The acclaimed Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias and his wife Rose were among the first westerners to immortalize Bali in art. The two first traveled to Bali in 1930 and quickly became fascinated by Balinese life, particularly by rituals, offerings, and festivals. Covarrubias's 1937 book Island of Bali is a remarkable source of information about the art, ritual life, and customs of parts of Bali he had observed during the years he lived there.
In his painting Tanah Bali, which means “Land of Bali”, Covarrubias defines the striking geographical features of the island. A trail of volcanoes divides the land, with the two largest, Gunung Batur and Gunung Agung, dominating the east. Smoke rises from the still-active crater of Batur, while the sacred lake Danau Batur fills the volcano's huge collapsed crater, or caldera. Terraced rice fields descend the fertile slopes to the southern shores. The most sacred temple, Pura Besakih, is on the southern slope of Gunung Agung, the most sacred mountain in Bali. Other famous temples dot the island. You can see a replica of the famed work at Bvlgari Resort Bali.
The Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud are among the most famous in the world, they are known for their bucolic rice paddies and clever irrigation system, which is called the subak. This Bali’s traditional cooperative irrigation system is said to have been passed down by a revered holy man named Rsi Markandeya in the 8th century. Tegallalang forms ...
Taman Ujung Floating Palace, is an enchanting water palace built in Karangasem Regency in 1901, and features a network of pools and ponds that were used for everything from entertainment to executions. The King’s resting palace is one of the most picturesque areas of the grounds, with a blend of eastern and western architecture, colorful glass ...
Bali’s oldest and most famous temples is home to the famous Gateway of Heaven. Believed to be the oldest Hindu temple on the island, Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang — or Lempuyang Temple — is made up of seven different sanctuaries and boasts glorious views in every direction, thanks to its perch some 1775 metres above sea level in the highlands of ...
Located in Tabanan, Pura Luhur Batukaru is a Hindu temple from the 11th century and it is set on the southern slope of Mount Batukaru, Bali's second-highest volcano. The temple is one of nine kayangan jagat, or directional temples, meant to protect Bali from evil spirits. Originally built during the 11th century, Pura Luhur Batukaru was dedicated ...