BALI  BEYOND BEACHES

By Divyakshi Gupta

When people think of Bali, the first thing that comes to their mind are pristine beaches and blue waters.

But Bali is much more than gorgeous beaches: it has art, architecture, history, crafts and more!

Visit Batu Bulan, a village where Batik art is practised. Watch the artists and interact with them for understanding the art better. .

Visit Celuk to see delicate silver ornaments being carved carefully from blocks of silver from Sumatra and Java islands.

In Batu Bulan there are several shops that sell unique stone statues made either from limestone or volcanic ash.

Apart from stone carving, you can also see wood carving especially of doors! There are several warehouses where you can see antique doors like these.

The best part about Batu Bulan is that you can actually SEE the process, interact with the artists and not just buy.

Visiting ancient temples in Bali gives an insight into their rich culture and stark similarities with Hinduism and Hindu deities.

So when you visit Bali, make it a point to go beyond beaches and don't be surprised to see scenes from Mahabharata on the middle of the roads.