History

Some of the TOP Hotels in Bali

Bali's most famous and crowded resort is Kuta beach, a six-kilometre sweep of golden sand, with plenty of accommodation, shops and nightlife. Nearby Sanur is much quieter, but most backpackers prefer the beaches of peaceful east-coast Candi Dasa and traveller-oriented Lovina on the north coast. The island's other major destination is the cultural centre of Ubud , a still charming but undeniably commercialized overgrown village, where traditional dances are staged every night of the week and the streets are full of arts-and-crafts galleries.

Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa : The Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa is a luxury property strategically located only 15 kilometers away from the... Nusa Dua
Aston Bali Resort & Spa : The Aston Bali Resort and Spa is a luxury hotel located on the waterfront facing golden sandy beaches... Tanjung Benoa
Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel : Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel is situated in the coastal village of Sanur, an ideal location from which to explore... Sanur
Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites : The Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites is located in Sanur Village just two kilometers from the Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel....Grand Bali Beach Hotel also is a nice hotel in Sanur.
Swiss Belhotel Bali Aga : The Swiss Belhotel Bali Aga is a deluxe property strategically located only 20 kilometers northeast from the Ngurah Rai... Nusa Dua
Grand Hyatt Bali Hotels located in Nusa Dua and The Oberoi Bali located in Seminyak, Maya Ubud located in Ubud, The Alilia Ubud, Chedi, Hard Rock Hotel Bali located in Kuta beach, Melia Bali located in Nusa Dua and Padma Bali located in Kuta

Historically speaking, Bali is a fossilized Java, a living museum of the old Indo-Javanese civilization. Over 400 years ago all of East Java was like Bali is today. Prior to 1815 Bali had a greater population density than Java, suggesting that its Hindu-Balinese civilization was even more successful than Java's. The Indian culture was present on Bali as early as the 9th Century and the Balinese language is derived from the Palava script of South India. Bali today provides scholars with clues about India's past religious life in old sacred texts that have long ago vanished in India itself. When Gadja Mada of Java's Majapahit Empire conquered Bali in the mid-14th Century, East Javanese influences spread from purely religious and cultural spheres into arts, sculpture, architecture. When this empire fell in the 15th Century under pressure from the military and economic invasion of Islam, there was a mass migration of the cream of Majapahit's scholars, dancers and rulers to Bali. Priests took with them all their sacred books and historical records. Here they found refuge and developed unique Bali-Hindu customs and institutions. But Hinduism is only the veneer. The adopted Hindu practices of the new masters were merely superimposed on the deeply rooted aboriginal animism of the Balinese natives who hold beliefs dating back to the Bronze Age and even as far oack as the Megalithic Age. In the early 19th Century, Bali's sole export was its highly-prized slaves, and its imports were gold, rubies and opium. Bali remained obscure for so long because of its lack of spices and ivory, its steep cliffs rising from the sea, the deep straits and treacherous tidal currents and reefs which encircle it. Surprisingly, the incredibly fertile lava-rich lowlands of Bali were among the last areas to be occupied by the Dutch and only came under their colonial rule following prolonged resistence. When a wrecked cargo ship off Bali's south coast was looted by the Balinese at the turn of this century (a traditional practice of island peoples), the Dutch used this incident as a pretense to implement their control over the island. One sunny morning in 1908 at Puputan Square, Denpasar, Hindu princes and their families, wearing splendid ceremonial costumes and waving priceless krises at the invaders, charged deliberately into Dutch rifles. This mass suicide (puputan) resulted in the annihilation of the entire royal family.

Nusa Lembongan is situated 12 miles south east of Bali. It is one hour traveling time by boat from Benoa Harbour. This pear shaped island is around 4km long and 2km wide. It is surrounded by a beautiful fringing reef, which hosts a myriad of marine life, The waters are renowned for their abundance of life and great surf breaks. The reef has been declared a marine park by the Indonesian authorities. Not only does the reef support its own Eco-system, but it supports most of the villagers on the island as well. The local people farm seaweed. This seaweed is cultivated, harvested then exported all over the world for use in cosmetics, food stabilizers and medicines. Other sources of income include traditional wooden boat building, farming peanuts, sweet potato, and fishing.Village life is very slow and enchanting. Very few cars and motorbikes are seen on the roads. The people are steeped in tradition, and one could imagine Bali being like this island, thirty years ago.Although the island is small there are many things to do. Fishing, diving, surfing, mangrove exploring, discovering natural fresh water springs, underground cave house exploring, cycling around the island. A visit to the bat caves on a nearby island, or a picnic at dream beach. Try catching mud cabs in the mangrove area at the back of the island. There is something for every one at Nusa Lembongan.