Are you ready to embark on a journey to the mesmerizing island paradise of Bali?
It has an area of 2,232 square miles (5,780 square kilometers) filled with beaches, temples, and rich culture for you to explore and enjoy!
So pack your bags because here are 15 blissful facts about Bali:
Bali is a popular destination for digital nomads.
Bali, Indonesia, is home to many digital nomads who love the idea of an island lifestyle.
However, according to digital nomads themselves, living in Bali is worth it, not only because of the beautiful beaches and relaxing ambiance but also the surfing and cafe culture.
Regarding these beaches in Bali, some to look out for are Canggu, Uluwatu, and Sanur.
The main religion in Bali is Hinduism.
While 87% of Indonesians report being Muslim, that isn’t the case for Bali, as their primary religion is Hinduism.
Hinduism was introduced to Indonesia by Indian merchants, scholars, and priests during the 1st century.
While the majority of Indonesia eventually converted to Islam around the 15th century, Bali remained the only majority Hindu holdout.
Every village in Bali has a temple!
As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of temples in Bali, which explains why it’s also called “the island of a thousand temples” and “the island of the Gods.”
It’s estimated that there are over 10,000 temples spread across the island.
To show respect, people entering these temples must wear a sarong, and both men and women are required to cover their shoulders and back.
If you’re wondering what a sarong looks like, it’s a long thin piece of cloth wrapped around your body that covers your legs below the knee.
Bali has its own form of Hinduism.
Bali is a spiritual place, and the majority of the population practices Balinese Hinduism, distinct from typical Hinduism, as it incorporates the belief that everything has a spirit, whether animate or inanimate. This belief is also referred to as animism.
Getting their own form of Hinduism recognized wasn’t easy, though.
In 1952 the Indonesian government began only accepting religions that have one God, forcing the Balinese people to adapt their religion and present it in a politically acceptable way, eventually gaining acceptance in 1959.
Bali’s Lempuyang Temple doesn’t actually have a lake.
You’ve probably seen a picture of The Lempuyang Temple, one of Bali’s oldest temples and often called the Gates of Heaven.
It has risen in popularity primarily because of the reflection photos tourists have posted on social media apps like Instagram… but don’t be fooled!
The reflection that most people think comes from a lake in front of the temple just comes from a mirror held under the camera by a local – for a donation.
Thousands flock to the springs at Bali’s Tampaksiring temple to wash away their sins.
The holy spring temple in Bali is called Tirta Empul and is located near the town of Tampaksiring.
Its famous spring is found in the central yard of the temple, also known as Jaba Tengah, consisting of 2 pools with 30 water showers.
The temple’s water is considered blessed, which is why so many people go there to be purified from their sins.
You can find beaches with black sand in Bali!
These fascinating beaches are found on Bali’s North and East coasts, where you’ll also find Bali’s volcanoes.
The island’s volcanoes play a crucial role in why these black sand beaches exist, as black sand is made from eroded volcanic materials.
Bali has a tradition of filing teeth.
Why Bali has a teeth filing ritual (also known as metatah) boils down to their spiritual beliefs.
Balinese people believe that the sharp edges of the canine teeth represent a person’s “Sad Ripu,” or the evil traits of a person, and removing them reduces a human’s negative characteristics.
This tradition is mandatory for Bali’s teenagers, although in modern times, the filing of these teeth is more symbolic; in the past, it was done until the canine features were removed.
There’s a fire dance in Bali called Kecak Dance.
The Kecak dance is dedicated to the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic from ancient India, which shows how King Rama was able to save his wife, Sita.
It started in the 1930s and is often performed by numerous men in the Uluwatu temple, even reaching up to 50 to 60 performers!
The fire dance starts with the performers making a circle wherein the fire is placed in the middle. Then, throughout the dance, they make a chant that sounds like “cak” or “keh-chak” to represent an army of monkeys from the story.
