Penglipuran. World’s 3rd cleanest village in Bali.

kayya.muleeya (45)in #travel • 7 years ago (edited)

If you think Bali is merely all about sun, sand, and barreling waves, then you definitely need to explore a bit further because this enchanting island offers so much more. Among the picturesque landscape of lush rice paddies and breathtaking hills of her interior, you can also find a number of beautiful traditional villages with typical Balinese houses with an authentic traditional way of life that is still practiced by its people until today. One particular village which stands out and was recently recognized among the top three cleanest villages in the world, is Penglipuran village. Penglipuran is regarded as one of the world's cleanest villages along with Giethoorn in the Netherlands and Mawlynnong in India.

Do you want to know the real life of Balinese? Come to this village. Penglipuran village is a beautiful highland village in the regency of Bangli in East Bali (one hour trip from Denpasar city), best known for its well-preserved culture and village layout. While most of its residents have embraced modernity, its individual compounds are well-kept to look traditional with visitors in mind, with manicured gardens lining its single linear stone-paved street that runs through the centre of the village toward the village temple, and age-old arched entrance gates and walls that conceal their houses within.

(Entrance to Penglipuran Village)

The village of Penglipuran is a delightful, well-kept village composed of wide, brick roads, lined with rows of charming, antique traditional houses interspersed with neatly manicured gardens. The village is traditionally constructed, remaining true to traditional methods of bamboo architecture. In this bamboo village, almost everything around you is made from the abundant plant; kitchens, majestic gates and doorways, furniture, roofs and gates. Many of the styles and creations, such as the bamboo roof shingles, are unique to this little community and not found elsewhere.

Most definitely, the beauty of the village radiates from its cleanliness. This is because, here the significance of environmental awareness is part and parcel of daily culture and is taught since early childhood for generations. Both local villagers and tourists are not allowed to throw trash carelessly, while smokers are only allowed to smoke in certain designated smoking areas. As part of the environmental friendly activities, every month all housewives of the village gather to collect and sort the trash. The organic trash will be processed into fertilizers while plastics and other inorganic trash are sold for recycling or collected in a “trash bank”.

Throughout the years Penglipuran village has evolved into a community based tourism site. Some villagers even run shops inside, and ‘donations’ are customary but not in any way mandatory. Nevertheless, tickets, purchased at the village’s front entrance, are IDR 30,000 and 25,000 (USD 2 and 1.85) for adults and children respectively. The village is a highlight on tours to the island’s eastern region, conveniently along the same course with the scenic rim of the Mount Batur crater and the village of Kintamani.

The village offers a cool mountain atmosphere at around 700m above sea level, and spans over a hundred hectares, comprising bamboo forests (with trails that are popular among trekking and mountain biking tours), farming land and the main village neighbourhood site. The majestic Pura Desa or village temple that overlooks the village at the end of the stone road is worth a visit, where you can admire its striking elemental architecture.

(Bamboo forest surrounds the village)

Enter any of the houses through their arched gates, and you are welcomed by friendly residents who willingly show you around their compound. Old bricks still stand in their place, traditional kitchens are covered in soot from the billowing wood fire hearths, and the compounds are uniquely laid out, each following old Balinese spatial and architectural set of rules.

Visitors may visit the village any time of the year, but the best time to visit Penglipuran is nearing the Galungan religious festivities, which occur every six months. On these days, the village will be decorated with rows of “penjor” or decorative bamboo poles on which are suspended unique accessories. Atthese occasions, you will also see young girls in Balinese traditional dress carry towering banten of trays of offerings on their head as they step gracefully from each home to the village pura or Hindu temple.

(Galungan day)