Alamat: Jl. Ayodya 10, Mengwi, Kec. Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung
A peaceful atmosphere inspire visitors around the Pura Taman Ayun, the sanctuary of the ancient Kingdom of Mengwi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012. Its name literally means “Temple of the Garden on the Water”. Pagodas with roofs made from coconut trees seem to spring from from the large moat - lotus flowers play with their reflections while fish dart, back and forth, under the calm waters. Among the six royal temples of Bali, the Sanctuary of Taman Ayun is the last witness to the capital of the ancient empire. Dating back to the 1600s, its architecture is more complex and refined than most of the island’s other temples - here, Balinese tradition mixes with influences from China. Four courtyards of concentric terraces raise progressively towards the heavens, evoking the myth of the birth of the universe and the cosmological realms of Hinduism. Pavilions, statues, towers and fountains cover the gardens where, once, the sovereigns of Mengwi and their courts strolled, right next to where the Royal Palace once stood. The temple was originally dedicated to the ancestors of the dynasty - along with them, the deities of Hindu are venerated here, but also the spirits of water and the sun, of the forests and the rice paddies.
Written by Balinese scholar Professor I Made Bandem and American art historian Bruce W. Carpenter, this stunning study of masks as an ancient art form is a richly illustrated book, with over 1000 color images by photographer Doddy Obenk.
Dedicated to the cultivation of rice and the protection of the island from spirits, it is a temple with structural characteristics different from other sacred places in Bali. Its position is strategic for its centrality and coolness.
Located within a large forest of nutmeg trees, Pura Bukit Sari was built in the 17th century as a meditation temple by the son of the King of Mengwi. It is certainly an evocative place, especially at dawn, when the monkeys come down from the trees to feed while the rays of the early morning sun filter through the tree canopy.
Chinese New Year welcomes the arrival of the Year of the Dragon
Although predominantly Hindu, Bali is home to an important Chinese community which on the occasion of the New Year organizes uniquely aesthetic events with a mix of Chinese traditions, Balinese charm and fusion cuisine.