Welcome to BANGLI REGENCY
Volcanic highland and, in odd contrast , rice paddies constitute the physical geography of the regency of Bangli. The volcanic mountains slope down to the sea near Tianyar and Tejakula while the rice - growing areas overlook Klungkung and Gianyar. Several of Bali's rivers have their source in Bangli. Numerous village are scattered across the landscape or rice terraces , lush valleys and forests.
Travelers usually enter Bangli through Gianyar , via either Tampaksiring or the main road branching east from Gianyar through paddy fields , brick entrances along village streets , and pule and giant Banyan trees towering above you.

Pura Kehen
The town of Bangli is a quiet administrative center , with the usual Brahmin palaces and mansions , best seen during ceremonies. Part of Puri Denpasar temple has transformed into a small hotel. But the most interesting monument in Bangli , perhaps in the whole of Bali , is the Pura Kehen temple , just to the north of the town. As the state temple of the Bangli kingdom , Pura Kehen occupies the site of an earlier temple which dates back to its unique ambience , set majestically on a number of levels against the background of a hill forest , large trees shade the shrines and gate of its court yard.
A flight of 38 stairs leads to the meru-shaped gate between rows of wayang statues. Overlooking the gate is the threatening head of Kala , guardian of the nether-world. There is a magnificent shrinewith eleven roofs dedicated to the god of fire , the resident temple god.
Penglipuran , two kilometers from Pura Kehen , is a small village restored by the local government to represent a 'typical' Balinese village.
From Bangli eastward it's a beautiful drive toward Karangasem and the Besakih 'mother temple' via a seemingly unending succession of hills , valleys and rice terraces. Take the main road northward to Kintamani and the volcanic scenery of Batur awaits the tourist - the most spectacular panorama on the island.

Batur Crater Area
Bangli's mountainous region center around the spectacular volcanic crater (or caldera) of Batur. Mount Batur itself is actually just a small volcano , but its setting is in the heart of a huge crater 14km in diameter. Adjacent to the volcano is the large crescent-shaped Batur lake , all surrounded by the high walls of the crater rim. As the road rises steadily from Bangli or Tampaksiring , nothing in the surrounding grey landscape of bushes abd garden plots suggests the presence of a volcano. But over one more small ridge a dizzying view awaits the eyes , encompassing the crater and beyond. From Penelokan , the main road runs right round the rim towards Kintamani , the panorama shifting as you circle around the crater.
The sheer size of the crater conjures up images of the massive eruption of the original Mount Batur that occurred tens of thousand years ago. The volcano is still active today as Balinese all over the island who still remember the great eruption of 1917 will testify. It claimed thousands of lives and destroyed hundreds of temple. Old people might tell you this "the year when the world shook". Other eruptions have taken place since , forcing the local population to be relocated , along with several of their temples - including one of the main Bali temples , Pura Ulun Danu. Initially inside the huge crater , this temple has been relocated to the top of the ridge overlooking it. Here it now offers an impressive view of Mount Batur.
For a complete panoramic view , you can drive half the circumference of the crater along its upper rim. The highest point in Bukit Penulisan. Here , one of the most ancient of Bali's temples contains the remains of carvings from the earliest Buddhist period. From Penulisan the road continues towards Buleleng and Kubutambahan.
One fvery interesting excursion in Batur in the climb down the inside of the crater from Penelokan to Kedisan. You can then drive around the smaller Mount Batur , through Songan. From Toyan Bungkah , boats cross the lake to a Bali Aga village called Trunyan. This place is notorious for its mortuary traditions. Instead of cremating the dead , as Balinese do through - out most of the island , the Trunyan community leaves the bodies to decompose naturally in a special cemetery.
There are also hot springs and lodgings in Toyan Bungkah. From Songan there is a beautiful trek to Tianyar to the north coast of the island. The adventurous traveler may even wish to climb Mount Batur itself.