Pura Luhur Batukaru, a unique sacred mountain sanctuary and royal temple of Tabanan dynasty, situated on the foot of mount Batukaru, 23 km north of Tabanan, built to venerate deities of mountains and lake.

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Based on the scripture, the temple was founded in 11^th century by Empu Kuturan, a great Hindu sage who established six main temple of Bali. At that time, this temple was a sanctuary for hermits. In 1604, the temple was attacked and partially destroyed by the king of Buleleng, Anglurah Panji Sakti, but his troops were beaten back by millions of bees unleashed by the protective spirit of the temple. Pura Luhur Batukaru was not rebuilt until 1959, even though pilgrims had continued to worship in rubble.

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Here is a good articles on wedding by Balinese high priest Sri Bhagawan Dwija Warsa Nawa Sandi from Buleleng regency, without further ado here is the words of Bhagawan Dwija

THE WEDDING IN HINDU (BALINESE) RELIGION

By : Bhagawan Dwija

Om Swastiastu,

The “Weda” says that marriage in Hindu is a holly act. There are two main reasons; firstly, God bless man and woman to love each other as what “Dewa Smara” (similar with Adam) and “Dewi Ratih” (similar with Eve) done in the beginning; secondly, human have to allow their ancestor come to reincarnation through the couple so that the soul be able to reform live in the next born. Reform to a better and holly live exactly important for every soul than through reincarnation that rolling times to times they hope at one time can be in one with God. That is make children is a need in Balinese couple.

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The Royal line of Buleleng, Singaraja is descended from the Son of Dalem Sagening, the King of Gelgel, Klungkung named Ki Gusti Anglurah Pandji Sakti. Pandji Sakti, it is recorded left from Klungkung to establish a new Kingdom in Den Bukit, Buleleng, North Bali. On reaching the peak of the Mountain range, he was thirsty and so he plunged his magic kris into the ground and front that spot flowed water. Water still flows from this spring today and makes life possible at the top of the mountain range. A temple was built at this place and is called Toya or Tirta Ketipat. You will pass it by on the way to Denpasar from Singaraja via Bedugul / Lake Beratan.

Ki Gusti Anglurah Panji Sakti eventually settled in the village of Panji around 5 kms South West of Singaraja. When he had finally succeeded in uniting Den Bukit (now Buleleng, North Bali) he became the King of Den Bukit. Then he built two other Puri (palaces) namely Sukasada, 2 kms South of Singaraja. Singaraja as the third Puri built on March 30th, 1604 became the beginning of the Kingdom of Buleleng and Singaraja, the capital town of the regency of Buleleng. Singaraja was chosen by the Dutch as the easiest place to make their first incursion onto Balinese Soil. This they did by brute force in the mid 19th century (1846-1849). The palace / puri was destroyed and the family mostly deposed or annihilated at the final stand in the town of Jagaraga around 15 kms east of Singaraja.

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If you are happen to visit Bali this month and you love to eat durian then you will have a great chance to experience the durian season of Bali. The durian season this year come a bit early and produce less durian than last year season but if you are interested in hunting durian down to its tree you will have a chance to taste the fresh durian right from its tree with cheaper price and of course a trip to inland Bali.

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Where is the forest of durian in Bali? If you have stamina for more than two hours drive, then Bangkiang Sidem and Ambengan village and their surrounding area in Buleleng regency near Buyan Lake are the places where you will find plenty of durian since these areas is the center of durian plantation in North Bali. In these areas, you can find durians stalls line up on both side of the main street that runs across the villages. The stall is usually managed by the owner of the durian trees.

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If you are looking for a serene Buddhist Monastery in Bali the Brahmavira Arama Buddhist Monastery is just the perfect place for you. Perched on a slope of a hill, Brahmavira Arama Buddhist Temple and Monastery rise majestically overlooking a sea with lush green hill as a background. Precisely, the Monastery is located in Tegehe hamlet, the village of Banjar, near Lovina, in Buleleng Regency.

This monastery is not a tourist attraction, the monastery still serves as place for praying, worshipping and meditating for the Buddhist communities in North Bali. Everyday, you can find some worshipper come to pay homage in the monastery, but the peak of the visitors is on the holy Vaisak day, in which most Buddhist in north Bali come to this monastery to celebrate the Vaisak.

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On February 11, 2008, the royal family of Buleleng will hold the centennial celebration of Anak Agung Pandji Tisna, the first Balinese writer and also the beloved prince of Buleleng Kingdom. In 1930s, Anak Agung Pandji Tisna was the only Balinese writer that categorized with other Indonesian prodigious writers as Pujangga Baru (New Writer). His novels are Ni Rawit Ceti Penjual Orang (Ni Rawit Ceti, The Men Seller (1935), Ni Sukreni Gadis Bali (Ni Sukreni the Balinese Girl (1936), I Swasta Setahun di Bedahulu (I Swasta, A Year in Bedahulu) (1937), I Made Widiadi, Kembali Kepada Tuhan (I Made Widiadi, Back to God) (1957), and other high quality writings.

The series of art performances and seminar to commemorate the centennial celebration of Anak Agung Pandji Tisna will be hold in the Buleleng Palace ( Puri Agung Singaraja / The Great Palace of Singaraja) from February 10 – 11, 2008 (Sunday and Monday).

The series of events that will be held have a strong relation with Anak Agung Pandji Tisna activities in his lifetime especially in the field of literature, tourism, and education.

In the field of literature, there will be short story writing competition and other literary competition. In the field of tourism, there will be yacht competition, gangsing competition and other traditional game competitions. In the field of education there will be poetry, coloring, and other educational competition.

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