Bali also known as “Island of the Gods”, with its varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides all provide a picturesque backdrop to its colorful, deeply spiritual and unique culture.
With world-class surfing and diving, a large number of cultural, historical and archaeological attractions, and a wide range of accommodations; this is one of the world's most popular island destinations.
However, the serenity we experience in Bali today hides one of the region’s most turbulent histories.
History & Origin
The first Hindus arrived in Bali as early as 100BC, but the unique culture found on Bali today originally hailed from neighbouring Java, with some influence from Bali’s distant animist past. The Javanese’s Majapahit Empire’s rule over Bali became complete in the 14th century when Gajah Mada, Prime Minister of the Javanese king, defeated the Balinese king at Bedulu. The rule of the Majapahit Empire resulted in the initial influx of Javanese culture including its architecture, dance, painting, sculpting and various art forms, such as the Wayang puppet theatre.
The few Javanese who did not adopt this Javanese Hindu culture are known as the Bali Aga (original Balinese) and still live in the isolated villages of Tenganan near Candidasa and Trunyan on the remote eastern shore of Lake Batur at Kintamani.
With the rise of Islam in the Indonesian archipelago, the Majapahit Empire fell and Bali became independent near the turn of the 16th century. The Javanese aristocracy found refuge in Bali, bringing about an even stronger influx of Hindu arts, literature and religion.
Divided among a number of ruling rajas, occasionally battling off invaders from now Islamic Java to the west and making forays to conquer Lombok to the east, the north of the island was finally captured by the Dutch colonialists in a series of brutal wars from 1846 to 1849. Southern Bali was not conquered until 1906 and Eastern Bali did not surrender until 1908. During these years, many proud Balinese warriors chose death over disgrace and fought en-masse until the bitter end, often walking straight into Dutch cannons and gunfire. This manner of suicidal fighting became known as puputan.
Bali Today
The current chapter of Balinese history became in the seventies when intrepid hippies and surfers discovered Bali’s beaches and waves, and tourism soon became the biggest income earner. This magical island continues to draw crowds, and Bali’s spectacular culture remains as spectacular as ever.
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