Karangasem, On the Wallace Line

Alam KulKul Replants Lempuyang Mount

Alam KulKul Boutique Resort & Spa’s wishes to turn Bali into an environment-intimate tourist destination in relation with Tri Hita Karana (THK), and not just on paper. The boutique resort successfully replanted several trees in villages in Bali in 2001 and December 2002.
In cooperation with PT Intaran Company, Alam Kulkul donated 2,000 ‘Intaran’ trees to make Tista Village, Abang Sub-District, Karangasem Regency, in the neighborhood of Gunung Lempuyang’s base, look green. At present it is somewhat dry due to a lack of greenery. Alam KulKul Green Team Chairman, Made Wijaya told Bali Travel News. He added that the greenery program of 2000 was executed at the base of Gunung Lempuyang Mount annually, and has been done not only by a contribution of trees but also replanting trees of multi-functional characters to human health, in joint activities with the local community. He added Alam Kulkul Green Team consisted of 20 people, respectively 5 from Papas Café, 5 from Jamu, and 10 from Alam KulKul.
Answering why Gunung Lempuyang was chosen as this year’s target of improvement, Made Wijaya, who is also Chief of the Engineering Department of Alam KulKul, said the consideration came out of the existence of Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang as one of the larger temples in Bali.
Another element of consideration in the choice was the fact that the area has been in a critical condition, with easy-to-erode soil or floods in the area during the rainy season. It could be clearly seen that the hill, located about 1.5 km from Gunung Lempuyang’s peak, precisely at Telaga Mas, was bald due to irresponsible felling of trees depleting the natural forests.
Meanwhile, Chief of Purwayu traditional village, also an executive of Pura Sad Khayangan Lempuyang, Nyoman Jati, has responded well to the tree replanting done by Alam Kulkul and PT Intaran Company. ‘I request that the follow-up care and treatment related to this work would be further overseen,” he said, while hoping that assistance by Intaran Company would be rendered, mainly in form of education to the community on the way of caring for the Intaran. He hopes the assistance in the form of 2,000 Intaran trees would continue further to make Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang and the Gunung Lempuyang itself green.
Isro Firdaus, STP of the PT Intaran management, promised to send a treatment team once every two months to work with the community on tree treatment and methods of applying pesticide. PT Intaran will continuously monitor the development of the planted trees, of which the products such as fruit, leaves, and wood will be processed to make medicine.
Executive Assistant Manager of Alam KulKul, Hery Andisar, made it clear that the 12 October Bomb Tragedy has exerted a very great influence on Bali’s tourism and social life. Nevertheless, in spite of this, Alam KulKul remained motivated to realize a program of serving the community.
One of the programs is replanting the environment in line with the vision and mission of Alam Kulkul’s owner and management to make the resort to be a hotel having insight in environment and towards Bali as the emerald of the equator. He appealed to other hotels to have the same vision and mission and to do the same to the advantage of Balinese communities.  Agustinus

Lempuyang Luhur Temple

Lempuyang temple is located on Lempuyang Mountain, Karangasem Regency, east Bali. The Balinese Hindu’s named it Sad Khayangan Agung Lempuyang Luhur, which is the place for Hyang Iswara and Hyang Agni Jaya. Puja Wali/ piodalan (sacred day) is held every six months, exactly on Umanis Galungan, Kamis (Thursday) wuku Dungulan, or the day after the Galungan ceremony.
To go to Lempuyang temple from Denpasar, it is about 80 km, a 2 hour journey to the east. Along the way, you will see beautiful scenery, rice field panoramas and rivers. There are 3 ways to go there, that is:

1. Kemuda/Purwayu way; passing Ngis Tista Village, Kemuda, Penataran Agung Lempuyang Luhur at Purwayu, Telaga Mas, Pasar Agung to Lempuyang Luhur.
2. Basangalas way; passing Ngis Tista Village, Basangalas, Banjar Gamongan, Telaga Sawang, Lempuyang Madya-Parahyangan Mpu Gni Jaya straight along towards Luhuring Lempuyang Madya, Pasar Agung and finally to Lempuyang Luhur.
3. Karangasem Regency way; from Bukit Village a straight-line to Jumeneng Village, Kenusut Temple, Pasar Agung and then to Lempuyang Luhur.

Be careful, because in the rainy season the pathways are very slippery and muddy. But for those of you who like adventure and love to see the mystery of nature, the journey will bring much fun and pleasure to you.
Lempuyang Temple contains a lot of mysteries from a long time ago, when Sang Hyang Pasupati recommended Hyang Gni Jaya together with Hyang Putra Jaya and Dewi Danuh to save Bali from disaster. Later, according to the villagers, as well as for praying, there are also people who come to Lempuyang Temple for other purposes, such as to recover from illnesses, avoid evil, and there are even politicians or officials who pray that their authority will be forever or to try to obtain a certain position. Usually they come in the middle of night, in order to avoid the public.
Please come to Lempuyang Temple and obey the rules on entering that sacred place, so that your safety will be guaranteed. Ask for any guidance from the Pemangku Pura (the person who is responsible for the temple) or any official so that your journey will be safe. (Sumadi)