A trip to the Island of the Gods, or Bali as it’s more commonly known, isn’t complete without experiencing its spiritual and cultural attractions. While loud and lairy backpackers are best sticking to Kuta, there are plenty of historical UNESCO sites in other parts of this Indonesian archipelago that lure travellers looking for a more authentic Balinese experience.
If you’re the type of traveller who likes to go on daytime adventures and retreat into luxury in the evenings, I suggest you rent one of the best villas in Bali and use it as a landing pad to explore the local area. Indonesia has an intriguing, colourful culture and you don’t have to look far to find out what life is really like in Indonesia. Some of the nine most alluring spots where Indonesia’s ancient traditions are alive and well are highlighted here.
Where to experience local culture in Indonesia
Borobudur Temple
The Buddhist temple of Borobudur is located in central Java and dates way back to the 8th century. Covering an area of around 2500 square metres, the Borobudur Temple is comprised of three tiers that symbolise the cosmology of Buddhism of Kamadhatu, Rupadhatu and Arupadhatu respectively. The temple is best viewed during sunrise, when the lighting is just perfect.
Sangiran
A site where more than half of the world’s Hominid fossils have been discovered, Sangiran is an interesting place for those interested in human evolution. Though not as aesthetically pleasing as Borobudur, it still enjoys a lot of significance thanks to the Sangiran museum, which opened in 2011 to showcase the fossils.
Prambanan Temple
Prambanan Temple, located in central Java, is said to be one of the largest Hindu temples in South East Asia. The three major Hindu Gods; Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, have pride of place here. The stone carvings in this complex are beautifully adorned with the Indonesian version of the great Hindu epic, Ramayana. This is a fascinating place where visitors can gain insight into Hindu history.
Komodo National Park
The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard species in the world and can only be found in the wild at this world-famous park. Komodo dragons have a well-protected home on the 29 islands which form the National Park. While the flora and fauna found on the islands is quite diverse, these aggressive reptiles are the main draw for tourists.
Demak Mosque
This oldest mosque of Central Java, situated in Demak, displays within its historical walls another chapter of the religious history of the Bali. Said to have been erected in the 15th century, the mosque offers a totally different image than other mosques of the Middle East, because it has a tiered roof instead of a dome.
Trowulan Archaeological Site
Trowulan is an UNESCO World Heritage site that depicts the Hindu and Buddhist connection. Said to be the centre of the once powerful Majapahit Kingdom, its many historical structures tell the story of Indonesia’s intricate history.
Tana Toraja
The culture of Tana Toraja is vividly portrayed in houses with traditional boat-shaped roofs. Visitors marvel at these beautiful buildings and the unique construction, which symbolises the hierarchal local society. You can also learn about the elaborate funeral rites which have been diligently followed by the locals here since the beginning of time.
Pura Besakih
Pura Besakih is a vast complex of Hindu temples, which even today are actively used during festivals and other important occasions in Bali. Said to be one of the most holiest of all temples in Bali, Pura Besakih draws hordes of worshippers throughout the year.
Ubud
Ubud is without a doubt the main cultural hub of Bali. The list of historical and cultural attractions here is endless, ranging from the Sacred Monkey Wild life sanctuary to the stunning Botanical Gardens. There’s also the plethora of museums, restaurants and markets displaying traditional arts and crafts for travellers to take in. And of course, Ubud Palace.
Bali has a wealth of history and culture just waiting to be discovered, and the Indonesian paradise offers something for every type of traveller. What are you waiting for? Search cheap flights to Bali today and let me know where you’re planning to visit!
If you enjoyed this, read about why you should stay in Seminyak, not Kuta. You can plan your entire trip in Bali using one of the Lonely Planet guide books, which have information on cultural sites, places to eat, accommodation etc.
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Sreekar Harinatha says
Thats why Bali is my numero uno destination in the whole wide world!
Dannielle | While I'm Young says
Wow, really? Have you been then? Or planning a trip?
