: On Bali's east coast is the Goa Lawah Bat Cave temple. This temple is important for matters related to the afterlife, and thus is often the site of funerals.
Tanah Lot: Among the most photographed temple on Bali is the seaside islet of Tanah Lot. It is popular as a scenic spot at sunset, but get there earlier if you want to avoid the crowds.

Royal Palaces

Taman Gili: The Taman Gili, which translates to "moated garden", is all that remains of the Klungkung royal palace.
Tirta Gangga: Northeast Bali can get quite hot and dry compared to the much wetter south, so in 1948 the King of Karangesem, based in nearby Amlapura, started construction of a "water palace" to escape the summer heat.
Ujung Water Palace: On the seaside at Ujung, the King of Karangesem built the Ujung Water Palace between 1912 and 1919.

Traditional Villages

The “original Balinese” are known as the Bali Aga. They have their own distinct culture and village organization. The village of Tenganan is among the best preserved of the Bali Aga villages.

No matter where you go on Bali, if you travel to the interior, you will see the fantastical landscape of rice terraces. These are such an integral part of Balinese culture that they've been mooted as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Terraces

Balinese ladies taking fruit offerings to the temple on a holy day. Once you leave the beaches and venture into the volcanic mountains that gave birth to Bali, everywhere you look you will see hillsides formed into terraces for growing rice. Rice has been grown on Bali since Neolithic times, and for over a thousand years, a complex system of water distribution has allowed the crop to be grown all year round.

Bali Aga

Bali remained independent up to the fourteenth century, when it was finally subjugated by the powerful Javanese kings. However, some villages refused to adopt the religious and social customs of the Javanese. These people are now known as the Bali Aga, which means "original Balinese". Their villages remained isolated and thus became a culturally distinct minority. One of the many fighting cocks on display in the village. Tenganan village in east Bali is on of the best preserved of the Bali Aga villages.

Besakih Temple

Perched high up on the slopes of Bali's sacred Mount Agung, where the Balinese believe the spirits of their ancestors live, is the temple complex of Besakih. The complex consists of 22 temples located on about 3 square kilometers of land. The oldest temples are said to date back to the eighth century, although most of the shrines were destroyed in a 1917 earthquake and have been renovated several times during the 20th century.

Kecak Dance

On Bali, dancing is still a regular part of Balinese life. Most Balinese dancing is closely related to the classical dancing of other Southeast Asian cultures. There are many similarities between the classical khon dances of Thailand and the Balinese Barong and Legong dances. These are all similar to western ballet, in that they tell a story. The choir for the Kecak dance make their entrance But an absolute "must see" for visitors to Bali is the Kecak dance performance.

Pura Tanah Lot

One of the most widely used symbols of Bali is the temple of Pura Tanah Lot. The small structure is perched on top of a rocky islet about 100 yards from the mainland. A rock shelf provides access to the temple at low tide. Tanah Lot from the cliff-top north of the temple. The temple is a popular place for visitors at sunset, when hordes of tourists descend on the grounds.

Taman Gili

The Taman Gili, which translates to “moated garden”, is all that remains of the Klungkung royal palace. The palace was built in the 18th century, but most of it was destroyed in 1908 when the Dutch conquered Bali. Two pavilions occupy most of the garden. The larger structure sits in a small pond or moat, and is called Bale Kambang (“floating pavilion”). The smaller pavilion is known as the Kerta Gosa and was used for the royal court of justice, where disputes that could not be settled by village headmen were brought.