The day begins with the beating of drums in Tenganan, the village hidden among the hills where, since the VIII Century, the most authentic Balinese traditions are rigorously maintained. The inhabitants regard themselves as descendants of the island’s original population - they have never accepted the Hindu caste system, believing in the spirits of nature and practicing ancient rites. One example is makare-kare, a fight with thorny leaves gathered from the pandanus, a plant in the rainforest, carried out by the men for various holidays. Also typical are the sacred clothes known as the “double ikat”, made by hand and hand-dyed as well, capable, according to tradition, of healing and protecting whoever wears them. In Tenganan, there are no inequalities between men and women who have the same rights and obligations. However, life in the village is not for everyone - citizenship is reserved to those who are born there and it can be lost immediately just by marrying a foreigner. Beyond the entry gate, typical architecture distinguishes Tenganan from all other Balinese villages. The houses with their narrow doors are all built around a single courtyard along with the Drum Tower and the Ceremonial Pavilion. At the northern-most point is the village temple, the Pura Puseh.
The wreck attracts divers from all over the island with the promise of a dive to admire what is considered one of the best and most accessible wrecks in all of Indonesia.
Natural pigments & dyes in Balinese traditional crafts
Colors play a vital role in Balinese culture and identity: they are symbolic and their origins are sacred. Traditional Balinese arts and crafts arise from the interconnection between man, the forces of nature and the cosmos, resulting in a divine unity.
Pura Sada Kapal: the temple that changes for faith and for the ages
The vicissitudes linked to its destruction due to an earthquake and its reconstruction due to the faith of the inhabitants of the village in which it is located, make it a place with a fascinating and unique history and appearance.