Pelabuhan Benoa

by Artificial

The establishment of Benoa Port dates back to 1924, as stated in Stb. 1924 No. 378, during the Dutch colonial period in Denpasar. At first, the port's jurisdiction and activities were defined by a map of the Dutch-era port documented in Staatsblad number 16 dated January 8, 1926.

Later, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Transportation jointly determined the boundaries of the port's working area and area of interest in a decree numbered 15 of 1990/KM.18 of 1990 issued on February 14, 1990. In recognition of its excellent services, Benoa Port was awarded Best Port Welcome by Dream World Cruise Destination magazine in 2010.

This port is situated in South Denpasar, Bali, approximately 8 km away from Kuta Regency via Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai, and 8.6 km away from Sanglah Denpasar via Jalan Diponegoro Sesetan. Those entering the port are subject to a distribution fee at the Benoa port gate counter.

Benoa Port is conveniently located near the entrance of the Bali Mandara toll road, accessible via Pesanggaran village in Denpasar. Nowadays, the port's development focuses on Balinese local wisdom and environmental consciousness, featuring Balinese influences and green spaces, thus fitting the image of Bali as a popular tourist destination.

Pelabuhan Sanur

by Artificial

Sanur Harbor represents a significant advancement in Denpasar's tourism infrastructure, with a design heavily influenced by Balinese culture, including the "Perahu Bercadik" boat and the "Gajah Mina" pattern. Besides being a transportation hub, Sanur Harbor has become a new icon, providing hope for Bali's economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. The harbor is attracting tourists, particularly middle to upper-class visitors, and is expected to stimulate the expansion of tourist segmentation to Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan.

Both Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan are well-known tourist destinations, famous for their natural charms, and the new harbor has made it easier for tourists to access them. Before the harbor's construction, tourists had to board boats, often getting wet in the process, but now they can board the ship via a floating bridge.

The harbor serves not only tourists but also Balinese people who wish to worship at the temples on Nusa Penida. Nevertheless, tourism remains the main source of income for Balinese people, and the pandemic's impact on Bali's economy was severe. With no foreign tourists, the island's economic growth plummeted, and unemployment increased. However, the government took advantage of the pandemic to improve infrastructure by constructing Sanur Harbor, which previously had inadequate supporting facilities, cramped space, and no place for cargo. Ships crossed from Sanur without complying with safety and security standards.

Taman Janggan

by Artificial

This children's playground in the center of Denpasar city is designed to be modern, comfortable, and educational. Taman Janggan is part of the National Strategic Building Arrangement project (KSN) or the Denpasar Civic Center.

Various play equipment for children can be found here, ranging from short slides to long ones resembling an elephant's trunk. There are two deck platforms for children to practice their agility, with the lower part of the deck used for playing hide and seek.

All of these play equipment are designed to train children's motor skills, especially those aged 18 months to six years. There are also swings, seesaws, climbing areas, seating, and a seating area for parents to watch their children play.

Every day, especially on weekends, Taman Janggan is always crowded with visitors. The floor is made of soft ceramics or rubber pads, so children are safe even if they fall.

The area is safe because it is surrounded by a safety fence. Its location is also strategic, on Jalan Raya Puputan, about 800 meters east of the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Renon.

Basically, Taman Janggan is divided into two sections. The first section is a playground for children, while the second section is a relaxation area for both children and adults, equipped with sports facilities such as air walkers, sit-up equipment, horse rider machines, elliptical machines, jogging tracks, and a special stone path for foot reflexology massage. playground anak, sedangkan bagian kedua area santai untuk anak dan dewasa, dilengkapi sarana olah raga, seperti  sepeda udara (air walker), alat bantu sit up, horse rider machine, elliptical machine, jogging track, dan jalur bebatuan khusus pijat refleksi kaki.

This park, which was inaugurated in early 2017, has special rules. Visitors are required to take off their shoes before entering. The area is equipped with surveillance cameras (CCTV) and adequate lighting.

Taman Kota Lumintang

by Artificial

A park in the middle of the city can be a favorite spot for residents to take a leisurely stroll. Just like Taman Kota Lumintang in Denpasar. Taman Kota Lumintang is a source of pride for Denpasar residents, and it is always crowded with people from all walks of life.

The atmosphere of Taman Kota Lumintang in Denpasar is made even livelier with the presence of a dancing fountain located in the middle of an artificial pond. This dancing fountain is a favorite of visitors when they come to Taman Kota Lumintang.

Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the dancing fountain from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm WITA only on weekends. Around 6:00 pm WITA, music starts playing in the area around the pond. However, the dancing fountain only starts its attraction when the sky is completely dark.

This dancing fountain is truly unique. The illuminated fountain with various colors looks even more charming with its dancing movements. The dancing fountain attraction is very popular with visitors, especially children who come with their parents. Children are amazed by the beauty of the colors and the dancing movements of the fountain that always change.

Although not as large and extensive as Lapangan Renon, Taman Kota Lumintang also has adequate supporting facilities. These include a jogging track used for sports activities, a children's play area, a large birdcage located in a corner of the park that is very attractive to children, toilets, parking areas, and food stalls or snack vendors.

It is recommended to come to Taman Kota Lumintang in the late afternoon to avoid waiting too long for the dancing fountain attraction. While waiting, you can spend time strolling around the park, doing light exercise, relaxing in the existing pavilions, or waiting for your children who are playing.

Enjoying some of the culinary delights sold at the stalls or vendors in Taman Kota Lumintang can also be an option while waiting. For those who bring children, it is best to bring food from home as most of the food sold is not suitable for children's taste buds, such as spicy food. However, there are still some menu items that are also liked by children, such as meatballs, ice cream, or other snacks.

For those who love sports, you can exercise all day at Taman Kota Lumintang. The jogging track area and sports area are open to the public from morning until night. At night, every area of the park is equipped with adequate lighting so that sports activities can be done safely and comfortably.

Taman Kota Lumintang in Denpasar is located on Jalan Mulawarman, Lumintang. You can spend time with your family refreshing yourself on a budget at Taman Kota Lumintang.

Turtle Conservation & Education Center (TCEC)

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The Turtle Conservation and Education Centre (TCEC) is located on Tukad Wisata Street No. 4 in Serangan Village, Denpasar. As a turtle conservation center, this place provides an alternative tourist destination for both local residents and foreign tourists visiting Bali.

According to TCEC Serangan Manager, Made Sukanta, even though it is a conservation center, the number of local and foreign tourists visiting the center is quite high. "This can be seen from the increasing number of visits each month, which is around 20 percent. The high interest of tourists to visit TCEC is due to the unique type of tourism offered, which is knowledge about the life cycle of turtles, which are rare animals. Therefore, the interest of tourists to see firsthand how the life cycle of turtles is very high.

At TCEC, tourists are not only invited to see the three species that exist in Bali, namely Green Turtles, Hawksbill Turtles, and Loggerhead Turtles, but tourists will also be invited to see the process of hatching turtle eggs that are naturally done in sand ponds provided, quarantine turtles, and even release turtles that are ready to be released into the wild.

Even if there are turtle eggs hatching, the visiting tourists will also be involved in moving the hatchlings to the quarantine pond. "This process is very popular with tourists, because they have the opportunity to participate in the turtle conservation process."

Subak Intaran Barat & Timur

by Natures

Subak Intaran is a beautiful area located in Sanur Kauh, Bali, Indonesia. It is known for its lush rice fields, particularly those in Jalan Prapat Beris, and its traditional irrigation system that supports sustainable agriculture through cooperative water management. Additionally, the well-maintained jogging track in the area attracts many visitors.

The rice fields in Subak Intaran Barat are a sight to behold. They are well-maintained and have a natural beauty that is both calming and breathtaking. The rice paddies are tended to by local farmers who use a traditional irrigation system known as subak. The subak system has been used for centuries and is still used today in many parts of Bali. It is a cooperative system where farmers work together to manage the distribution of water for irrigation.

The subak system is not only a testament to the ingenuity of the Balinese people but also to their commitment to sustainability. By working together, the farmers ensure that the water is distributed fairly and that the rice fields are irrigated in a way that does not harm the environment. This system has also helped to preserve the traditional way of life in Bali and is an important cultural aspect of the island.

Apart from the rice fields, Subak Intaran Barat also boasts a well-maintained jogging track. The track is popular with both locals and tourists who come to enjoy the beautiful scenery and get some exercise. It is an excellent place for joggers to take in the sights and sounds of the countryside while getting some much-needed exercise.

The Blanjong Inscription

by Cultures

The Blanjong Inscription is located at Pura Blanjong in the Banjar Blanjong area, Sanur Kauh Village, South Denpasar District, Denpasar City, Bali.

The Blanjong Inscription is a stone inscription made of andesite, known as a sila inscription. It takes the form of a stone pillar or a lotus flower. The inscription measures 177 cm in height and has a diameter of approximately 62 cm. The writing on the Blanjong Inscription is carved on both sides. The northwest side contains 6 lines of writing, using the Pre-Negara script commonly used in North India and Old Balinese language. On the southeast side, there are 13 lines of writing using the Old Balinese (Kawi) script and Sanskrit language.

