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The Island
 

Topography
 

The climate
 

Flora & Fauna

Flora

Fauna
 

Population
 

Religion
 

Temples &

Architecture
 

Government
 

Economy

Temples and architecture

 

All houses, temples, walls, doors, roofs and even the trees are decorated with the finest art of the world. Gods and demons can hide themselves in any object and any living being like trees, animals, fish .... The Hinduism is worshipped everywhere and puts its stamps in the architecture. Art is seen as far the eye can reach. In looking at any Balinese work of art we should keep in mind that the artist's hand is always guided by religion. The representation of merely a means to an end: its sole purpose is to make religion and religious ideas understandable to the beholder.

The houses

 

The protective wall sculptured with terrifying figures that surrounds the family houses and the narrow entrance are believed to keep the evil spirits away. The layout of the traditional Balinese farmstead consists of a compound with a number of buildings of varying size. The protective wall not only serves to keep out the unwanted demons, but illustrates the solidarity of the Balinese extended family. In a village, all entrances of the compounds are on the same side, with the same rectangular enclosure the inevitable family temple is always in the same position, and the various separate buildings are arranged in almost exactly the same pattern. A family compound, regardless the status, all have the same buildings: the family temple, the living and the sleeping apartments, the kitchen, the rice store, the stalls for the domestic animals and a building which serves various ritual purposes are laid out on broadly the same plan.

 

 

 

Only one feature distinguishes a family of higher social rank: the more prosperous Balinese have an additional building in which various ceremonies are performed. The number of living and sleeping apartments depends on the size of the family.

 

 

The temples

 

There are over 20.000 temples on Bali, not counting the family temples in every compound. Every temple has it's own 'birthday'. The anniversary of the temple is celebrated in the whole village, and preparations for it may take weeks or even months. The celebration itself can last up to 3 days. Every day, a particular ceremony is performed.

The temples in Bali are less colourful than the ones in Thailand. They are more sober, but at the occasions, decorated with flowers ribbons and fabrics. Some important temples are the temples of Tanah Lot, Besakih, Pura Batukau. The temple of Besakih is the largest Hindu temple in the world, and every millenium, there is a millenium anniversary, with hundred thousands of Hindu people gathering from all over the world.

Besakih Temple

Tanah Lot Temple

 

The layout of a Balinese temple is similar to that of a family compound. It is always oriented towards the mountain and usually consists of three court-yards, which symbolise not only the three worlds (upper, middle and lower world) but also the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

 

The Balinese temples have the following common elements:

1. The split gate: a narrow entrance opening;

2. The covered gate: it leads to the second courtyard into the third part of the temple;

3. The protective wall: to keep out evil spirits and demons;

4. The pavillion;

5. The Gedon: a shrine for the accommodation of the Gods;

6. The Padmasana: an arrangement of the seating for the Gods;

7. The Meru: is a pagoda-like structure in the innermost precinct of a temple which symbolises Mount Meru, the abode of all the Hindu divinities;

8. The Pelinggih: a shrine for the God that is a permanent resident in the temple

9. The bell-tower.