History
The Gianyar regency was home to Bali’s oldest kingdoms, the
Buddhist Warmadewa dynasty in Bedulu-Pejeng that ruled until
the fourteenth century, and another in Batuan. The conquering
Javanese set up court in Samprangan, which later moved east
to Gelgel and Klungkung. The area faded in history until the
eighteenth century when the Klungkung family founded Sukawati,
a short-lived dynasty that fell with the rising Gianyar kingdom.
Rivals from Sukawati set up courts in Ketewel, Singapadu, Negara,
Peliatan, Ubud and Tegallalang which led to decades of warfare.
A powerful Gelgel family in Blahbatuh rose during the nineteenth
century. Dutch assistance restored Gianyar, but not without
gaining concessions from the king which spared it the fate of
other South Balinese courts in the early nineteen hundreds.
Gianyar is the district to which many a sun-struck tourist flee
the heat of the coast, for it is in this district that the cool
highland village of Ubud is located. Increasingly popular Ubud
is an ideal base from which to explore the many attractions
of the surrounding countryside.
Temple-going
The Bedulu-Pejeng area, south-east of Ubud, is where some
of Bali’s oldest temples can be found. These include the Goa
Gajah ‘elephant cave’ temple, the carved reliefs at Yeh Pulu,
the huge Samuan Tiga complex, the fantastic statues at Kebo
Edan and Pusering Jagat, and the famous bronze moon-gong at
Panataran Sisih. The carved temples at Gunung Kawi and the
sacred spring of Tirtha Empul are in Tampaksiring, just below
the expansive gardens of the palace designed by former President
Sukarno.
Eco-tourism
In recent years, Gianyar has become increasingly renowned
as a centre for ecotourism. Numerous walking trails have been
mapped out around Ubud, the most spectacular of which leads
to Petulu where, if arriving at dusk, walkers can witness
thousands of herons returning to their wetland. There are
also several rafting companies based in the Kedewatan area.
They offer exciting trips down the Ayung River by rubber dinghy.
And a drive north of Ubud towards Kintamani leads through
Tegallalang, and sights of dramatic valleys that are patch-worked
with rice fields.
Ubud Village
Ubud is a tranquil center of Balinese culture. Here are workshops
and studios dedicated to the arts. Exquisite works in the
Neka Museum (open 9:00 am - 12:00 noon & 2:00 pm - 5:00
pm) and Puri Lukisan Museum (open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm). Return
trip approximately four hours.
Brahma Lelare
The statue of a gigantic baby. This big statue can be seen
right in the middle of the junction at Sakah, Sukawati Gianyar.
A very strange and unique statue. It is the only one of its
kind. It is the statue of a gigantic, node child setting calmly
on rock arranged artistically . This statue bears the message
"Pinaka Ratuning Wisesa", meaning the lower ranking
government officials have to be responsible to the higher
ranking, and so forth. The rock on which the statue is places
symbolizes the earth.
Pegulingan Temple
Noted for its unusual large stupa set on an octagonal base.
Because of the fineness of the carving, sculpture, and artwork
produced in this village, it has had a good reputation for
a long time. Mas is very easy to find since it is along the
main tourist route that traverses Bali. Throughout the region,
numerous art shops have developed as showrooms for local artists.
Not only can you see the finished product, but you can actually
observe the artisans at their work. To the northwest one can
find another, called Pura Kebo Edan, or the Mad Buffalo Temple.
Still other historical sites can be visited in the area of
Gianyar, including Pura Mengening which houses many Lingga
and Yoni, and the remains of numerous antiquities which lie
in ruin. Pegulingan Temple is also a part of this complex
and is noted for unusual large Stupa set on an octagonal base.
In addition, Goa Garba and the Rock Temple of Tegallinggah
are among hundreds of shrines and sacred springs to be seen
in this area.
Mangening Temple
A Lingga yoni and prehistoric artifacts are preserved here.
The temple ground keeps many ancient heirlooms such as the
Lingga Yoni, statue and the weather beaten remains of a door.
This temple is on the grounds of the tourists object Tirta
Empul Tampak Siring not far from Gianyar and about 37 km from
Denpasar. Discovering many ancient heirlooms, the department
of historical and prehistorically conservation decided to
make research and found the ruins of an ancient building from
the era of King Anak Wungsu of the eleventh century.
Bungee Jumping Belangsinga
A place for people who wants to jump from 50 m high designed
at the valley of waterfall. Tourist can enjoy bungee Jumping
in this beautiful area near the Tegenungan Waterfall Bungee
Jumping from a height of a bout 50 meters while enjoying the
beautiful scenery is an adventure in itself.
White Cow and Elephant Taro
A small area besides a village temple where lives several
white cows, and a place of elephant trekking. While cow roan
freely in the world of Taro a small village in the Tegallalang
district, Gianyar about 40 km from Denpasar. These cows are
sacred and are part for certain religions are moment in Bali.
On the day of such a ceremony a white cow is led around the
place of the ceremony starting from the east, south, west
and north. The cow walks three times around the ceremonial
grounds. This religious ceremony is called Mepada. After the
ceremony the cow is then returned to its original habitat
in the words of Taro. Some elephant living in those woods,
can take you on their backs around the beautiful words of
Taro. You can take an elephant for a swim in the lake.
