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.

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