BULELENG REGENCY

Bulleleng Regency located at north coast Bali, almost the whole of the northern region of Bali is under the government of the Buleleng regency. This makes Buleleng the regency with the largest area, amongst the 8 regencies in Bali. The mountain ranges which stretch from the east to the west in the middle of the island belongs to Buleleng as well, and because of this, Buleleng is most complete in wildlife as well, with mountains, flatland, and the seaside on the northern side of Bali. However, although the regency has the largest area amongst other regencies, a part of the area is dry land, especially in the mountain ranges in the west and the east.
The conditions of the wildlife in Buleleng do not allow wetland farming. Instead, plantations of fruits such jeruk (citrus), cloves and coffee in the mountain area, and grapes and tobacco alongside the seashore have been developed.
As is the case with other areas in the southern part of Bali, Buleleng has played an important role in the past era, when the expedition of the Palapa Wira Gajah Mada reached Bali. Ancient villages, such as Sembiran, JUlah, and other surrounding villages shows that northern region of Bali has been active in characterizing the course of history in Bali, and during the reign of Ki Gusti Panji Sakti, some virgin land in East Java was cultivated. Various temples alongside the northern shores, starting from Pura Payogan Prapat Agung, Pura Pulaki, Pura Ponjok Batu, up to Pura Candi Gora proves that this whole area was regarded as an important part of the process of dharma by the spiritual seekers of the past.
During the time when Bali was colonized the Dutch, Buleleng was looked upon as strategic by the Dutch as a place to0 start its movement of conquer. The 8 regencies of Bali, including Buleleng, which were tied with the agreement of the Paswara Asta Negara, but were conquered one by one, starting Buleleng in north Bali. In 1846, the reign of the Kingdom of Buleleng struggled against the hands of the Netherlands in a fierce collision called the War of Buleleng. The pressure from the Dutch followed with the battle of Jagaraga, which took place in the year 1849, and put Buleleng totally under Netherland’s rule.
The process over the times in Bali, which was lead to the third millennium, has brought Buleleng to be active in the world of Tourism as well. The beach side alongside the north, especially Lovina and Kalibukbuk, are areas within Buleleng with potential for accommodating tourist. Generally speaking, the variety of artistic and cultural heritages of Buleleng, are different in its characteristics, compared to that of south Bali.

PLACES OF INTEREST

*Lovina
As most of tourist amenities in northern Bali are located in this black sand beach make the area become the major tourist base in exploring northern Bali. Going out fishing or sightings of dolphins leaping with the local fishermen, or just having a beach massage, do an easy snorkeling of reef close the beach or just read you favorite book while sun-bathing would be things to do on your spare time of exploration. Bars and night pubs with live music are available if you miss them.

* Banjar Hot Spring
Located 10 km west of Lovina beach, the natural hot spring is surrounded by jungle mostly by bamboos and a well maintain restaurant. Consisting of three different sized pools, the green-yellow sulfur water pour from dragon shaped pipes that varying in temperature and height.

* Yeh Sanih
Known by the locals as a recreation site since the early 30s, Yeh Sanih offers attraction of natural swimming pool of clear, fresh, cool water beside a shady seaside with black-sand beach.

* Celukan Bawang
A port located just 40 km of the main coastal west of Singaraja. Celukan Bawang receives timber and cement from Kalimantan and Java. Here you may catch Bugis schooners trading between Bali and Kalimantan. The port is also used by the Oil Company ARBN as a supply base for its offshore drilling explorations.

* Gedong Kirtya
Thousands of ancient Balinese letters in form of chronicle, kakawin (old Balinese poetry), geguritan, and is written on the palm leaf, stored in the original building that was built in 1928.

* Gitgit Waterfall
Bali's most spectacular waterfall with 45-meter free falls water, easily accessible by 500 meters walking from parking through coffee plantation and rice field. Supported by the forest around the site, the water volume remain steady all year around. For those who has more time to spend, bring your bath towel and swimsuit to have a refreshing swim on the clear water beneath the water fall or the small river down the stream.

* Jagaraga
A battle of Puputan Jagaraga in 16 August 1849 made Jagarag fall into a superior Dutch infantry and artillery force. Jagaraga was the stronghold of Gusti Ketut Jelantik and his army before then, who defied two large and well-armed expeditions in 1846 and 1848 This 16 August 1849 battle was known as Puputan Jagaraga.A number of temples are found on this , all featuring effusive, cunning, and mischievous carvings A fantastic ride, with archaic villages surrounded by vegetation not found anywhere else on Bali. The most impressive temple is its Pura Dalem that featuring carved comic-strip panels of cyclists, Balinese flying kites, dog fighting airplanes, fishermen hooking a whale, a Dutch steamer, long-nosed Dutchmen in a Model-T Ford held up by a bandit with a horse pistol, and mammoth fish swallowing a canoe.

* Munduk
Munduk is the largest of a series of mountain villages that includes Gobleg, Gesing, and Umejero located south of Singaraja. With an elevationof 800 meters above sea level, it has great natural beauty of coffee, cocoa, clove, vanilla, and tobacco gardens.

* Pemuteran
A secluded, tidy, black-sand, scenic beach leads to some of the island's best snorkeling and diving spots is located 40 km west of Lovina. Several moderate to high price accommodation are available for divers who common visitors to admire reef and corals including the reserve marine ones.

* Pulaki
The temple was built to commemorate the arrival of the Javanese saint-priest Nirartha to Bali in the early 16th century. Only 25 metes from the sea , the large, dramatic temple is sit in front cliffs tower that surrounded by jungle and overrun by hordes of aggressive monkeys.

* Jayaprana Grave Site
The Jayaprana's grave is inside a temple behind glass, with figures of the betrayed Brahman and his bride. It can be reach after an our drive west from of Singaraja and 10 minutes climbing up steep concrete steps from the south side of the road main road. Jayaprana and his beloved Layonsari story of life is consider similar to the western Romeo and Juliet.

*Singaraja Town
Today is the capital of Buleleng regency, the name of Singaraja means 'lion king', a name commemorating a palace built in 1604 by Raja Panji Sakti. Since the 10th century, traders from all over Asia have stop at port of Buleleng to trade arms, opium and 'kepang' for fresh water, food, livestock, and slaves. A great impact of the traders groups can still be witness in the cultural life of the city. Many imposing residences and examples of European architecture still stand, reminders of Singaraja's former grandeur as the Dutch capital of Nusa Tenggara covering Bali, Nusa Tenggara Barat and Nusa Tenggara Timur. The island's capital than moved to Denpasar in 1958.

*Tamblingan Lake
The smallest and most peaceful lake in Bali offers some nice trekking spot within the preserve forests. By the local, it is a refreshing fishing spot meanwhile kayaking around the lake is available for tourists.

* Buyan lake
Same like Tamblingan, Buyan lake was surrounded by tropical forest and some part was developed as camp filed for those who like this activities very much.

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