Published April 5, 2011 | 
Top 6 Bali Spiritual Tours To Warm Your Soul
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The culture of Bali is in sharp contrast to what we are used to in the West. A large percentage of the population still dependent on farming for their living, people live on less money per day than what we would spend on petrol to get to work, and above all, most of the population is deeply spiritual as well as superstitious. If you want to feel that you’ve reconnected with your simpler side, a Bali vacation is the perfect way to do so. Today we look at some of the spiritual travel options in this tiny Indonesian island.
Temples in Bali
Bali, like many South East Asian countries, holds much of its art, culture and architecture in the temples of the region. Locals have believed for many years that the deities of the local area had a direct influence on the success of their lives, which is why there is such emphasis on inward-looking, on spirituality and on reverence. There are some truly beautiful temples to be accessed only minutes from a range of Bali hotels, including:
* Pura Besakih: This incorporates pre-Hindu beliefs into the temple complex, which consists of five compounds as well as the main temple. There are plenty of day-long Bali tours to Pura Besakih
* Taman Ayun Temple: This temple is around 18 km south of Denpasar, and is much quieter than the other famous and easily accessed temples. It is surrounded by a wide moat and beautifully kept gardens; visitors cannot enter the temple, but you can watch ceremonies being conducted inside.
* Temple of the Meeting of the Three: Intriguing name for an intriguing temple! This particular building has only been there since 1917, but there has always been a temple on this site for over a thousand years.
* Uluwatu temple: There is some controversy about whether the monkeys at Uluwatu temple are tamed or trained to be naughty. But the temple itself is a must-see for a Bali vacation.
* Yeh Pulu Temple: This is said to be a very quiet temple, although visitors are often ‘required’ to give an offering to the temple gods.
Spiritual Festivals
Much as we in the Western world take time off our usual work to be with our friends and family, people in Bali often take time out of their day to honour locally recognized gods and deities. These events are a great way to get insight into the minds and motivations of the Balinese people … simply a very special thing to be around! You can check out most of the temples at any time of year, so if you want to up the ‘heart factor’ of your trip, take your Bali vacation around the dates of the following spiritual festivals:
* January 2 Tumpek Kandang – Special day of thanks for the gift of livestock
* February 06 Tumpek Wayang – Special day of thanks for the gift of Art
* February 26 Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday – Moslem Holiday
* February 27 Saraswati – Special day of thanks for the gift of Knowledge
* March 03 Pagerwesi – Special day for meditation to enhance balance in the world
* March 13 Tumpek Landep – Special day of thanks for the gift of metal
* March 15 Tawur Agung Kesanga – Held to welcome Nyepi holiday at every family compound; followed by procession of Ogoh-Ogoh (huge monster / evil dolls)
* March 16 Nyepi – Balinese New Year; The I Saka New Year 1932, the day of absolute silence for Hindu followers
* April 17 Tumpek Uduh or Tumpek Pengatag – Special day of thanks for the gift of fruit-bearing plants
* May 22 Kuningan – Believed to be the ascendant day of ancestral holy spirits and deities, back to the eternity
* May 28 Vaishakha 2554 – Buddhist holiday to celebrate the birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism
* July 31 Tumpek Kandang – Special day of thanks for the gift of livestock
* September 29 Pagerwesi – Special day for meditation to enhance balance in the world
* October 09 Tumpek Landep – Special day of thanks for the gift of metal
* December 07 1 Muharram 1432 H – Moslem New Year
* December 08 Galungan – Praying for the victory of virtue (Dharma) upon evil (Adharma)
* December 18 Kuningan – Believed to be the ascendant day of ancestral holy spirits and deities, back to the eternity
Ancient Spiritual Sites
Bali is beautiful and quiet … unless you are in Denpasar or the other urban areas, there is usually nothing to hear but the wind in the leaves, the faint chattering of monkeys and the call of the ocean! Perfect for meditation and some private yoga sessions. Check out spiritual sites perfect for these practices on your Bali vacation, like the West Bali National Park and Bali Barat National Park.
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