Spiritual Tourism
New Touring Alternative in Gianyar

Gainyar Administration introduced a new tourism object which is spiritual tourism. “I feel optimistically, this new tourism will help to increase the district income in tourism sector for Gianyar Administration,” said the Head of Tourism Department of Gianyar, I Dewa Nyoman Alit Arinatha, S.H. recently.

According to Arinatha, the spiritual tourism package can be an alternative to erase the saturation of touring in Gianyar. During time, he said, Gianyar tourism always holds on to conventional tourism attractions which are art and culture attractions like Barong and Legong Dance.
Thus, spiritual tourism was introduced in this year 2005. “There are several perfect objects to support this spiritual tourism program, they are Goa Gajah and Tirta Empul,” he said while asserted, both has improved visits by many tourists. “Other objects also quite attractive like Gunung Kawi (Sebatu, Tegallalang), Gunung Kawi (Tampaksiring), Yeh Pulu (Blahbatuh), Durga Kutri (Blahbatuh) and enshrine complex in Tegallinggah Village, Blahbatuh.”

Spiritual Climbing
Obsession of Gianyar Administration to work on this spiritual package is serious indeed. For tourists who tend to do the spiritual climbing, just come to Yeh Pulu, a famed ancient site along 25 meter and 2 meter height (believed as the longest in Bali) located at Bedulu Village, Blahbatuh. Stretching along from north to south and ending with the meditation cave and Ganesha relief.
That relief shows a picture of a man lifting his hands, a man load a burden on his arm, praying man, a man on a horse and other carving relief. From it carving style, this relief is predicted come from 15th C. “Unfortunately, the story of that relief is unpredicted for sure until now,” said Alit Arinatha.
Another site for meditation is Gunung Kawi in Tampaksiring Village. This complex divided into 2 parts because it separated by Pekerisan River. Since it was re-founded in 1920, this ancient omission is maintained for restorations.
There are two parts of enshrine hills consisting of 5 at the eastern part of the river. An inscription with Kediri letter type exists within this site that predicted as an ancient site from 11th C, whilst at the west part of the river consists of 4 enshrine hills and meditation caves.
According to the prediction, Gunung Kawi complex was built by King Marakatapangkaja and finished by his next generation, King Anak Wungsu. Another enshrine hill along the hill of Pakerisan River are Kerobokan and Tegallinggah enshrine hills. Meditation caves exist within the complex as the sign that this place is functioned as a meditation site in the past. “So, these sites are of our first priority which are included into the spiritual tourism package,” said Alit Arinatha.

Meditation Site
From much spiritual tourism potency, he said, Goa Gajah is marked on top in welcoming the tourists who loves to do a spiritual journey, agreed by the tourist guide, I Made Sutama. “The most improving spiritual tourism is Goa Gajah. By evidence, many tourists came here for meditation purpose, not for ordinary purpose,” said this man who fluently speaks English.
Sutama positively welcomed the plan of Gianyar government to transform Goa Gajah as spiritual tourism object. “It is a right decision,” he said while shows the meditation caves.
According to the literature that he ever read, Sutama said Goa Gajah was built in prediction around 11th C, when King Sri Astasura Ratna Bumi Banten (or famously known as King Udayana) ruled the country. The kingdom is called Bedahulu which is very famous for its age.
Another evidence that shows Goa Gajah as a meditation cave is the ‘petirtaan’ pool with 7 widyadara-widyadari (angels) statues holding the holy water. 6 statues are still in good condition whilst 1 statue in the center no longer exists.
Formerly, this pool was used by the priests for self-purifying, before meditation execution. Other ancient things are Lingga-yoni and Ganesha Statue inside the cave, which firmly declares that the cave is used for meditation.
According to Sutama, the cave floor along 20 meters able to accommodate 20 people for meditation, whilst the 8 caves contains are especially for brahmana (a highest level priest from brahmana caste). Lately, this cave is also used for meditation site, not just for local Balinese and Indonesian, but also from India, Thailand, China, Europe and America. “They start to meditate around 7 pm,” he said while asserting , meditation trends in Goa Gajah started to appear since 2000.
The number of meditation tourists who came to Goa Gajah is 15-20 each month. “They start meditate from 7 pm until 3 am the next day. However, some also meditate just for few hours,” he said.(BTN/W. Sumatika)