The Blanjong Inscription was issued by King Sri Kesari Warmadewa in the month of Phalguna (the 12th month of the Caka year) in the year 835 Caka (911 AD). In terms of paleography, the letter forms used in the Blanjong Inscription are contemporaneous with the short inscriptions found in Candi Kalasan in Central Java. Such letter forms were commonly used in North India and began to be adopted in Indonesia around the 8th and 9th centuries. The Blanjong Inscription serves as a victory monument or Jaya Stamba/Jaya Cihna over the enemies in the Gurun region (Nusa Penida) and Swal (Ketewel Beach). It was created to commemorate this victory (Wiguna, 1990: 29-38).

From the language and script used, as well as the content of the Blanjong Inscription, it reflects the local wisdom in the fields of science and technology (iptek) and power (politics). The use of two languages (bilingual) and two scripts (bescrif) demonstrates the skill, mastery, and knowledge of the people during the reign of King Sri Kesari Warmadewa in the 10th century AD. Such inscriptions are unique and the only ones found in Bali. Generally, inscriptions in Bali are written in the Old Balinese script using the Sanskrit language (Pre-Negara script) or in the Old Balinese language using the Old Balinese script (Kawi). However, the Blanjong Inscription was created using two languages and two script systems. Another remarkable feature of the Blanjong Inscription is the cross-script usage, where the Sanskrit language is written using the Old Balinese script (Kawi), while the Old Balinese language is written using the Pre-Negara script. This fact indicates that the inscription's author (citralekha) was someone proficient in language and writing conventions, especially in both languages and scripts. This proficiency is undoubtedly based on the prevailing traditions and cultural background of that era and its preceding traditions.

The wisdom in the political field (power) is reflected in the content of the inscription, which mentions that the king has successfully defeated his enemies in Gurun and Swal. This statement indicates that the king's authority was extensive and possibly extended throughout Bali. The inscription also contains curses (sapata) directed at those who violate its contents. This demonstrates that King Sri Kesari Warmadewa ruled with firmness, wisdom, and a commitment to upholding the supremacy of the law.

Since its discovery by Stutterheim around 1930, the Blanjong Inscription has suffered some deterioration, with several lines of letters missing. The site has been registered as a cultural heritage site and has undergone several conservation efforts, including the construction of protective structures.

Wihara Satya Dharma

by Cultures

Vihara Satya Dharma is situated in the Benoa Port area of Bali, Indonesia, and serves as a Tridharma place of worship. Despite being referred to as a "vihara," it actually caters to three religions: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, as stated in its inauguration inscription. Similar to other temples and viharas in Bali, this place of worship exhibits a fusion with Balinese Hinduism, as seen through the presence of the Padmasana shrine and the Karang Statue in the front corner of the courtyard.

Nezha is the primary deity revered at Vihara Satya Dharma. Additionally, the temple constructs altars for the Singbing deities associated with travel safety, navigation, and trade. This place of worship aims to cater to sailors from various nations who frequently dock at Benoa Port, filling the void of a temple that previously did not exist in the area. Moreover, it aspires to attract both local and international tourists visiting the region.

The Chinese characters above the name Vihara Satya Dharma are written as 宮安保, pronounced as "bǎo ān gōng" when read from right to left. The character 保 (bǎo) signifies concepts such as guarding, protecting, preserving, guaranteeing, and providing assurance. 安 (ān) conveys notions of satisfaction, calmness, stability, tranquility, safety, comfort, health, finding a place, installation, fixing, pacifying, bringing, securing, protecting, security, and peace. 宮 (gōng) represents a palace, temple, castration, or the first note of the pentatonic scale. Collectively, the characters 安保 (ānbǎo) translate to "security" or "safety." Thus, bǎo ān gōng literally means the "Temple of Security." This term is commonly employed by temples with the objective of instilling a sense of security, particularly on a spiritual level, among their devotees.

Although the term "vihara" is frequently used by various temples in Bali, it may refer to different places of worship. This usage stems from the political context in Indonesia before the recognition of Confucianism as the sixth religion.

Vihara Satya Dharma is situated at the northern end of the toll road in Benoa Port. The funds for its construction were collected through contributions from the Indonesian people, particularly those residing in Bali, as well as from sailors from Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand who dock at Benoa Port. The construction spanned six years and was officially inaugurated in 2012. The inauguration ceremony for the vihara building was held on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, with the presence of Bali's Deputy Governor, AA Ngurah Puspayoga.

