Bali facts for kids

Bali

Bali is a beautiful island and a province in Indonesia. It includes the main island of Bali and a few smaller islands nearby. People often call Bali the "Island of a Thousand Temples" because it has so many. About 3.1 million people live in Bali. The most important city is Denpasar. Most people in Bali, over 90%, follow Hinduism. Bali is famous for its textiles and clothes, which make up a big part of what it sells to other countries. The money used in Bali is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR).

Balinese food often includes rice and is usually spicy. A popular local dish for visitors is babi guling, which is roasted pig. Bali also has many delicious fruits like pineapples, mangoes, passionfruits, bananas, coconuts, rambutans, salaks, durians, mangosteens, and different kinds of oranges and grapefruits. Bali is also known for its traditional music, played on a group of instruments called a gamelan.

History of Bali

Ancient Times

People first lived in Bali around 2000 BC. They were Austronesian people who came from Southeast Asia and Oceania. The Balinese people are very similar in culture and language to others in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Oceania. Old stone tools have been found in Bali from this time.

In ancient Bali, there were nine different groups of Hindus. Each group worshipped a special god. The name Bali dwipa (meaning "Bali island") was found in old writings from 914 AD. Around this time, people in Bali developed a clever irrigation system called subak to grow rice in wet fields. Many religious and cultural traditions still practiced today started during this period.

Later, the Hindu Majapahit Empire from Java started a colony in Bali in 1343. Many Javanese people moved to Bali when the Majapahit Empire ended in 1520. After this, Bali became a group of independent Hindu kingdoms. This helped create a unique Balinese identity and improved its culture, arts, and economy. Bali remained independent for almost 400 years until the Dutch took control in 1906.

Kandapat Sari statue in Semarapura, an old town where Balinese art and culture began.

European Visitors

The first Europeans to see Bali were probably Portuguese explorers in 1512. They were sailing along the coast of the Sunda Islands. In 1585, a Portuguese ship crashed near Bali, and some sailors stayed to work for the local king.

Dutch Rule

Puputan monument

In 1597, a Dutch explorer named Cornelis de Houtman arrived in Bali. The Dutch East India Company was set up in 1602. The Dutch government slowly took control of more parts of Indonesia, including Bali, in the 1800s. They often used disagreements between Balinese kingdoms to gain power.

In 1860, a famous scientist named Alfred Russel Wallace visited Bali. He noticed how different the animals were on Bali compared to the nearby island of Lombok. This helped him create his idea of the Wallace Line, which is an invisible line that separates different types of animals. Wallace was very impressed by Bali's beautiful rice fields and clever irrigation system.

In 1906, the Dutch launched big attacks on Bali. Many Balinese royal family members and their followers chose to perform a ritual suicide called puputan instead of surrendering to the Dutch. After this, the Dutch controlled the island, but they mostly let the local people keep their religion and culture.

World War II and Independence

The Bali bombings monument monument

During World War II, Japan took over Bali in 1942. The Japanese rule was very strict. A Balinese military officer named I Gusti Ngurah Rai formed a "freedom army" to fight against them. After Japan lost the war in 1945, the Dutch tried to take control of Indonesia again. Balinese rebels fought back using Japanese weapons. In 1946, in the Battle of Marga, Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai and his soldiers fought bravely but were defeated.

In 1949, the Netherlands finally recognized Indonesia's independence. Bali became a province of Indonesia in 1958.

Recent Times

In 1963, the Mount Agung volcano erupted, causing a lot of damage and forcing many people to move. In the 1960s, there was a lot of political tension in Indonesia, including Bali. After a failed coup attempt in Jakarta, a violent anti-communist movement began. Many people were killed in Bali during this time.

After these events, the Indonesian government focused on rebuilding the country. Bali became a popular tourist destination, which greatly improved the lives of many Balinese people. However, in 2002 and 2005, there were terrorist bombings in Bali that hurt the tourism industry. Luckily, tourism has since recovered.

Geography

Mount Agung, the highest peak on Bali

Bali is an island located about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) east of Java. It is very close to the equator. The island is about 153 kilometers (95 miles) wide from east to west and 112 kilometers (69 miles) from north to south.

Bali has several mountains in its center, some over 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) high. The tallest is Mount Agung, which is an active volcano. Bali's volcanic soil makes it very fertile, and the mountains bring a lot of rain, which helps grow a lot of rice. The southern part of the island is a wide, flat area where most of the rice is grown. The northern side of the mountains slopes steeply to the sea and is known for coffee farms. The longest river in Bali is the Ayung River, which is about 75 kilometers long.

