Tenganan Village, Karangasem
Located in the east part of Bali, Tenganan village is just about 4 kms to the north of
Candidasa, the prime tourism resort area in Karangasem regency. You will need one hour and
half to reach the village which has 78 kms distance from Denpasar city. This village is
surrounded by a range of hills and a well-maintaned forest. While the forest and
Ikat Gringsing has made this original village more than just a legend in Bali, we
will see it together in this our special tour package.
Start Time
We will pick up in a little bit different time depend on your hotel location. If you are
staying at Nusadua area, we will pick you up in time range of 07.15 - 07.30 am; Kuta at
07.30 - 07.45; and for Sanur and Ubud at 07.45 - 08.00.
Your journey
From your
hotel you will be driven to Tenganan village through Denpasar (except your hotel location
is in Ubud), Batubulan, Celuk, Sukawati, Gianyar, Semarapura (Klungkung), Kusamba, Goa
Lawah, and Candidasa. In your long way in Batubulan village, you will see various type of
stone carving. After that you will pass Celuk village, a central part of Bali's Gold and
Silversmith home industry. Make a stop at an artshop and have a look at the exhibiting
jewelery's products. In Sukawati village, almost all Bali's art products are available at
the Sukawati Art Market. This is a general market for people. You may buy something here
such as t-shirt, statue, sarong, and so on. And then you will reach Gianyar city (the
capital of Gianyar Regency), the city of art. About 15 minutes drive to the east direction
on your way you will arrive at Semarapura City (the capital of Klungkung Regency). The
wellknown Kertha Gosa palace is located in this city. From here we will keep on moving to
the east until we reach Goa Lawah, a unique place with its unique cave which is full with
holy bats. You can see them from the outside of the cave. They won't disturb you as long
as you don't disturb them. From this area you can see the Badung Strait with its beautiful
sea. We need about 20 minutes drive from here to reach Tenganan village, our final target.
Begin with custom ....
Tenganan is one of few original villages -- known as Bali Aga or Bali Mula -- in
Bali. Strategically located in a valley and surrounded by a range of hills and forest,
Tenganan village has developed its own way of life which borned a special custom. This
custom then run and reigned the village from one generation to another. Then the culture
as an accumulation of the custom presents a unique way of daily life. This has been
running for centuries.
There at least
four most popular and interesting things which are re-introduced to us by the civilization
of this village, and make the village famous in all over the world. Let us begin with
easiest one.
The Perang Pandan is one of the famous tradition which has listed in
Indonesian Tourism Annual Event. Held in the range of June until August every year, this
event performs in two area ; firstly, in Tenganan Pegringsingan (Central Tenganan), and
secondly in Tenganan Dauh Tukad. At this event all villagers will take a part in a battle
party. They are faithing each other for nothing except for joy, friendship and the rite
itself. They are friends, brothers, sisters, and other relatives. Everyone can choose his
own 'enemy', but nobody can against someone together with his friends. All participants
have the same weapon ; a pandanus leaves and a perisai to protect yourself from the hits
of your enemy. And that is. Everyone uses a sarong and other wear for traditional custom
without shirt go to the central part of the battle party with a number of pandanus
leaves and a perisai to faith with his beloved friends, and the traditional music gamelan
accompany them. While their lovers and other women watch them and give their support to
them, the body of the participants will full with bloody. But they are laugh each others.
They wear the most precious sarong, namely ikat Gringsing, they have. Many of the sarongs
have price more than 150 millions rupiah. This party is open for guests from outside of
the village, including you. The rule is one thing, no revange but friendship. Strange ?
See by yourself ...
As mentioned above, the Ikat Gringsing of Tenganan Pegringsingan (a kind
of sarong) is very famous. The original one may be more than 300 years of age. The price
could be more than 400 millions rupiah. Its speciality ? How should we tell you on how to
appreciate an antique, natural, non-chemical thing ?
Try by yourself ....
Tenganan village has a precious custom on a based community forest. This village has
maintained their forest and all its contents for centuries. Their anchestors know the
meaning of a forest for their sustainability life. There is no enough space to tell you
about the unique of Tenganan village. Please ask our guide for any question you want to
know about this village when you are in location. And it's better for you to visit this
village before you say that USA or the republic of India is the most democratic state in
the world. Until at the end of 1980s, Tenganan has its real civilization. Isolated and
independence. It is like a country and not much depend on other villages.
Tenganan is perhaps one of the most secluded and conservative villages on the island of
Bali, protected by a strict code of isolationism, this original Bali Aga
village has retained its unique culture and customs over the centuries. High walls
surround the village, and marriage to outsiders is frowned upon , The famous double-ikat
Gringsing woven cloth is made here, in a process which takes anything up to eight years to
complete one piece. The aristocratic Tenganese own large tracts of fertile land, which
they hire out to naighbouring villagers to farm on a share-cropping basis. A number of
unusual rituals take place in this village on special holy days, and once a year there is
a ritual blood-shedding fight of pandanus leaves in which all the men of the village prove
their manhood.
The gamelan instruments used to accompany ceremony and dance are the ancient Selunding
instruments, rarely seen now in other parts of Bali. From Tenganan it is only a few
kilometers up the coast to the idyllic golden sands of Candi Dasa, recently developed
resort that has sprung up around an ancient temple of the same name that is said to be
directly linked to Mt. Agung by an underground cave.
Note that on the return trip stops can be made at the Goa
Lawah bat cave temple, and to watch primitive salt making on the black sand beaches.
Completing your tour
After visiting the Tenganan Village, our guide will take you back to your hotel. You may
arrive at your hotel around 4.00 pm, depends on the location of your hotel.
Rate/Fare
Click here to see the special rate for this package.
Fare Includes
- Air Conditioned Transport
- English speaking guide or as required
- Entrace fee for all tourism objects
- Lunch at our preferred restaurant
- International Insurance cover
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