Gianyar

History
The Gianyar regency was home to Bali?s oldest kingdoms, the Buddhist Warmadewa dynasty in Bedulu-Pejeng that ruled until the fourteenth century, and another in Batuan. The conquering Javanese set up court in Samprangan, which later moved east to Gelgel and Klungkung. The area faded in history until the eighteenth century when the Klungkung family founded Sukawati, a short-lived dynasty that fell with the rising Gianyar kingdom. Rivals from Sukawati set up courts in Ketewel, Singapadu, Negara, Peliatan, Ubud and Tegallalang which led to decades of warfare. A powerful Gelgel family in Blahbatuh rose during the nineteenth century. Dutch assistance restored Gianyar, but not without gaining concessions from the king which spared it the fate of other South Balinese courts in the early nineteen hundreds.

Gianyar is the district to which many a sun-struck tourist flee the heat of the coast, for it is in this district that the cool highland village of Ubud is located. Increasingly popular Ubud is an ideal base from which to explore the many attractions of the surrounding countryside.
Temple-going
The Bedulu-Pejeng area, south-east of Ubud, is where some of Bali?s oldest temples can be found. These include the Goa Gajah ?elephant cave? temple, the carved reliefs at Yeh Pulu, the huge Samuan Tiga complex, the fantastic statues at Kebo Edan and Pusering Jagat, and the famous bronze moon-gong at Panataran Sisih. The carved temples at Gunung Kawi and the sacred spring of Tirtha Empul are in Tampaksiring, just below the expansive gardens of the palace designed by former President Sukarno.

Eco-tourism
In recent years, Gianyar has become increasingly renowned as a centre for ecotourism. Numerous walking trails have been mapped out around Ubud, the most spectacular of which leads to Petulu where, if arriving at dusk, walkers can witness thousands of herons returning to their wetland. There are also several rafting companies based in the Kedewatan area. They offer exciting trips down the Ayung River by rubber dinghy. And a drive north of Ubud towards Kintamani leads through Tegallalang, and sights of dramatic valleys that are patch-worked with rice fields.

Ubud Village
Ubud is a tranquil center of Balinese culture. Here are workshops and studios dedicated to the arts. Exquisite works in the Neka Museum (open 9:00 am - 12:00 noon & 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm) and Puri Lukisan Museum (open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm). Return trip approximately four hours.

Brahma Lelare
The statue of a gigantic baby. This big statue can be seen right in the middle of the junction at Sakah, Sukawati Gianyar. A very strange and unique statue. It is the only one of its kind. It is the statue of a gigantic, node child setting calmly on rock arranged artistically . This statue bears the message "Pinaka Ratuning Wisesa", meaning the lower ranking government officials have to be responsible to the higher ranking, and so forth. The rock on which the statue is places symbolizes the earth.

Pegulingan Temple
Noted for its unusual large stupa set on an octagonal base. Because of the fineness of the carving, sculpture, and artwork produced in this village, it has had a good reputation for a long time. Mas is very easy to find since it is along the main tourist route that traverses Bali. Throughout the region, numerous art shops have developed as showrooms for local artists. Not only can you see the finished product, but you can actually observe the artisans at their work. To the northwest one can find another, called Pura Kebo Edan, or the Mad Buffalo Temple. Still other historical sites can be visited in the area of Gianyar, including Pura Mengening which houses many Lingga and Yoni, and the remains of numerous antiquities which lie in ruin. Pegulingan Temple is also a part of this complex and is noted for unusual large Stupa set on an octagonal base. In addition, Goa Garba and the Rock Temple of Tegallinggah are among hundreds of shrines and sacred springs to be seen in this area.

Mangening Temple
A Lingga yoni and prehistoric artifacts are preserved here. The temple ground keeps many ancient heirlooms such as the Lingga Yoni, statue and the weather beaten remains of a door. This temple is on the grounds of the tourists object Tirta Empul Tampak Siring not far from Gianyar and about 37 km from Denpasar. Discovering many ancient heirlooms, the department of historical and prehistorically conservation decided to make research and found the ruins of an ancient building from the era of King Anak Wungsu of the eleventh century.

Bungee Jumping Belangsinga
A place for people who wants to jump from 50 m high designed at the valley of waterfall. Tourist can enjoy bungee Jumping in this beautiful area near the Tegenungan Waterfall Bungee Jumping from a height of a bout 50 meters while enjoying the beautiful scenery is an adventure in itself.

White Cow and Elephant Taro
A small area besides a village temple where lives several white cows, and a place of elephant trekking. While cow roan freely in the world of Taro a small village in the Tegallalang district, Gianyar about 40 km from Denpasar. These cows are sacred and are part for certain religions are moment in Bali. On the day of such a ceremony a white cow is led around the place of the ceremony starting from the east, south, west and north. The cow walks three times around the ceremonial grounds. This religious ceremony is called Mepada. After the ceremony the cow is then returned to its original habitat in the words of Taro. Some elephant living in those woods, can take you on their backs around the beautiful words of Taro. You can take an elephant for a swim in the lake.