KARANGASEM REGENCY

Karangasem Regency is located at the east end of the island of Bali, with an area of about 83.954 Ha, inhabited by a population of around 369,000. The region of Karangasem consists of many hills with dry land, which is close to the condition of wildlife in west Lombok. This hot and dry condition were even more intensified, due to the eruption of the Gunung Agung in 1963. A part of the region of Karangasem, especially the northern part, was covered by lava from this eruption, which killed thousands of people.
In the 1980s, this area gradually started to flourish with green wildlife, after various grass started to grow, along with the effort of spreading agriculture in the area. Patches of rice fields seen on the outskirts of Karangasem has been put back according to its original order, which was due to the effort of the Subak organizations of the area. Since the middle of the 1990s, Tulamben, situated in the northern side of Karangasem, which is an area most strongly effected by the lava, gradually became an area of attraction for tourists with its beautiful corals and tropical fish. The accommodation facilities for tourist like hotels, restaurants, and marine recreations have been built in this area of Tulamben.
It is not only the beauty of wildlife on the hills or inside the ocean, which have become the objects of tourism in Karangasem. The people from the very old times (Bali Mula) in Bali who live in Karangasem has given local characteristic to the art and culture in the area. Up to the present day, the people of Tengenan, Bungaya, Asak, Timbrah and Bugbug and some other villages still carry out their traditional customs of their ancestors, or the Bali Mula. Although their have been process of acculturation with the spread of the Hindu religion, it is because of their determination in not being easily influenced with the ways of the Bali Majapahit, that the cultural heritage of the Bali Mula is still passed on until today.

PLACES OF INTEREST

* Besakih Temple
Missionary of Danghyang Markandeya, a priest credited with introducing the tradition of daily offerings and the concept of a single god, is claimed to be the founder of the Besakih temple in the 8th century, Bali's biggest and holiest temple. Divided into about 22 separate sanctuaries, it consist over 60 temples and 200 distinct structures. Each caste and kin group, as well as various sects, artisan guilds, and aristocratic families, maintains its own sanctuary.

* Agung Mountain
For Balinese, Mount Agung is the geographical and religious center of the world. Mount Agung, its highest peak. With an elevation of 3,014 meters above sea level, the Bali's highest peak can be climbed between 5 to 8 hours. It is suggested to climb with a guide and consider not wise to climb during religious ceremonies take place in Besakih temple that located six kilometers below on the southwest slope. The last big eruption of the active volcano was in 1963 that cause big disaster.

* Amed
If you travel from Amlapura, Amed is situated before Tulamben and also a known as a diving spot that has shipwreck located just 10 meters away from the shore. Beside diving, snorkeling or sailing, some nice tracking can be done through the hill. For the local, fishing and sea-salt panning is still the main income resource. The small road along the cost that also goes to Amlapura via Seraya Kangin and Ujung offer a fascinating view of the cost but about 20 kilometers of the road is considerably bad for small wheel vehicle.

* Tulamben Beach
A small fisherman village that now also becomes one of the best diving spot in Bali. The big diving attraction is sunken American Liberty ship, torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942. Diving or snorkeling is satisfying all year around but the best time is during dry season on July and August.

* Balina Beach
A simple, quiet resort with a nice wide black sandy beach and tame waves. Diving excursions in a marine reserve offshore, go for night fishing with local fishermen using lantern or hike the beautiful hillside northwest of the area would be a highlight of your stay here.

* Candidasa Beach
A slow and friendly beach resorts and can be a perfect base to explore all over east Bali as most tourist amenities are available here. Huge horrendous T-shaped concrete breakwaters were built to prevent erosion, which becomes an essential problem since 10 years ago.

* Iseh
A serene mountain village located three-kilometer south of Selat. The magnificent panoramic view of rice terrace and the Mount Agung attract foreign artist to have seclusion live here including Spies who created some of his most haunting paintings during his live in this navel of the world.

* Lempuyang Temple
A narrow windy road has been built from the main road in Tista (make right turn when you see sign of 'Pura Luhur Lempuyang') to first part of this one of Bali's most important temple. An extensive construction has been doing since few year ago. Although, there still a lot of building still need to be finish but the white hard lime stone that made for three main gate give an impression of a great temple. On clear day one will see not only Gunung Agung but all the way to the islands of Nusa Penida. The other four parts of the temple are located in higher level of the Lempuyang mount. Except for the temple of Telaga Mas, that still can be access by car, other parts is accessible only by walking on about 1800 steps to the highest temple through the forest.
On clearer mornings you'll see not only Gunung Agung but all the way to the islands of Nusa Penida and Lembongan.

* Puri Kanginan
Surrounded by a thick redbrick wall, this big 'puri' (palace) complex of the last raja Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut, is a blend of European, Chinese, and Balinese architecture and interior design. Some buildings have curios name like Bale Amsterdam and Bale London. The 'puri' is open to guest to visit from 0800 to 1700,overnight guest is sometime accepted.

* Sibetan
Known as the center of salak in Bali since 1952. The tourist knows salak as snakeskin fruit that has crisp, and sweet taste, somewhere between apple and strawberry. It has low and thorny palm. The thorny of the palm is used as the fence of salak farm and easily can be seen while driving around the village. Beside selling it as a fruit to all people in Bali, now days sweet or even arak, Balinese alcoholic beverage, can be made out of salak meat.

* Sideman
Situated within a beautiful landscape full with rice terrace and 'salak' trees, west of Amlapura or north Klungkung. Sideman known for its 'kain songket', interwoven with designs of gold and silver thread, as well as Balinese healers. Several accommodations nicely nestled in some part of the village, a perfect base for mediation base.