The island is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. Beaches in the south usually have white sand, while those in the north and west have black sand.

Subak irrigation system

The biggest city and capital of Bali is Denpasar, located on the southern coast. Its population is around 491,500 people. The second-largest city is Singaraja, on the north coast. Other important places include the beach resort of Kuta, the cultural center of Ubud, and the areas of Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, and Pecatu.

Three small islands are located southeast of Bali: Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. These islands are separated from Bali by the Badung Strait.

The Lombok Strait to the east separates Bali from Lombok. This strait marks the Wallace Line, which is a boundary for animals. Bali has animals similar to those found in Asia, while Lombok has animals more like those in Australia.

Climate

Since Bali is only 8 degrees south of the equator, it has a warm climate all year round. The average temperature is about 30°C (86°F), and it's quite humid.

Daytime temperatures near the coast are usually between 20–33°C (68–91°F). It can be much cooler in the mountains. The wet season, or monsoon, is from October to April, bringing a lot of rain, especially from December to March. During the dry season, from May to September, it's less humid, and there's not much rain in the low areas. The best time to visit Bali is during the dry season, in July and August, or during the Easter and Christmas holidays.

Plants and Animals

The Bali myna is found only on Bali and is critically endangered.

Bali is home to many interesting plants and animals. It's just west of the Wallace Line, so most of its animals are similar to those found in Asia.

There are about 280 types of birds in Bali. One very special bird is the Bali myna, which is found only on Bali and is in danger of disappearing. Other birds include the Java sparrow, sacred kingfisher, and sea eagle.

In the past, Bali had large wild animals like the banteng (a type of wild cattle), leopards, and the Bali tiger. Sadly, the Bali tiger is now extinct. Today, the largest wild mammals are the Javan rusa deer and the wild boar.

Monkeys in Uluwatu

You can often see squirrels. The Asian palm civet is also found here; it's known for helping to make a special type of coffee called Kopi luwak. Bats are common, especially at the Goa Lawah (Temple of the Bats), where they are worshipped. Two types of monkeys live in Bali. The crab-eating macaque is often seen near temples and towns, especially in the "monkey forests" like the one in Ubud. The Javan langur is much rarer and mostly found in the Bali Barat National Park.

Snakes like the king cobra and reticulated python live here. The Asian water monitor is a large lizard that can grow very big and move quickly.

Selfie with Giant Manta, Bali

The coral reefs around Bali are full of amazing marine life. Popular diving spots like Tulamben and Nusa Penida have hawksbill turtles, giant sunfish, giant manta rays, hammerhead sharks, and many colorful fish. Dolphins are often seen on the north coast near Singaraja and Lovina. Scientists have found hundreds of new species of fish and coral around Bali.

Many plants have been brought to Bali by people over the years. Common large trees include banyan trees, jackfruit, coconuts, and bamboo. You can also see many beautiful flowers like hibiscus, frangipani, bougainvillea, and orchids. In higher, wetter areas, you might find fern trees and even pine trees. Besides rice, other important farm plants include salak, mangosteen, corn, and coffee.

Environment

Some parts of Bali, like Lebih Beach, are losing land quickly due to erosion. This beach used to be a holy place for many people, but they have now moved to Masceti Beach.

Bali has a high environmental quality index, meaning its environment is generally well-managed. However, because of a lot of tourism, many rivers on the island have dried up. The southern part of Bali might face a shortage of clean water in the future. To help with this, the government plans to build new water facilities.

Economy

Thirty years ago, most people in Bali worked in farming. Today, tourism is the biggest industry and makes Bali one of the wealthiest regions in Indonesia. In 2003, about 80% of Bali's economy was linked to tourism. The economy was greatly affected by the terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005, but the tourism industry has since recovered.

Farming and Crafts

Wood carving in Bali

Even though tourism brings in the most money, farming is still the biggest employer on the island. Fishing also provides many jobs. Bali is also famous for its talented artisans who create beautiful handicrafts. These include batik and ikat cloth and clothing, wooden carvings, stone carvings, paintings, and silverware. Often, different villages specialize in making one type of product, like wind chimes or wooden furniture.

The Kintamani region, near Mount Batur, is known for growing Arabica coffee. Balinese coffee is often processed in a way that gives it a sweet, smooth taste with hints of lemon. Many coffee farmers in Kintamani use a traditional farming system called Subak Abian. This system is based on the Hindu idea of "Tri Hita Karana," which means happiness comes from good relationships with God, other people, and nature. This system is great for producing fair trade and organic coffee.

