Indonesia
Indonesia is a kaleidoscope of taste, sight, sound, and smells bottled up in the world’s largest archipelago. Spread out over a mind-boggling 17,000 islands, the country offers a vast melange of experiences begging to be sampled by visitors from across the world. Ranging from the smouldering volcanoes of central Java to the verdant expanses of Bali’s rice terraces, from Jakarta’s sprawling luxury malls to the untouched marine biosphere of Rajah Ampat and the lush rainforests of Borneo, Indonesia is ripe for adventure for the eager tourist. Coupled with the exceedingly friendly local population, Indonesia is quickly becoming one of the world’s favourite tourist destinations.
Bali
Bali, Indonesia’s most famous island, is located to the west of Java in the Lesser Sunda Islands. It is world-renowned for its scenic rice terraces, fragrant cuisine, stunning beaches and a galore of culture and tradition. With its elaborate temples, endless coastline, some of the world’s best coral reefs, waterfalls and retreats, Bali combines leisure and adventure impeccably. A dizzying combination of spiritual awakening and hard-partying all into one, Bali is where people from all over the world come to lose themselves in.
Ulu Watu
Situated at the south-western tip of Bukit in Bali, Uluwatu attracts surfers of all levels from around the world to its exciting shoreline. The waves are composed of five world-class surf breaks, and the hotels and restaurants overlooking the Indian ocean provide a magnificent view. The Pura Luru Uluwatu temple is another important attraction in this area. Situated at the south-western tip of Bukit in Bali, the short strip of beach called Uluwatu attracts surfers of all levels from around the world to its exciting shoreline. Uluwatu comes from the words “ulu” meaning ‘land’s end’ and “watu” meaning rock. The waves here are composed of five world-class surf breaks, and the hotels and restaurants overlooking the Indian Ocean provide a magnificent view.
Scuba Diving
When you think of the prospect of scuba diving in Bali, exploring the majesty under the sea, drinking in the sheer exhilaration, Bali is one of the first places that come to mind. And rightfully so! With an abundance of beaches offering spectacular views and plenty of friendly ocean creatures, you’re bound to have a fantastic time here. But when there’s so much to offer, how are you supposed to choose? Worry not, for we’ve rounded up the best locations and all additional information to go scuba diving in Bali!
Tanah Lot
Located on a beautiful offshore rock in Tabanan regency, Bali, Tanah Lot or ‘Land on the Sea’ is a Hindu shrine believed to be about 500 years old. An amalgamation of Balinese and Hindu mythology, the base of the temple is carved with sea snakes and offers a natural source of holy water, providing visitors with an aesthetic and spiritual experience unlike any other. The Tanah Lot temple can be found some 300 metres (over 980 feet) off the island shore. It is one of seven temples along the Bali coast. In fact, from this beautiful rock temple, you can see the Pura Ulu Watu temple site on the cliffs to the south, and a long sweep of azure waters to the west, near Negara.
Kuta Beach
Kuta beach heralded the era of tourism in Bali. A few minutes away from the Bali airport, Kuta attracts hundreds of visitors to its golden sands and surf waves making it one of the busiest and liveliest beaches the country has to offer. A plethora of cheap options for accommodation, food and beach clubs make this ideal for young travellers seeking a fun beach holiday.
Ubud Art Market
Located right opposite the Puri Saren Royal Palace, Ubud Art Market is the ideal place to buy something authentic to Bali From ikat woven skirts and woodcarvings to oil lamps and brass statuettes, this market has all kinds of handicrafts. With relatively higher quality and greater varierty of products, this market is popular with both locals and foreigners. As always, bargaining is a must. Located right in the heart of the city, Ubud Art Market is also called the Pasar Seni Ubud. Home to a variety of products and assortments, Ubud Art Market is a traditional market alive with its narrow lanes, sellers, colourful merchandise and buyers who come from across the world. The highlight of visiting the Ubud Market, however, is its local essence that is hard to find in any mall or shopping complexes.
Nusa Dua Beach
Often described as an ‘All Inclusive’ beach, Nusa Dua has everything one could ask for – shopping complexes, high-end hotels, museums, even an 18-hole golf course! The pristine white sand and blue waters provide for an awe- inspiring scene to rejuvenate your senses, and the additional facilities of spas and watersports make this an ideal location for both the honeymooning couples and travelling families.
Bali Safari & Marine Park
The Safari and Marine Park in Gianyar is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in Bali. Home to more than 100 animal species the Safari and Marine Park is a complete outdoor package. Wildlife from Indian, African and Indonesian national parks find their place here and can be viewed from the comfort of the safari rides. The Safari and Marine Park is also a leading conversation hub and shelters endangered species, such as the Komodo Dragon and Bali Mynah bird. With luxury stays within the park, water amusement activities, cultural centres and the night safaris, the Safari and Marine Park is a must-visit for wildlife enthusiasts.
Ubud Palace
An itinerary to Bali is incomplete without a stopover at Ubud Palace, located right on the main Jalan Raya Ubud road. Built in the 19th century by the ruler Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel, the palace’s front section with its gardens and carvings is a visual delight, while international events on art, music and literature are held inside, making this place a cultural repository of Ubud.
