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The former capital has a similar name to the name of the regencies but it changed into Amlapura after the eruption of Mounnt Agung in 1963. Like other regencies in Bali, Javanese influenced customs can still be found in some villages in Karangasem, however, it is richer in variety and maybe as older. The royal family became independent from Gelgel after challenging them in the early 1700s. When South Bali was conquered in the early 1900s by the Dutch, Karangasem was only supervised
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Besakih Temple |
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- Agung, Mount
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.
- 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.
- Besakih, Temple
Missonary
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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