North Bali

Gedong Kirtya Museum which sits at the junction of Jalan Veteran and Jalan Gajah Made is well worth visiting. This museum is dedicated to the preservation of Lontar scripts. Lontar is species of palm tree and its leaves are an ancient medium for recording the written word. The museum houses thousands of these delicate pieces covering subjects as wide ranging as religion and the folklore of traditional medicine. The museum is open Monday to Thursday from 07:30 to 15:30 and on Friday mornings. Entrance is free but a donation requested (and you really should support them). The library staff are notably friendly and helpful.

About 10 km east of Singaraja on the coast road is Pura Meduwe Karang, a significant temple of north Bali. This unusual temple is host to all manner of stone carvings, many of them ghoulish. The temple is dedicated to Ibu Pertiwi (mother earth) and daily offerings are made to ensure that crops grow on infertile ground. That may sound odd until you go to North Bali and see how inhospitable so of much of the terrain actually is. There is a famous stone wall relief here that is testament to the wonderfully quirky Balinese sense of humour. It is a one metre square representation of the Dutch artist Nieuwenkamp, who bicycled around Bali in the early 20th century. The bicycle wheels have lotus-flower spokes, Nieuwenkamp is adorned with a floral sarong and flowers abound in the background. Between his feet and the wheels are a rat and a dog. This famous image has been copied many times. About 7 km further east on the coast road are the cold springs at Air Sanih and a visit here combines well with Pura Medewe Karang.

Sekumpul Waterfall is widely regarded as one of Bali’s most spectacular waterfalls, hidden deep within a lush jungle valley in the island’s mountainous north. The site actually consists of several waterfalls cascading side by side through dense tropical vegetation, creating a dramatic and photogenic landscape. Reaching the falls requires a moderately challenging trek involving steep stairs, river crossings, and slippery paths, so sturdy footwear is recommended. Local guides are commonly available and can help navigate the trails safely, especially during the rainy season. Visitors can choose between a simple viewpoint ticket (20.000 INR), a medium trek to both Sekumpul and Hidden waterfalls(125.000 INR), or a longer guided hike that also includes the scenic Fiji Waterfall(200.000 INR).