Tourism in Bali

Canyoning in Gitgit Waterfall, Bali, Indonesia

The Tirta Empul Temple attracts visitors who want to experience its holy waters.

Pura Taman Ayun, another temple that is a popular tourist spot.

Ulun Danu Temple, located in Bratan Lake.

Tourism in Bali really grew after the Bali Beach Hotel was built in Sanur in 1963 and the Ngurah Rai International Airport opened in 1970. Before that, there were only a few hotels on the island. Now, hotels and restaurants are found all over Bali.

The main tourist areas are in the south, including Kuta (with its famous beach), Legian, and Seminyak. Other popular spots are Sanur on the east coast, Ubud in the center of the island (known for its culture), Jimbaran, and the newer areas of Nusa Dua and Pecatu.

Bali has received many awards for being a great travel destination. In 2010, Travel and Leisure magazine named Bali the "Best Island" because of its beautiful scenery, many attractions, great food, and friendly people. BBC Travel also called Bali one of the "World's Best Islands" in 2011.

The movie Eat Pray Love, released in 2010, was filmed in Ubud and Padang-Padang Beach. This movie helped make Bali even more popular for tourists. In 2016, after music star David Bowie passed away, it was revealed that he wanted his ashes scattered in Bali, following Buddhist customs.

China has become the second-largest source of tourists to Bali, after Australia. This is partly due to new direct flights to the island. Bali welcomed 2.88 million foreign tourists and 5 million local tourists in 2012. Many tourists who visit Bali are middle to upper-middle class, spending a good amount of money during their trip.

Transportation

A common way to get around Bali is by scooter.

The main airport in Bali is Ngurah Rai International Airport, located near Jimbaran in the southern part of the island. There is also a smaller airfield in northwest Bali.

A coastal road goes around the island, and three main roads cross the central mountains. The Ngurah Rai Bypass is a four-lane highway that goes around part of Denpasar. Bali does not have any railway lines.

To help with traffic, Bali has started using a smart traffic control system that connects all traffic lights and cameras. They also plan to build new toll roads and a flyover to improve traffic flow.

People of Bali

In 2010, the population of Bali was about 3.89 million people. By 2014, it was estimated to be around 4.2 million. About 30,000 people from other countries also live in Bali.

Ethnic Backgrounds

A study in 2005 found that most Balinese people (84%) have Austronesian ancestors. About 12% have Indian ancestors, and 2% have Melanesian ancestors.

Caste System

Bali has a caste system similar to the old Indian Hindu system, with four main groups:

Sudra: These are mostly peasants and make up about 93% of Bali's population.
Wesia: This group includes merchants and administrative officials.
Ksatrias: This is the royal and warrior group.
Brahmana: These are the holy men and priests.

Today, the caste system is mostly used in religious ceremonies, where people from lower castes ask Brahman priests to perform rituals.

Religion

The Mother Temple of Besakih, one of Bali's most important Hindu temples.

Unlike most of Indonesia, which is Muslim, about 83.5% of Bali's people practice Balinese Hinduism. This religion combines local beliefs with Hindu and Buddhist influences from other parts of Asia. Smaller groups follow Islam (13.37%), Christianity (2.47%), and Buddhism (0.5%).

Balinese Hinduism is a mix of different beliefs. People worship gods and goddesses, Buddhist heroes, the spirits of their ancestors, and local farming gods. They believe that gods and goddesses are present in everything in nature. So, a rock, a tree, or even a woven cloth can have its own power. Bali is known as the "Island of a Thousand Puras" (temples) or "Island of the Gods" because it has an estimated 20,000 temples and shrines.

Balinese Hinduism is closely connected to art and rituals. People perform many ceremonies with grace and beauty.

Some Chinese immigrants in Bali have blended their traditions with local Balinese customs. They might follow a mix of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, and Confucianism, while also joining in local Balinese Hindu ceremonies.

Language

The most common languages spoken in Bali are Balinese and Indonesian. Most Balinese people can speak two or three languages. In tourist areas, Indonesian is often spoken because many people working there come from other parts of Indonesia. There are different Balinese languages, but most people use modern common Balinese. Old languages like Kawi and Sanskrit are used by Hindu priests for religious texts.

English and Chinese are also widely spoken, especially because of tourism and the large Chinese-Indonesian population. Other languages like Japanese, Korean, French, Russian, or German are sometimes used on signs for foreign visitors.

Culture

A Kecak dance being performed at Uluwatu, in Bali.

