By Bagus Perbawa
Prema Tours & Travel Bali
First stop : Goa Gajah (Elephant
Cave) Temple
Second stop : Tirtha Empul (Holy Spring
Water) temple
Third stop : Kintamani (penelokan
area)
Fourth Stop : Besakih (The Mother
Temple of Bali)
Destinations additional information:
Gunung
Kawi, Goa
Gajah, Tirta
Empul, Kintamani,
Besakih
Duration :
approx 8 hours
Our Kintamani and Besakih tours started off at
around 8.30 am. We supposedly stop at the Gunung Kawi national
park but I thought it would be better if we just skipped the park
and spend more time at the other tourist destinations. So we ended
up spending more considerable times at other destinations and
a chance to explore more.
The other ideas was we were with one senior member of our company
and it would such a long walk for her to reach the tourist site.
Not too mention the altitude and the stairs, that we are quiet
certain it would not be a pleasant time for her.
We first arrive at Goa Gajah or elepahant cave at around 09.25
am. In fact the trip was rather slow but I thought it was a very
pleasant one. I enjoy the jokes and stories our guide told me.
Although as Balinese myself it is not quite a new information
for me but he was quite professional in delivering his information.
And he should be.
The Goa Gajah National park is a temple (elephant cave temple)
and once was ruined by natural cause. Judging from the ruins I
suspect it by an Earth Quake. There are history board at the bottom
of the staircase for those interested to know about them so when
you visit them make sure to have a glance at it.
The 11th century religious hermitage near Bedulu
(gianyar) has elaborate carvings at the entrance depicting monsters,
humans and forest scene. Inside the damp caves are niches probably
used by meditating Buddhist or Shiva monks. The ancient bathing
pools in the foreground of the temle were excavated in 1925. Goa
Gajah takes its name from (presumably) nearby river of Petanu,
formerly known as Iwa Gaja or Elephant River.
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