Sreekar Harinatha says
Ya. Been there. you can read about it on my blog as well! http://www.backpackfootprint.com
TravellingDany says
I love that you highlighted the local culture in Bali. I’ve read so much about this place, but people only talked of the beautiful sea and tropical feel of it. For me experiencing the local culture and the traditions is essential so this post was a very interesting and useful read. Hubby would love to see the Komodo National Park too so we’re saving this for future reference, thank you!
Dannielle | While I'm Young says
I’m the same – sick of hearing about how picture-perfect it is – I wanna know what Bali is really like! I hope you both get to see the Komodo dragons one day 🙂
Tom says
Fantastic post Danielle! We were in Bali some years ago for some days and stayed in Seminyak. We loved this town but we were really unlucky with our trips. Our plan was to do some day trips with a hired driver but we were let down several times. Once, while we were white water rafting, our guide just disappeared with all our stuff and only came back a lot later. We definitely want to go back to this island of the gods and your post gave us so many ideas of what to see beside the main attractions. Tana Toraja is quite high on our Bali wish list!
Karla says
Bali is one place I don’t mind going back to. IT’s really pretty. I also enjoyed Borabodur a lot. I have yet to make it to Komodo
Long Nguyen says
Well, new things to learn come every day. I have read many posts about Bali but still find new thing here. Love the introduction of Borobudur Temple and I am quite surprised the appearance of Buddhism there is so beautiful, in an island full of Hinduism culture as I know.
Bharat & Supriya says
This is the third post on south east Asia that I’m reading in a row, and now I’m having a major sense of FOMO. I’ve always been intrigued by Balinese culture and it’s similarity to Indian culture. I’d love to visit Borobudur Temple – your post is super useful about the other places to visit in the region. Pinning it for reference – thanks!
The Travel Ninjas says
Bali is definitely one of our favorite places. Sure there are overly touristed parts, but gorgeous sites and living local traditions are still easy to find. If you plan well or just get lucky, you can often catch a real local religious or cultural ceremony.
Chloe Liying Lin says
I always want to explore Bali and Indonesia. But I guess the places are rather far from Bali, so really need to take more than a day trip.
Elisa says
I only know Java and Bali. I enjoyed Java and I did not like Bali at all. It is true that Indonesia is more than those two islands, in addition I would like to see the boat shaped houses or Trowulan Archeological site. On which island is located this site by the way?
Traveling Bytes says
Majority of Bali-related articles consist of descriptions of beaches, accommodations, and places to eat. Granted, they are helpful with initial planning, but too repetitive and not overly informative. It’s good to know where to meet a komodo dragon or learn about human origins from hominid fossils. Thank you for sharing!
Linda de Beer says
So refreshing to read something different about Bali. If I were to choose 3 of the places in your post, it would be the Komodo National Park, the Trowulan Archaeological Site and the Prambanan Temple. I’m keeping this post in mind for when I finally get the chance to visit Indonesia.
Foodie Flashpacker says
I love Indonesia! I haven’t been to all of these places but I love Ubud and I did the best scuba diving of my life in Komodo Nat’l Park. I hope to return to Indonesia this winter.
AllGudThings says
Indonesia is beautiful and all the places listed by you look great in their own way. I loved those boat shaped roof, Pura Besikah, and Borobudur Temple. The mosque too looks quite unique from others. Lovely post.
Meg Jerrard says
Thanks for this list! We’re in Australia, so very close by and plan to travel soon. But we love immersing ourselves in as much culture as possible, and I can see that Indonesia has culture in spades! At the top of my list are the Buddhist temple of Borobudur and Komodo Island – so I was glad to see them featured here too. Can’t wait!
Tania Mukherjee says
Local culture is such an important aspect of our travel experiences. I have read so much about Bali’s unique culture, they are mostly Hindus yet their rituals differ from the Indian Hindus in so many ways!
SindhuMurthy says
Woow.. I have been reading a lot of posts about Bali off late and not many have mentioned about the Borobudur Temple. There is something very intriguing about the picture of Buddha in your picture which I m compelled to discover more when I visit . I m planning a trip next year and I hope the plan materializes.
Ami Bhat says
I happened to do Indonesia last year again and I cannot but agree that one needs to venture out of Bali to get some more of the authentic Indonesian experiences. Ubud too for me, was a little touristy. Glad you shared all the other destinations here.