Nungnung Waterfall
Between Bedugul and Ubud lies Air Terjun Nungnung, a beautiful waterfall to refresh your senses. Located about 900m above sea level,the waterfall is surrounded by lush greenery and is a great spot for nature-lovers. However, the water is a little rough for swimming, and the 500-step pathway to access it can prove to be quite the exercise. Crashing from a height of 50m the waterfall makes for a powerful yet, endearing sight. Surrounded by beautiful rocky and green landscapes the Nungnung Waterfall interestingly is also devoid of large crowds. The flight of around 500 steps that takes one to the waterfall is one of the main reasons why the Nungnung Waterfall is relatively less crowded.
Seminyak Beach
Also called the ‘Spa and boutique shopping capital of Bali’, Seminyak beach offers a more upscale experience than its immediate neighbours Kuta and Legian. With a quiet and laid-back atmosphere, this beach has some of the best fine-dining restaurants in Bali in addition to the luxury resorts and villas, making your stay here absolutely pleasurable. Seminyak Beach is one of the poshest and stylish beaches in Bali. This beach is extremely clean and prices to be a great retreat. This beach is visited by a large number of people who come here to relax and enjoy. The white sandy terrain, shimmering blue water and verdant palm trees make the beach look serene and picturesque. The beauty of this beach during the sunset when the sky is filled with myriad shades of colours is inexpressible.
Yogyakarta
Located in Central Java, Yogyakarta, or Jogjakarta, is one of Indonesia’s most important cultural, intellectual, and literary hubs, and is the beating heart of Indonesian tradition. A short flight away from the capital Jakarta, Jogja or Yogya, as it is often abbreviated to, is easily accessible from other major tourist destinations around the region such as Bali or Singapore. Bounded by the Indian Ocean to its south, and the fiery active volcano Mount Merapi to the north, Yogyakarta is also home to Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple compound, Prambanan. Its close proximity to the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur, also underscores its nature as a multicultural mecca, as Jogja is a predominantly Muslim community.
Borobudur
The Borobudur Temple complex is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most visited attractions in Indonesia, it was built in the 8th-Century. A marvel of Buddhist architecture, with multiple platforms stacked on each other, the temple is capped off with a magnificent dome peering down on top of them. The temple is also adorned with hundreds of relief panels and statues of the Buddha in multiple meditative postures, most of which are still intact today. The temple itself is located just 45 minutes away from the thriving metropolis of Yogyakarta.
Prambanan Temple
A temple of the 10th century, The Prambanan Temple is the largest temple devoted to Lord Shiva in Indonesia. The temple houses numerous portrayals of the Ramayana with references to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, the three great Hindu deities, along with three temples devoted to the animals that were believed to serve them.
Jomblang Caves
The Jomblang Caves are a part of a cave system that reaches the whole of Gunung Kidul. The cave had formed around a thousand years ago when the soil and vegetation had collapsed under the surface of the earth. It had created a sinkhole that was roughly 50 m wide and up to 80 m deep. Over the thousand years, supported by the ‘Heavenly Rays,’ which is a daily 3-hour window of sunlight that enters the cave, helped an incredible underground forest take root.
Merapi Volcano
Mount Merapi, also known as Gunung Merapi is an active volcano situated on the periphery of the Central Java and Yogyakarta territories, Indonesia. It literally translates to to Fire Mountain in Javanese, In fact, it most recently erupted in 2018 and can still be seen spewing ash and smoke at periodic intervals.
Wayang Kulit
Wayang Kulit is a form of traditional performance art, native to Javanese, Balinese and Lombok cultures in South-East Asia. It is quite a stunner of a puppet show, where carved leather figures are played against light to cast shadows from on a taut linen screen. It has been around for centuries and this much-loved artform is now spreading out from Indonesia to the rest of Asia.
Jakarta
Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta is also the nation’s cultural, economic and political centre. Amble leisurely through Kota Baru, or Jakarta’s Old Town, where colonial Dutch architecture remains preserved as they stood during the times before Indonesia’s independence. Take in the heady sights and smells of Glodok, Jakarta’s historic Chinatown area, before heading towards central Jakarta to marvel at MONAS, Indonesia’s National Monument to its
freedom struggle.
National Monument of Indonesia (MONAS) The largest national museum in South East Asia, Monumen Nasional or National Monument of Indonesia is massive tower located at the center of Merdeka Square. It will take you through the evolution of Indonesia’s culture since its pre-historic times, with many artefacts from each era. The outer yard houses reliefs from the Japanese occupation during World War II and the Proclamation of Independence in 1945.
Mesjid Istiqlal
Mesjid Istiqlal is a famous mosque in Jakarta. The mosque is so huge that it can accommodate as many as 120,000 people making it the biggest mosque in South East Asia. The mosque is an architectural delight, and resonates peace when one goes inside. It serves as the praying place for the muslims of the country but it is visited by everyone from all walks of life.
Seaworld Ancol
Sea World Ancol, also known as Sea World Jakarta, is a marine aquarium that aims to provide entertainment, conservation and education in the marine domain. It comprises of 1 Main Tank, 1 Shark Tank and several small tanks. The Main Tank is the biggest aquarium in South East Asia. The owner company plans to turn this facility into the world’s largest sea park.