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Taman Ayun
The temple of Taman Ayun in Bali's Mengwi district, has long been well known
as a tourist attraction and is about either kilometres from Denpasar on the
road to Singaraja via Bedugul. Taman Ayun is on the left hand side of the road
very close to the crossroads in Megnwi at which you must turn right if
travelling from Denpasar.The temple was built by I Gusti Agung Anom, a founder
of the Mengwi kingdom in 1934, and were skilfully and renovated in later
years, giving its present appearance which tourists find so attractive and
interesting. The name itself means beautiful garden. It is built on a high
tableland which is surrounded by ponds. This gives the effect from afar that
the temple is floating on water. The temple complex has three ground areas
which rise in levels. In the most external one there is a general purpose hall
which is used for religious ceremonies and for staging of dances. In the
central grounds is a building called the 'bale pelik' with beautiful carvings
with interesting reliefs and statues of the nine gods, Dewa Nawa Sanga. In the
innermost court, there are twenty nine buildings which function as places for
the gods and goddesses. There are other buildings which house religious
regalia used in the ceremonies. There are multi-roofed structures, some of
them having eleven roofs called 'meru meru'. The central section is surrounded
by a small pond, thus the whole complex is symbolic of the great Mandhara
Mountain turning in a sea of milk.Many people visit this temple, not for its
antiquity as it was only renovated in 1937, but for its ambience and air of
serenity. The temple has an ideal recreational garden, the air is cool and the
still waters provide a safe environment for all sorts of aquatic creatures
which live in the ponds.
Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest
Alas Kedaton or Holy Forrest is a small forest measuring about 12,00
ha. In this forest is an old temple and to the south East of the temple is
small field called the Monkey Cemetery but so far the truth of the story has
never been confirmed. There are hundreds of monkeys in this forest and high up
on the big trees many bats are hanging and singing with their loud voices.
Tanah Lot Temple
This temple was built in the 15th century by a priest, Pedanda Wawu
Rawuh or Danghyang Nirartha from Majapahit Jawa. Near this temple there are
several small and big shrines, the biggest one is Pekendungan Temple. There is
a spring considered sacred not far from this temple. Tanah Lot is 12 km from
Tabanan in Beraban village. When the tide is low people can walk to the
temple. It looks like a floating one if the tide is high. There are many caves
under the temple inhabited by the peaceful sea snakes, which has white and
black colors. Tanah Lot is also an ideal place to see sunset.
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