Prasasti Batujimbar

by Cultures

The Batu Jimbar Inscription, located in Banjar Betngandang, Sanur Kauh Village, is an inscription consisting of copper plates created during the 12th to 14th centuries. The number of plates is incomplete, with only six plates preserved, currently kept at Nyoman Sumariana's house. Despite the incomplete set, research has been able to outline the general content of the inscriptions using the Old Balinese script and the Javanese Kawi language. The research divides the inscriptions into two groups. 

The first group, comprising Plates II, VI, VII, XIII, and XIV, contains information about tax obligations for Karaman Indrapura. These taxes are related to the duty of worshiping the deities enthroned on Bukit Tunggal. However, the exact period and ruling kingdom when these inscriptions were made cannot be determined due to the incompleteness of the plates. It is estimated, though, that these inscriptions were issued by Paduka Sri Maharaja Sri Jayasakti, who ruled Bali around the Caka year 1055-1071 (1133-1149 AD). They were also allowed to fell prohibited trees such as kemiri trees that shaded rice fields, houses, meeting halls, and palm or enau trees. Several officials and their positions are mentioned, including Samgat Caksu Karanakranta held by Pangdudal, Mpungku Lokeswara held by Dang Aacaryya Abhipura, Mpungkwing Canggini Dang Upadhayaya Widyottama, and Samgat Mangirendiren Wadani held by Sangkawiryya.

Moving on to the second group, there is only one plate, Plate III. This plate mentions the grant of a sizable land by an official with the title Rsi Nara Rajapatih. The land grant was witnessed by various officials and included curses for anyone who dared to violate it. Officials such as Senapati Sarbwa, Senapati Wresanten, Senapati Balmbunut, Senapari Manyiringan, and Manyuratang I Halu witnessed the granting of the inscription. The same information is also found in the Cempaga C Inscription issued by King Bhatara Sri Mahaguru in the Caka year 1246 (1334 AD) and the Selumbung Karangasem Inscription issued by King Bhatara Sriwijaya Kartaningrat and his mother, who held the title Paduka Tara Sri Mahaguru, in the Caka year 1250 (1338 AD).

The inscription includes its boundaries, stating that its eastern boundary remains the same as before. The northern boundary is west of Bangkyang Siddhi Village, reaching Kalkalan, Air Bakung, and Srimuka, then turning north again until Darawati, which marks the boundary from Srimuka.

Sekaa Barong Eka Budhi

by Cultures

Sekaa Eka Budhi is a cultural group in Bali, Indonesia that is dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional Balinese performing arts. The group focuses on various art forms, including music, dance, and theater, and plays a vital role in showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Bali.

Sekaa Eka Budhi consists of highly skilled performers who have undergone extensive training in their respective art forms. They have mastered the intricate techniques, movements, and expressions that are characteristic of Balinese performing arts. The group comprises musicians, dancers, actors, and other artists who work together to create captivating and immersive performances.

One of the main objectives of Sekaa Eka Budhi is to keep the traditional Balinese arts alive and relevant in the modern era. They achieve this by regularly performing at cultural events, festivals, and ceremonies both within Bali and in other parts of the world. Their performances often feature traditional costumes, vibrant music, and elaborate choreography that mesmerize audiences and transport them into the world of Balinese culture.

Sekaa Eka Budhi is deeply rooted in the local community and actively engages in community activities. They organize workshops, training sessions, and educational programs to pass down their knowledge and skills to younger generations. By doing so, they ensure the continuity of Balinese arts and culture and encourage the participation of the youth in preserving these valuable traditions.

Moreover, Sekaa Eka Budhi collaborates with other cultural groups, institutions, and artists to promote cultural exchange and collaboration. They contribute to the development of innovative and contemporary artistic expressions while respecting the foundations of traditional Balinese arts. Through these collaborations, they expand their artistic horizons and enrich their performances with new ideas and influences.

Sekaa Eka Budhi serves as a cultural ambassador for Bali, representing the island's artistic traditions and contributing to its reputation as a hub for cultural tourism. Their dedication, passion, and commitment to preserving Balinese performing arts have earned them recognition and appreciation both locally and internationally.

In conclusion, Sekaa Eka Budhi is a cultural group that strives to preserve, promote, and innovate traditional Balinese performing arts. Through their performances, educational activities, and collaborations, they ensure the continuity of Balinese cultural heritage and inspire audiences with the beauty and significance of Balinese arts and culture. translate to indonesia