Exploring Ubud and the Spiritual Side of Bali: ‘The Island of the Gods’

Bali is Indonesia’s most popular tourist destination, famous for it’s beaches, surfing and luxury resorts. But there’s so much more to this beautiful island than just fun in the sun.

This tropical island is larger and more diverse than many people realise and it’s easy to escape tourist hotspots like Kuta, Legian and Seminyak and explore the cultural and spiritual side of Bali – the side that stole my heart and keeps me coming back again and again.

Exploring the Spiritual Side of Bali

Escape Kuta to explore the spiritual side of Bali. Where luscious jungles, green rice terraces, mountains, waterfalls and traditional villages and green rice field terraces dominate the interior.

The majestic cone of Gunung (Volcano) Angung presides with a God like presence over the whole island, while waves crash creating epic surf breaks around the temple topped cliffs of the Bukit Peninsular.

Ubud, the Spiritual and Cultural Heart of Bali 

Ubud is the cultural and artistic heart of Bali and has been made famous as the spiritual hub of Bali by the popular book and film – Eat Pray Love. Ubud is Bali’s biggest yoga hotspot with so many studios, retreats and raw vegan cafes. Check out this comprehensive guide to yoga in Bali for more.

Having seen the film I had high expectations for Ubud, alas the center has become quite busy and touristy so those visiting on a day trip may not understand what all the fuss is about.

But take some time and stay in Ubud for a while as there’s plenty to do here and you can still experience the cultured, artistic, spiritual Ubud. Walk through the rice fields, take in the stunning rice terrace views, admire Balinese paintings, watch a traditional dance, practice yoga, relax with a Balinese massage and listen to traditional gamelan music – the real soundtrack of Bali.

Spiritual Bali – The Island of the Gods

For me, the omnipresent, enchanting, ancient temples and the culture, religions, traditions and hospitality that is uniquely Balinese make the island of Bali such a paradise.

This ‘island of the gods’ has a unique culture all of it’s own, a Hindu enclave very different to the rest of Muslim dominated Indonesia – the largest Muslim population in the world and the 4th most populace country in the world.

The Hindu society here is the only one left in South East Asia and the religion differs from that found and practiced in India.

Hinduism in Bali still has a strong focus on animism and a belief in the good and bad spirits, and positive and negative forces, that are omnipresent in the world. Religious activity still permeates almost every aspect of Balinese life, so much so that religious events apparently occupy a third of the average Balinese social calender.

Daily life is still dominated by the rituals. Enchanting little offerings called canang are made from banana leaves for the gods appear all over Bali every morning, in every nook and cranny and on every weathered statue.

Each canang is different. I’m told that all that matters is that what ever you offer comes from the heart. Holy water is sprinkled on the offering and incense lit to let the deity know to come and get the offering.

Offerings are even tossed across the pavements and the beach as even the demons and bad spirits can also be appeased with offerings. The smell of sandalwood incense fills the air wafting up from ancient statues of mythical creatures wrapped in cloths sheltering under elaborate umbrellas.

Completing the magic are the the penyor (ornamental bamboo poles) bowed down with garlands of flowers that wave in the breeze arching over the roads always pointing the the volcano Gunung Agung that is revered, feared and respected in equal measures.

The Island of a Thousand Temples

Every house has it’s own temple shrine – this is why Bali is called the ‘Island of a Thousand Temples’ but this is still a massive understatement.

You would be extremely unlucky, even only on a weeks holiday, to miss a temple festival or ceremony. Each of the 20,000 temples of Bali holds an annual festival to entertain the gods with processions, offerings, traditional dances and cock fights.

Witness the Balinese in their beautiful traditional dress of sarongs, sashs and head cloths called udeng; a kaleidescope of colours perched on mopeds swerving through the evening congestion. Thronging to the temple laden with offerings upon their heads trying to avoid the cheeky monkeys.

Despite the natural beauty, the real magic of this island lies within the Balinese, who approach everything with a smile, faith and good grace, illuminating this beautiful island with an ever present spirit that is what makes Bali so special.

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