Gianyar

About Gianyar

Gianyar Regency stretches from the east-coast beaches up into the central foothills and is known as Gumi Seni, the land of arts. The Gianyar kingdom was founded in 1771, when Ida Dewa Manggis Sakti named his palace Puri Agung Gianyar.

The regency includes Ubud and a chain of craft villages, and many of Bali's best-known sights: the Tegallalang rice terraces, the holy spring at Tirta Empul, Goa Gajah and Tegenungan waterfall.

The regency is made up of seven districts, Sukawati, Blahbatuh, Gianyar, Tampaksiring, Ubud, Tegallalang and Payangan, and its seat is the town of Gianyar. In Sukawati district, Batubulan is known for its sandstone carvers and daily Barong, Kecak and Legong performances, and Sukawati has a traditional art market; the village of Mas, in Ubud district, lives largely from wood carving. In Tampaksiring, Gunung Kawi is an 11th-century temple of ten rock-cut shrines carved into 7-metre niches on either side of the Pakerisan river. The coast has beaches such as Keramas, Ketewel, Purnama, Masceti and Saba, and Keramas has hosted international surfing competitions. Families can add Bali Safari and Marine Park, Bali Bird Park and Bali Zoo, making Gianyar suited to culture lovers and slower-paced travellers.