Hetal Chirag
When we were travelling through Bali, we visited one of the most remarkable temples of Bali, Pura Taman Ayun.
Situated in the village of Mengwi, Taman Ayun temple is certainly one of the most attractive temples in Bali. Taman Ayun means “beautiful Garden” and as its name implies, the temple is surrounded by beautiful green gardens and ponds. Built in 16th century, this temple showcases remarkable architecture inspired by Balinese culture. There is a unique fountain inside the temple that has nine water jets positioned according to cardinal positions signifying the nine main Gods of Balinese Hinduism.
While we were in Bali we also visited another unique Balinese temple called the Batuan Temple. Unlike other big temples in Bali which attract a lot of tourists, Batuan Temple was more of a traditional Balinese temple. We simply pulled over because it was on our way from Denpasar to Ubud, but I have to admit the temple did not disappoint. Before entering the temple, we borrowed colourful sarongs for a small fee to cover our legs. With intricate sculptures, beautiful paintings and traditional art works on the doors and windows, the temple looked absolutely stunning.
After visiting the Batuan Temple, we took a little detour to Tegenungan Waterfalls. It’s a hidden gem you must explore if you are a nature lover. Getting to the gorgeous Tegenungan Waterfalls is an exciting journey in itself. You need to walk down the stairs to reach the trail that leads to a narrow bridge made from bamboos and tree trunks held tightly together by a few straps.
Once we crossed the bridge, we went for a swim underneath the Tegenungan Waterfalls. Since the water is not too deep you can easily walk around in the water as long as you don’t get too close to the falls. If you don’t feel like going for a dip, you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings. Since this fall is situated in the dense forest area, it offers an amazing panoramic view of the milky white Tegenungan Waterfalls surrounded by lush green trees.
