Negara, Bali is a town on the North Coast of West Bali.
It’s an ideal destination for adventurous tourists who’ve been scuba diving, wandered through the rice paddies, seen the capital city and are now hungry for a place that most visitors will never see.
Our guide will share exactly what you can expect to find in Negara and help you decide if the great views, history and fascinating shrines in this part of the coast are worth making the journey for.
Where Is Negara, Bali?
Negara Town is the capital city of the Jembrana Regency.
It’s a place to escape the crowds of the beach towns in Bali and while more tourists will surely discover Negara when the new airport, finally, opens – for now, it’s the end of the main coastal road that almost connects Bali to Java.
However, it’s important to note that there’s Negara Town and also “Negara” which is a more general name given to the whole of West Bali, which ought to be known as “Jembrana” after the Jembrana Regency in which it is based.
How To Get To Negara, Bali?
Given that Negara Town is in a fairly remote corner of Bali and it’s a long drive across the island from almost any other point, particularly Ubud and the beach towns, we’d recommend that you hire a private driver to get you there.
In fact, you might want to retain their services as you explore the mountains, villages, forest and jungle of this area as you will struggle to find a Grab or Gojek in this location.
The good news is that this kind of trip doesn’t have to break the bank and you can rent a car with a driver for as little as $35 USD ($50 AUD) a day.
Given that hotels in Negara, Bali are basic and cheaper than elsewhere on the island, you will probably save this fee on accommodation.
What’s The Best Time Of Year To Visit Negara?
You can visit Bali all year round and enjoy sun, sea and sand. In fact, even in the rainy season, we get about 8 hours of sunshine a day.
Thus, there’s no bad time of year to visit Negara.
In fact, this part of the island tends to be less hot and humid in the wet season than the rest of Bali, so you might want to go when the rains come.
About Negara, Bali
This part of Bali is the least visited area on the island and it’s also fairly sparsely populated. Nearly all of the land is part of the national park.
You’ll find that every village has clean air and its economy will be based on agriculture.
It’s also the only part of Bali where Islam, not Hinduism, is dominant and there are plenty of mosques in addition to the usual shrines and temples.
7 Things To Do In And Around Negara, Bali
Pantai Delod Berawah/Delod Berawah Beach
This black sand beach is almost grey in appearance and the waters offshore are calm and pleasant for swimming and most watersports, except for surfing.
It is, however, a very “local” beach and that means many Muslims in this location.
So ladies, if you swim here, you want to ensure your swimming clothes are very modest unless you want to attract a large audience of excitable young (and not so young) men.
Racing Buffaloes
This is the only place in Bali where you can witness traditional buffalo racing and the sport is thought to have come across the strait from Madura in Java.
There is a 4-kilometer long course and the buffaloes and their carts are brightly decorated for the races which start at 7 a.m. sharp on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. Don’t miss this absolutely wonderful glimpse of local culture in Negara.
West Bali National Park And Menjangan Island
We’ve got a full guide to the West Bali National Park and Menjangan Island but suffice it to say that Bali’s only national park is a haven of wildlife and plant life that is unmatched anywhere else in Indonesia.
If you love to go trekking in nature, this is the ideal place for it.
It’s also a great diving spot.
Blimbingsair Village
This isolated place is a protestant community that was carved out of the jungle by early Christian pioneers in Bali.
However, it’s fair to say that Balinese culture has a powerful influence on this village and its neighbour Palasari Village and you can witness things like traditional dances being enacted but with Hindu Epic characters being substituted for Biblical figures.
Palasari Village
This is very similar to Blimbingsair but is a Catholic village. The reservoir here is amazing at sunrise with a mountain backdrop.
Bugis People And Bugis Houses
The Bugis people come from Sulawesi and live all over Negara but if you head to the Loloan Timur area you can find a small slice of Sulawesi in Bali with their architecturally distinct homes everywhere the eye can see.
Madurese-Style Fishing Boats
Head to Pangambengan and see the boats lining the shore. These boats fish at night, so they are almost always there.
Rambut Siwi Temple
This exciting cliff-top temple gets very few visitors, which is a shame because it’s amazing and was built by the same founder as Tanah Lot Temple!
Where To Stay In Negara, Bali
There aren’t a lot of hotels, villas and resorts in Negara, Bali and if you want to stay in this part of the island to explore the Negara area, you’re pretty much limited to the following places:
Tunjung Sari -this charming guest house has a lovely swimming pool area, excellent food in the onsite restaurant and direct beach access. You’re just five minutes outside of the two too.
Melaya Beach Resort – this low-cost beach resort (for Bali) has excellent rooms and very affordable villas. You get a great view of the beach and the staff are super helpful.
Shalom Homestay Blimbingsari Village – they only have four rooms at this lovely little homestay but it’s the perfect place to stay when trekking and bird watching in the local area.
Villa Jembrana – with views of four volcanoes (across the Straits in Java) this is a lovely place to stay. It’s not expensive and it’s always kept clean and tidy.
Bali Sunset Hotel – the beds are a little hard but otherwise, this is a decent hotel with a great pool area and a nice bar to go with it.
Where To Eat In Negara, Bali
There aren’t a huge amount of restaurants located in this corner of Bali and you’re not likely to land on the doorstep of one by just wandering about. We could only find five places to eat in Negara, Bali:
Luvi Resto – this is a nice local warung that serves excellent Balinese food, we thought the Mie Goreng Bebek was the best we’ve ever had.
Tides Restaurant and Bar – this upscale, for-the-area, place offers a decent international menu and a nice view of the ocean. It’s a top spot for breakfast in Negara.
Warung Jegeg Bagus – if all you want is some cold beer and tasty local grub, you can’t go wrong as this warung.
The Palms Restaurant and Bar – this Italian restaurant is a little pricey for what it is, but you won’t get pizza anywhere else in Negara.
Pondok Waru Seafood – an excellent example of seafood restaurants in Bali, all the food is fresh and tasty and cooked to order.
FAQs
Is Negara Bali Worth Visiting?
Yes! We think Negara is very much worth visiting. It’s a chance to explore Balinese villages and see life as it used to be in Bali before tourism brought so much change.
We wouldn’t visit Negara instead of Canggu, Ubud, etc. but we would take a couple of days extra holiday time to see Negara and West Bali National Park (with Menjangan Island).
Where Is Negara Indonesia?
Negara is on the island of Bali.
Is West Bali Worth A Visit?
Yes! It’s home to some of the best diving in Indonesia, Bali’s only national park, some of the best mountains on the island and much more.
How To Go About Visiting Bali And Negara?
We always recommend that you book a trip to Bali and Negara through the Bali Res Centre, a locally owned and operated travel service that specializes in Balinese travel.
Final Thoughts On Negara
Negara is a great place to visit and if you’re heading to West Bali National Park anyway, you really should stop in at the villages along the coast before you hit the park.
If you want an authentic slice of Balinese life, you’ll find it in Negara and there won’t be many other tourists around to share it with.
