Background

Traditional Villages in Bali, Spiritual Journey

Almost all villages in Bali can be called a traditional village with a strong traditional and religious rituals. Each village has a Klian adat (customary chief sort of). Villages such as this is still found in Bali.

However, if you mention the traditional village in Bali, the Balinese people will immediately think of these three villages. These villages are inhabited by the original Balinese or Bali Mula. Some residents of Bali, sometimes called the Bali Aga. The Bali Mula are the people who first inhabited the Bali island.

They inhabited the island long before the people migrated to the island of Java. Initially they have animist beliefs. Hindu religion which was brought from Java to Bali is expected the new entry and develop slowly in the second to the eighth century BC.

Until now, the Bali Mula still living on the island of Bali and its own will provide a wealth of Balinese culture. The most salient characteristic to distinguish the Bali Mula with the Balinese migrants are from the ceremony of his death.

Java Bali (Bali also called Arya), who are the descendants of Javanese immigrants in the Javanese kingdom of Majapahit and earlier, performing the ceremony of death by burning. While the Bali Mula performed the ceremony by way of burial.

Recognized interested more in the tradition of the Bali Mula? Here are three traditional villages that are often visited by foreign tourists to know better the original Balinese culture that is still running strong today.

Tenganan village

The village is located in the District of Karangasem. Very close to the beach of Candi Dasa. The journey to this village is very easy and can be taken approximately 1.5 hours south of Bali.

Tenganan village

The uniqueness of this village is the tightness of the local community in protecting and preserving indigenous forests. They have awig-awig (legal or customary rules) that govern forest management, including the prohibition of cutting trees.

Tenganan Village residents are used to interact directly with visitors and explain their traditions. Visitors can enter the house to see the traditional Balinese architecture, including its philosophy.

In addition, local residents adalan trained artists. They used to weave their own cloth gringsing legendary and are only made in the village.

The village is famous as the cultural attractions for foreign tourists. Usually after a stop at the village, the tourists traveled to the beautiful Beach Candi Dasa.

Trunyan village

If the more adventurous, visit a village Trunyan in Kintamani, Bangli district. To be located on Lake Batur. To reach this, you have to take a boat to cross Lake Batur Trunyan with.


Unique characteristic of this village is a different death ceremonies elsewhere in Bali. The body is not buried in the village. But simply placed in the cemetery area, which is below the frankincense tree. Strangely, although visitors can clearly see human skulls, no smell from the body.

Trunyan village
Not surprisingly, the most coveted tourist village to recognize the unique tradition of ritual death. Typically, in addition to visiting the village Trunyan, tourists will also relax around the edge of Lake Batur, or climb Mount Batur.

Penglipuran village

This village is one less famous than Trunyan Village "and" Village Tenganan. The village is located in the district this Bangli need to travel about 1 hour from Ubud, Gianyar.

Penglipuran village

The uniqueness of this village is an ordinance of the village is so neat and pretty. Not just a typical Balinese architecture which is unique, but the houses in this village is set uniform. Visitors as if catapulted into another dimension with the same gated houses up to the same door.

The houses are arranged on either side of the main road. The main road rocky rocky tune with the roof door. The road is uphill to the village and split into three parts according to the concept of Tri Hita Karana (relationships with fellow human beings, man and nature, and man to God).

As you walk on this road, look as if you were doing a spiritual journey. Yes, at the end of the road, right at the very top is Penataran as the most sacred place of prayer and the local population.

Not just the typical architecture, the villagers are very friendly Panglipuran. They did not hesitate to offer visitors to stop by and get into the house. Inside, you can take pictures and see the kitchen that still use firewood. Some houses also sell souvenirs own works.

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