info"++

bali dancing
bali cycling
activities
more about bali hotel
Bali Handicrafts Wholesaler

Pulaki

After Seririt the road leaves the coast, taking a sharp turn inland - for much of the rest of the journey to the west, the ocean is no longer visible, and the landscape is dominated by the mountains and hills of the south.


The sheltered harbor of Celukan Bawang, 16 km west of Siririt, now serves as the port for Buleleng's import and export trade.
Further west, near the village of Banyupoh, experience the delights of Pantai Gondol, a superb beach with clean sand and a beautiful coral reef Pantai Gondol is a marvelous spot for swimming and snorkeling. It is also the site of a fishery research project.
A cluster of temples, the most important and easily accessible of which is Pura Pulaki, lies some 30 km past Seririt on the coast. Pura Pulaki is located in unusual terrain - a rock-face rises perpendicularly on the left-hand side of the road while the glimmering ocean laps the right-hand side. Pulaki, the home of monkeys who have a repUtation for snatching bags and cameras, has recently undergone restoration and extension. The temple has a fascinating history that is linked to the legendary personage of Nirartha, a Javanese priest who migrated to Bali in the 16th century. It is told that prior to his arrival, a village of 8000 people existed here. When Nirartha visited, the village leader requested a boon that Nirartha granted: the entire village was to be given supernatural knowledge that would enable it to attain an immaterial state. The invisible occupants of this village became known as gamang or wong samar and form the entourage of Goddess Melanting, whose abode is the nearby Pura Melanting.
The Balinese in these parts fervently believe in the existence of the gamang and routinely make offerings to them. For example, it is held that the entry of gamang into one's house yard is heralded by the howling of dogs. Occasional reports even circulate of the sighting of gamang who have momentarily materialized - they are said to have no upper lip and carry a plaited bag over one shoulder.
The final stage of this journey through western Buleleng passes through Taman Nasional Bali Barat, the West Bali National Park. Past Labuhan Lalang jetty, boats to Menjangan Island can be hired.
At Teluk Terima, a short distance down the road, visit Makam Jayaprana, the gravesite of Jayaprana. According to Balinese legend, Jayaprana was an orphan who was raised by the ruler of Kalianget village. As an adult he married the lovely Nyoman Layonsari from the neighboring village of Banjar. However, the ruler himself became enamored of Jayaprana's bride and schemed to kill Jayaprana to have her for himself. He dispatched Jayaprana with an army to contain a band of pirates who he said had arrived in northwestern Bali. On arrival at Teluk Terima the ruler's minister killed and buried Jayaprana. When the ruler asked Layonsari to marry him, however, she chose to remain faithful to her husband and committed suicide.

 

Search This Site
   


The temple marking Jayaprana's grave is a long and steep climb but the views from about halfway across to Mt Semeru on Java, to Menjangan Island, and to Gilimanuk at the western tip of Bali, make the effort all worthwhile. The temple, which contains a glass case displaying statues of Jayaprana and Layonsari, is pure kitsch.

 

Links
Tour
More
Copyright 2005 Bali Tour & Travel All Right reserved .