7 Bali Traditional Villages Must Be Added to Your Travel List

Are you bored with beach attractions? This is the time you should visit traditional Balinese villages. Bali has several traditional villages that offer unique and authentic cultures.

In this blog, we will provide some recommendations for traditional villages that you must visit while on holiday in Bali. The list of recommendations is suitable for those of you who want a holiday while getting to know Balinese culture.

Recommendations for Traditional Balinese Villages to Visit

1. Tenganan Village

Tenganan Pegringsingan Village is located in Karangasem Regency, about 60 kilometers from Denpasar.

This village is one of the Bali Aga villages, namely original Balinese villages that still maintain Balinese ancestral customs and traditions before the influence of the Majapahit kingdom.

Tenganan Village is famous for its unique Gringsing Woven Cloth which is believed to have magical powers to protect the wearer.

Apart from that, the residents there also still carry out unique traditions and traditional ceremonies, such as Mekare-kare, a pandan war procession that is held every year.

This festival is part of a ceremony honoring the god Indra and involves duels between men using thorny pandanus as weapons.

2. Trunyan Village

Trunyan Village is located on the shores of Lake Batur in Bangli Regency. Just like Tenganan, Trunyan Village is also a Bali Aga village with very strong traditions and customs.

Tourists who visit this village can witness the way of life of the local community which is still very traditional and far from the influence of modernity.

Trunyan is famous for its unique funeral traditions. Instead of burying or cremating the bodies, the residents of Trunyan Village place the bodies under a large tree called Taru Menyan.

This tree emits a fragrant aroma which is believed to be able to eliminate the smell of corpses placed around it.

3. Penglipuran Village

Penglipuran Village is located in Bangli Regency, about 45 kilometers from Denpasar. This village is known for its beauty and very neat village layout.

Penglipuran has traditional Balinese house architecture that is well preserved. Every house in this village has a uniform entrance and the village streets are decorated with beautiful flowers which give a peaceful and comfortable impression.

4. Nyuh Kuning Village

Nyuh Kuning Village is located near Ubud, to the south of the Monkey Forest. This village is famous for its calm and beautiful atmosphere, as well as its friendly residents.

Nyuh Kuning is the right place for tourists who want to experience peaceful village life away from the crowds. Tourists can take yoga classes, learn Balinese dance, or enjoy art performances that are often held in this village.

Apart from that, Nyuh Kuning also offers various accommodation options that are environmentally friendly and have a traditional concept.

5. Sidatapa Village

Sidatapa Village is located in Buleleng Regency, in the North Bali area. This village is estimated to have been founded in 785 AD and is known as a bamboo woven craftsman.

Until now, Sidatapa residents still carry out various unique traditional ceremonies, namely the Agung Briyang Tradition, which is a ritual to welcome the Gods and ward off evil spirits.

This ritual is usually performed once every three years, precisely on Purnaming Sasih Kedasa (Full moon in the tenth month of the Balinese calendar). The men will wear traditional costumes and the women will bring offerings during the ritual.

6. Cempaga Village

Cempaga Village is also located in Buleleng Regency and is one of the Bali Aga villages. The location of this village is on a plateau which has stunning views of the waterfall.

This village has authentic culture and traditions. It can be seen from the sacred dance arts there, namely Jangkang and Baris Dance. The dances are generally only performed for certain events.

The Jangkang Dance is performed by children who have undergone teeth changes (Called Mepinggah by the local community) on Kuningan Holyday. It illustrates the warriors of Dharma fighting Adharma.

Meanwhile, the Baris dance is a type of war dance performed by adult men. It illustrates a brave young man who has high qualities of soldiering and heroism.

7. Tigawasa Village

Tigawasa Village is also in Buleleng Regency and is another interesting Bali Aga village to visit. The village is also known for its tradition of making beautiful bamboo weaves.

Woven products from Tigawasa are very famous and are one of the main sources of livelihood for the population.

Tourists who visit Tigawasa can see first-hand the process of making woven bamboo and you can even learn how to make it there.

Apart from that, this village also has plantations and rice fields which offer views of the green nature that surrounds it.

These are some recommendations for traditional villages that must be visited in Bali. Vacationing in these villages will provide a memorable experience because you can see and learn more about the unique Balinese culture.