Instagrammable locations of Bali : Forget Bali Swing and Bali Beaches…
Hello all,
“Do you know what St. Peter says to everyone who tries to get into heaven?”
…
“Peter says, ‘Don’t you have any scars?’ And when most would respond proudly, ‘Well, no, no I don’t,’ Peter says, ‘Why not? Was there nothing worth fighting for?”
– Matthew Perry, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
He was such a man. We all know him because of his character, Chandler Bing. The perfectly imperfect character of television. He is not a perfect person. But Matthew Perry had played a role so convincingly that he would be the perfect friend, boyfriend, or husband, and we will remember him like that only. From his humor to his sarcasm, from his kindness to his loneliness, Chandler Bing was, is and will be Matthew Perry.
Is it even possible that you have not seen a person in real life, you have just watched some of his interviews only, and you have watched his character many times, and still, the demise of such a person can cause some void in the corner of your heart? With me, it happened on the day Irrfan Khan died, and it happened yesterday. Watching F R I E N D S will never be the same again!
Coming to today’s post. No, No! We haven’t been to Bali recently. And yes, these pictures are from our last trip, which we took in 2019, yes, before the pandemic, but still, all the memories are fresh like a recently baked bread in a busy bakery. And trust us, we were not Instagram followers back then. We didn’t know anything about the travel pages of Instagram. We selected these places after reading many blogs, and the results were amazing! A few of our friends who had been to Bali before called us immediately after looking at our pictures: where have you been? We haven’t seen these places in Bali.
But now, with the increasing use of Instagram for travel content, you will see these pictures very frequently. Still, if you want to make your Instagram feed very active, explore these places.
The reason to write this blog now is as many of you must be planning your Diwali vacation to Bali, don’t forget to include these places.
So let me start with simpler ones:
Tirta Gangga Water Palace:
If you want to visit the one and only dreamy location on Instagram, then this should be it! The place is magical. It is one of the most famous locations in East Bali. It was a grand water palace and is now a famous touristy spot. It is believed that Its pools have holy water with healing powers, and it also protects people from evil spirits and bad omens.
It has a pond with a garden ornamented with amazing fountains and cascades. The pools have stepping stones that add more charm to their beauty. There are ornamental fish in some of the pools. You can also feed them, and fish food is available in the nearby store.
History of Tirta Gangga Water Palace :
The palace was built in 1948 by the King of Karangasem. This water park is an amalgamation of architectural styles of
Bali and China. It is located near a natural spring and has a beautiful water garden.
How to reach:
70 km from Denpasar appx 1 hour 45 min
60 km from Ubud, it will take about 1 hour 30 minutes
The place has easy access as it is located on the main road to Lempuyang temple.
Best Time To Visit Tirta Gangga
It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you want to get photos without any disturbances, then go early.
Pura Lempuyang Temple:
There are over 15,000 temples scattered throughout the island of Bali. This is the oldest and most sacred temple on the island. It is also one of the six holiest places of worship.
This temple got its tourists’ attraction because of the Insta feeds overflowing with photos of the Gates of Heaven reflecting against a body of water. It is one of the most photographed temples in Bali.
The temple is located in East Bali on the slopes of Mount Lempuyang in Karangasem. The complex has a total of 7 temples. If you want to visit, it takes more than 3 hours to complete.
People specifically go to this temple for The Gates of Heaven as it has amazing Mount Agung in the backdrop, and if you are lucky enough to visit on a bright sunny day, you might get a glimpse of it!
How to reach:
It is located in East Bali, and it is far from Ubud, almost 75 km one way, and it takes over 2-3 hours to get there. We were already going to Candidasa Beach as we were staying in Karma Candidasa, so we had to take just a little more ahead. But to come, especially from Ubud, you have to plan.
There is a short, steep climb to reach the temple. The famous photo spot is in the first temple itself.
Best time to visit:
Open 24 hours.
But usually, time around sunrise and sunset will be the best.
If you can go on a sunny day, then you will be able to see Mount Agung. Otherwise, your dream pictures will be just like ours with a clear grey/white backdrop!
Tips:
- Like every other Balinese temple, please dress properly with shoulders covered and long pants or skirts. You can rent sarongs at the temple door.
- Check the weather forecast before you go. On a cloudy day, you won’t be able to see Mount Agung. We went at the wrong time.
- Be prepared for long queues. We stand for almost 35-40 minutes. Sheel and Papa were getting impatient. Kids started feeding monkeys.
And the main part is that the reflection you see is just the magic of the mirror. The photo is obtained by placing a mirror under your phone camera – it is completely artificial. So if you are traveling for more than 3 hours just to take an Instagrammabel picture with the hope of getting a mountain in the backdrop of gates with a mirror reflection, then you better trust your luck! And be ready to stand in a long queue. And the height, if you are not satisfied with your backdrop, you have to stand in queue again, and you can’t come back after 15-20 minutes once the clouds clear.
So sorry to shatter your expectations, but it’s the truth. But I love the pictures, and I genuinely wanted them, not just for Instagram. I wanted to see the hype behind it. That’s why we went. So, if you are photo crazy like me or an Insta fan, then you shouldn’t miss this!
Tukad Cepung Waterfall:
It has been mentioned that this is a hidden waterfall, but it is not as hidden as per crowd during our visit.
The best part is the sun’s rays falling via the waterfall, creating a mesmerizing rainbow and taking you to a dream wonderland. If you go early in the morning, you might not get crowded and take your dream pictures.
Ubud to Tukad Cepung Waterfall
From Ubud – approximately 25 kilometers or about 45 minutes drive
You have to go through a small trail along the stream with a few concrete steps in jungle-like terrain for approximately 15 min and pass through a river and some giant boulders to reach this waterfall. The walk is a little strenuous, but you won’t be disappointed.
The waterfall is curtain-like and is located within the cave with magical surroundings all around. And you will realize why this spot has become one of the most Instagrammable spots in recent years.
If you want to stand under the waterfall, then you have to wait in line. We didn’t!
Best time to visit:
Go early to avoid crowds and to have a waterfall for yourself! The morning sun rays make this place more magical, according to locals.
It has been mentioned that there is a similar waterfall in a cave near this waterfall named Goa Raja Waterfall, which is less crowded.
Goa Gajah Temple:
It is just 10-minute drive from Ubud, one of the most beautiful temples of Bali, and an important archeological site too! It is also known as the Elephant Temple.
I have included this temple here because out of all the temples we visited, I loved this temple the most! There is a looming entrance with demon-like intricate carvings, representing Earth God Bhoma, according to some people. The temple itself is a small, mysterious cave. On the left side, there is a small temple of Lord Ganesh, and on the right side, there are a few Shivaling.
Timings:
· 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily
Tips:
- Like every other Balinese temple, please dress properly with shoulders covered and long pants or skirts. You can rent sarongs at the temple door.
- Do not photograph people during their prostrations.
- Be prepared to be plunged into near darkness as you enter the cave; there is no artificial lighting.
Mount Batur:
If you have a little bit of adventurous spirit, then don’t miss this. You can read all about it here.
And there are few spots, which we are sure will be there in your itinerary and are totally instagrammable :
Monkey Forest
Tegalalang Rice Terrace
All famous beaches – Tanah Lot sunset has our heart.
Bali Swing – we didn’t do it.
So, don’t just limit yourself to beaches and Ubud. Bali has much more to offer.
Thank you…
Beautiful pictures of you, your family and the places you’ll have visited.
I hope you make lots more posts.
Thank you so much…