Angseri Hot Spring Water - Jatiluwih Rice Terrace - Batukaru and Taman Ayun Temples

Excursion 4 - A day in the west

Remarks

Costing only covers the return fare by car.
This does not include the services of a guide, meals, and site entrance fees
For each excursion, a sarong remains indispensable.
Please consult us in advance if a French or English guide is required.

Programme

09.00            Departure from Balam Bali Villa
10.00            Arrival at Angseri hot springs
11.00            Departure for Jatiluwih
11.30            Trek in the rice-paddies
12.30            Lunch in a local restaurant (local food and fruit juice)
13.30            Visit to the temple of Batukaru
14.00            Detour to the village to see a church
15.30            Return to the Villa
16.30            Visit to the royal temple of Taman Ayun
17.00            Arrival at the Villa

Hot Spring Water Angseri

Situated within proximity of the Villa (35 min. by car), the region of Mt. Batukaru cultivates the finest terraced rice-paddies on the island. They are registered in the UNESCO world patrimony listing, not only for their beauty, but also for the religious rites and cultural practices of those responsible for their cultivation.

The car will take a beautiful shrubby route to the mountains. It bifurcates to include a fine traditional village, with a considerable number of rice storehouses: Angseri.

Pool of hot spring water Bassin d'eau chaude de la source
Hot spring water Angseri Lieu thermal au village d'Angseri, Tabanan

On the outskirts of the village, a road leads to the region’s much reputed Angseri thermal springs. Hot-water bathing invites you to marinate at leisure before reaching the main open-air pool, or playing Robinson once more, beneath a great waterfall of tepid water. The advantage of this spring is its location beyond the tourist circuit, and frequented almost exclusively by the local Balinese population, particularly at weekends. After the dip, the road leads on to Jatiluwih.

Rice Terrace Jatiluwih and Batukaru temple

You can enjoy pursuing the length of the rice paddy enclosure walls (if you are careful not to crush them), to better observe local agricultural life, and climb to the terrace of an open-air restaurant where fruit juice will be served.

Registered in the UNESCO world patrimony listing Classé patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco
View of mount Batukaru Vue du mont Batukaru
Jatiluwih, finest terraced rice-paddies Rizières en terrasses à Jatiluwih
Luhur Watukaru or Batukaru Temple
View of sacred lake Vue du lac sacré
Ceremony at Batukaru Temple Cérémonie au temple Batukaru

The excursion resumes with the site of the Batukaru temple, one of the major temples on the island, at the foot of the Volcano Batukaru. The temple is buried in tropical forest, invaded by moss varieties (take care, very slippery soil). It appears very mysterious. It is not possible to enter the heart of the sanctuary but this may be examined at a few metres distance, a structure noted for its spectacular alignment of merus (pagodas). A very large staircase must be engaged to descend towards a small lower temple, on the edge of a sacred, although abandoned but all the more romantic, lake inviting a promenade amid the jungle.

In the course of descent, will be noticed a curious Catholic Church managed by the Catholic community of a dozen persons in a village. By cultural imitation, the church has opted for Balinese materials and design, giving birth to a building of somewhat curious allure. But, and one is not mistaken, a Lourdes grotto with its statue of the Virgin clearly affirms adhesion to a religion not altogether related to Hindu practices.

Royal Temple Taman Ayun at Mengwi

Returning to Balam Bali Villa, A visit to the royal temple of Taman Ayun. This temple has been built in the 17^th century. ‘Taman Ayun’ means ‘the finest garden of flowers’. The wide ditches around the temple overflow with magnificent pink and red lotus flowers. The central courtyard is entered by a great split porch. It leads us beyond a magnificent garden to the heart of the temple protected by a low wall revealing the succession of ancient pavilions and magnificent ‘merus’ raised in honour of the gods of the Agung, Batukaru and Batur mountains.

Taman Ayun Temple

Taman Ayun Temple, Merus
Local paintings sold in the shop Les toiles des artistes d'Ubud vendus à la boutique