Tabanan, Rainbow over Ricefields

Cruising the Strip of Gadungan-Wanagiri

At dawn in the village the air is still cold blowing down from the mountains, and birds sing to welcome the morning. Village life has already begun as many farmers go to the rice fields with hoes over their shoulders. Cruising through villages is a very exciting excursion for visitors and a way to see the treasures of Bali upfront.

There is a strip that connects some villages into one interesting and natural road trip. One of the interesting runs is a journey to the village of Gadungan, Tabanan. This road connects other adjoining villages and ends at Bajera. The route covers about 30 kilometers of country roads. On entering the village of Gadungan the rice terraces and coconut plantations sat against the background of Mount Batukaru greet you . Tranquility surrounds the village as it is away from main Denpasar-Gilimanuk road.
The next village after Gadungan is Dalang. On the roadside you will see the white monument of Soenda Ketjil at Munduk Malang. It is to commemorate the struggle of I Gusti Ngurah Rai along with his troops during the fight against the allies after the Independence of Indonesia. He is a great hero of Bali where his name is nowadays immortalized in the name of Bali International Airport, Bypass Road and some properties. Along the street there is a ‘natural green belt’ between the villages. As you enter the village you encounter beautiful rice terraces and Mount Batukaru looming near with a visible tree line.
From Gempinis village to Wanagiri the road deteriorates somewhat, adding a little ‘off-road’ feeling to the journey. From Sarinbuana the rest is downhill. You can still enjoy the verdant and beautiful scenery, and housing complexes are still few and far between. Many local fruits like jackfruit, jambu, and candlenuts grow by the roadside. After about 30 kilometers the journey ends in the village of Bajera and you have reached the main Denpasar-Gilimanuk road . (Punia)