Batuan

Friday, December 18, 2015

Batuan, Batuan Village Temple

We made arrangements with the concierge at our hotel for a driver to take us to Ubud.  As we traveled through the villages of Sanur, Tohpati, Batubulan, Celuk, Sukawati, Batuan on our way to Ubud he pointed out many interesting things.  We noticed how the roads were crowded with cars and motorcycles and there were many turns and no street signs.  The roads were narrow and there were no highways.  We passed businesses with wood carved products and wood furniture, stone, statues, batik, paintings or birds.  Everything was very close to the road.  Each family has their own business in the village. Each village has its own temple and each family has their own temple as well.  Most walls were brick with stone decoration.

The village of Batuan goes back almost 1,000 years.  The population contains more nobility than commoners.  It is celebrated for its artistic excellence in the fields of dance, painting and architecture.

Our driver decided that we should stop at the Batuan Village Temple also known as Pura Puseh.  It has been extensively renovated to show off its shrines and carvings as proof that Bali's traditional building arts are thriving.