* Taman Ujung
It was a beautiful royal retreat for Karangasem royal family, designed in fusion of European and Balinese architecture. The destruction began when Japanese dismantled iron bars in Taman Ujung for weaponry production then followed by Mount Agung eruption in 1963. Further an earthquake in North Bali around 1976 helplessly shattered Taman Ujung into pieces. However, the elements of beauty of the panorama and its surrounding remain.

* Tenganan
The most conservative original pre-Hindu Balinese settlement, with distinction of its village layout, architecture, art, and religious rites. An ancient courtyard walls, pavilion temples, magnificent community halls, and old high-based long houses is built in very masculine, crude aristocratic style and is surrounded by 700-year-old walled village. Tenganan is the only place in Indonesia that produces double-ikat textiles known as 'Gringsing'. Lontar, the palm leaf book, and ata basket, the woven vine that last for 100 years, are other common product found within the houses of the people. Once a year around May or June a ritual trance fight (makara-kare) using a sharp prickly between pandanus leaf become an obligatory contest amongst the young men. 'Kawin pandan' : a young man throws a flower over a wall and must marry whoever catches it, is another distinct practice that hold once a year.
Tengenan is one of few remaining “Bali Aga”, or original Balinese villages in Bali. There are two versions of the history of this villages, one originating from mythology, the other from historical records. According to mythology, the name Tengenan Is derived from the word “Ngatengahang” which is Balinese for interior. In historic records it is recorded as “Tranganan” with later developed to Tengenan. Now it is often given an additional title, Tengenan Pegeringsingan, referring to the rare double ikat woven cloth “Kain gerinsing” that is made there.
The characteristics of this village have changed little since megalithic times. Houses are joined in long rows, with a wide common in between for ceremonial long houses. The occasional grey oven, still regarded as a holy animal, wanders the street. These oxen are the communal property of the village, to be used for ceremonial purpose only.
The shrine in the village of Tengenan reflect its ancient ways and pre-Hindu religious customs. There are piles of stones that date back to megalithic times, as well as shrines similar to other temple in Bali. Amongst the ancient relics, are many symbolizing the part of the horse. There Is a shrine known as “Kaki Dukun” which is in the shape of an erect horses phallus. The village people believe that this shrine has special powers, andif a childless husband and wife pray at this shrine they will be blessed with offspring. A stones monolith known as “Batu Taikik” is considered to be the center of a horses stomach or its droppings.
Ceremonies are conducted here for prosperity and plentiful crops. “Rambut Pule” is another shrine made from a pile of stones that is considered to contain the hair of a horse. Another large monolith is regarded to symbolize the tight of horse. An esoteric ceremony is conducted around this shrine known as “Truna Nyoman”. Yet another strange shrine known as “Batu Jaran” is considered to be the eye of the horse.
A strange tale lies behind all of this symbolism. According to mythology the Raja of Bedahulu once lost one of his finest horses.
He sent out people all over the island to search for it. Finally it was found dead, by a man known as Ki Patih Tunjung Biru. Because of his faithfulness the Raja promised to give his servant all the land, as far one could still smell the corpse of the dead horse. Being a far and wide, so at the time of measuring the land he an covered extensive area. This is the tale of how the people of Tengenan obtained such a large area of fertile land, which to this day still belongs to the village.
A number of fascinating ceremionies are held in the village of Tengenan at different times of the year. The most famous of these is the “Mekare-kare” or “Perang Pandan” that takes place in the 5th month according to the Balinese calendar. Fights are held between the youths of the village using the barbed pandan leaves as weapons.
The ancient Gamelan “Selonding” instrument accompany the battle and crowds of people gather in full ceremonial dress to watch the gladiators. This ceremony is thought of as similar to the “tabuh Rah” cock fighting tradition which has the purpose of shedding blood on ceremonial soil to appeare the evil spirits.

* Tirta Gangga
Tirta Gangga,literately mean Water of the Gangges, is another retreat water palace built by last raja of Karangasem, in 1947. It is a well-maintained pool complex that fed by a sacred water spring emerging from the hill in the west-side of the palace. A beautiful rice terrace can be seen form the highland just a bit north of the object.

* Bukit Putung
Putung is a particulary scenic spot at Duda, Selat, Karangasem. The word “Putung” take its meaning from “putus” or “at the end”, such as an isolated spot, at the end of the road, and can also be used to describe a childless marriage.
Not only the Balinese have a special feeling about Putung. Before Putung become popular as a scenic spot there was an Italian man named Kristianto who used to come there for meditation. According to the local people he often spoke of a special golden radiance which he had seen in this place. After several years of meditation this man is said to name found an object known as the “sampian emas”, a special ingredient in offerings used for Hindu religious ceremonies. The place where he found this object is now thought of as a holy place by the local people. Later this foreigner moved to the village at Manggis, where he met a Balinese girl, fell in love with her and stayed on there.
In 1975 at the initiative of the head of district of selat, and the Regent of Karangasem Regency, Anak Agung Gede Karang, Putung was made into a place for recreation, and simple refreshment. Many tourist now come to Putung to enjoy the panoramic view. From the hills stretch valleys of emerald rice-fields, with the sparkling sea in the distance, and the little island of Gili Tepekong off the coast. At the rear Mount Agung towers, with its foothills covered in gardens and fertile fields.
Visitors to this area feel close to nature and God. Only 20 Km from Amlapura and 68 Km from Denpasar, Putung is about 700 m above sea level, and the weather there is fresh and cool, making it the ideal resting spot on a days outing.

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