Bali is famous for its amazing art forms, including painting, sculpture, woodcarving, handicrafts, and performing arts. Balinese cuisine is also unique. Balinese traditional orchestra music, called gamelan, is very complex and beautiful. Balinese performances often tell stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana, but with a special Balinese touch. Famous Balinese dances include pendet, legong, baris, topeng, barong, gong keybar, and kecak (the monkey dance). Bali has one of the most creative performing arts cultures in the world, with performances at thousands of temple festivals, private ceremonies, and public shows.

The Hindu New Year, Nyepi, is celebrated in spring with a day of silence. On this day, everyone stays home, and tourists are asked to stay in their hotels. The day before New Year, large, colorful statues of ogoh-ogoh monsters are paraded and then burned to scare away evil spirits. Other festivals throughout the year follow the Balinese pawukon calendar.

Cremation in Ubud.

Celebrations are held for many events, like a tooth-filing ceremony (a coming-of-age ritual), cremations, or odalan (temple festivals). A key idea in Balinese ceremonies is désa kala patra, which means that rituals must fit the specific social situation. Many ceremonial art forms, like wayang kulit (shadow puppets) and topeng (mask dance), allow performers to change their show to fit the moment. Many celebrations are loud and lively, with lots of activity, creating a special Balinese feeling called ramé. Sometimes, two or more gamelan groups play at the same time, and the audience talks, walks around, and cheers, adding to the lively atmosphere.

In Bali, kaja means North and kelod means South. These words refer to your direction between the island's largest mountain, Gunung Agung (kaja), and the sea (kelod). Kaja is also linked to good things, like gods and ancestors, who are believed to live on the mountain. Kelod is linked to evil, like demons, who live in the sea. Buildings like temples and homes are built so that the most sacred parts are closest to the mountain, and less clean places are nearest to the sea.

Most temples have an inner and outer courtyard. The inner courtyard is always further kaja. These courtyards are used for performances because most Balinese rituals include music, dance, and drama. Performances in the inner courtyard are called wali, which are sacred offerings only for the gods. In the outer courtyard, bebali ceremonies are held for both gods and people. Finally, performances just for human entertainment happen outside the temple walls and are called bali-balihan. This system helps protect the sacredness of the oldest Balinese rituals.

Tourism has created new opportunities for performers in Bali, as visitors are eager to see shows. This has led to new versions of many performances. For example, the barong dance is now performed for both sacred rituals and for tourists. Some villages even have a special barong mask just for tourist shows and an older, sacred mask for rituals.

Balinese society is still centered around each family's ancestral village. Traditional laws and village councils are very important in daily life.

Sports

Bali is a popular place for surfing, with many great spots along the southern coast and around the island of Nusa Lembongan.

Bali is part of the Coral Triangle, which means it has amazing coral reefs and many dive sites. You can find all sorts of marine life there.

Bali hosted the 2008 Asian Beach Games, a big sports event for Asian countries.

In football, Bali has a team called Bali United, which plays in Indonesia's top league, Liga 1. The team moved to Bali because the island didn't have a team in the highest football division.

Heritage Sites

In June 2012, the Subak irrigation system for rice fields in Bali was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it is a very important place that should be protected for everyone.

Beauty Pageant

Bali hosted the Miss World 2013 beauty pageant. It was the first time Indonesia hosted such a big international beauty event.

Images for kids

An aerial photo of Bali.
A detailed map of Bali.
The cliff of Nusa Penida with Kelingking beach in front.
Uluwatu.
Kuta Beach is a popular place for tourists.
Some tourist spots in Bali: Sunset over Amed beach with Mount Agung, Garuda Wisnu Kencana monument, Tanah Lot temple, view from Besakih Temple, scuba diving near Pemuteran, The Rock Bar at Jimbaran Bay, and traditional Balinese activities.
An Ogoh-ogoh parade on the night before Nyepi.
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
A Trans Sarbagita bus.
The Bali Mandara Toll Road.
A Balinese family after a puja ceremony at a temple.
The Mother Temple of Besakih, one of Bali's most important Hindu temples.
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan.
A Kecak dance performance.
Delicious Balinese cuisine.
A cremation ceremony in Nusa Penida.
Melasti, a Hindu Balinese purification ceremony.
Rejang, a sacred Balinese dance to welcome the gods.
Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, home of Bali United F.C..
Penataran Lempuyang Temple, Gunung Lempuyang, Bali.
Ibnu Batutah Mosque, Kuta.
Saint Joseph's Church, Denpasar.
Ling Sii Miao Buddhist Temple, Denpasar.