Welcome to KARANGASEM REGENCY
Located in the east of Bali , Karangasem is famous for the beautiful beaches, rugged natural beauty and rustic village life. The island's sacred mountain , Gunung Agung stands 3,142 meters in the center.
Gunung agung made disaster news on 17th March , 1963 when its crater exploded , spewing rivers of lava and hot volcanic mud down its slopes and into the sea. Ash rained over the whole island , and lava streams covering roads isolated its eastern end. Large areas of crops and many villages and temple were wiped out.
Thousands of people were either burned to death or suffocated by the searing clouds of hot gas rushing down the volcanic slopes. The villages of Sorga and lebih , situated high on slopes of Agung , were kilometers from the crater , suffered little damage.
Nowadays , Mount Agung is quiet and the mother temple Pura Besakih perched 1000 meters up the slope attracts a steady stream of devotees and tourists.
Pura Besakih is Bali's most important and probably best-kept temple , consisting of about 30 separate temples in seven terraces that ascend up the hill. Every district in Bali has its own shrine or temple at Besakih and besides honoring Ida Sang Hyang Widi (God Almighty) , all Balinese gods and goddesses are also honored.
If you want to climb Mount Agung , you must request permission from the authorities , as no one should stand higher than the temple when a ceremony is being held. You can ascend the mountain from behind the temple or through the village of Sebudi village , near Selat. It's a tough 6-8 hour climb and you are recommended to leave in the early morning and hire a guide.
Padang Bai is the port for the ferry service to Lombok. It's a sleepy fishing village situated in a perfectly sheltered bay. The beach is picturesque and quaint with along sweep of sand where colorful boats are drawn up on the beach.
From Padang Bai the road follows a beautiful stretch inland and turns off the mountain village of Tenganan. Tenganan is a Bali age village - one of the few Balinese communities to resist the Majapahit invasion of 1343. it is a walled village consisting of two rows of identical houses. This is the only place in Indonesia where double weaving ikat , Geringsing , is produced. The village is also famous for its lontar sacred books , traditional Balinese palm - leaf books.
On the coastal road 13 kilometers from Tenganan in the once - quiet fishing village of Candi Dasa. You can expect to find plenty of accommodation , restaurants , bars , souvenirs shops , and some nightlife. There are fantastic views from the headland and on a clear day Agung mountain rises magnificently behind the range of coastal hill.
The main town and capital of Karangasem district is Amplapura. Puri Agung Karangasem palace is an imposing reminder of the time Karangaem was a kingdom. It has a three-tiered gate and beautiful sculptured panels in the out-side.
Six kilometers from Amplapura you will find the Tirtagangga water palace. This palace , built around 1947 by Amplapura's water loving king , is a place of beauty and solitude. The palace contains a network of pools and a swimming pool fed by a natural spring , surrounded by some of the most beautiful rice terrace in bali.
North of Tirtagangga is Tulamben. SS Liberty , the American war ship sunk by the Japanese in 1942 , lies just off the beach an is accessible from the beach. It's a long way from anywhere on the barren coast , but worth a pause on your travels.
Royal Wisata Tours of Denpasar has developed a new discovery tour of Karangasem using four-wheel off-road motorcycles. Capable of tackling all kinds of terrain , these vehicles can be driven through rice terraces , salak areas ( the salak fruit here is the best in Asia) , small roads in rain forests , and even climb up mountains. You can ride these "quads" yourself or have the services of a driver.