If you’re going out to the Western part of Bali to enjoy the natural beauty and mangrove forests of the West Bali National Park or to climb Mount Merbuk, you might want to spend some time at Bendungan Palasari.
We won’t pretend that the Palasari Dam is worth a special trip but it’s a very pleasant place with crystal clear waters and it’s near a vibrant church community if you’re seeking some spiritual guidance too.
Our guide to Bendungan Palasari will help you decide whether you want to fi this attractive spot in Bali into your itinerary.
Where Is Bendungan Palasari?
Bendungan Palasari is just North of Palasari Village in West Bali. It’s located i in the middle of the West side of the island and it’s one of those rarely visited places.
It is however surrounded by plenty of warungs and one of Bali’s best church groups at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.
Address: Taman Wana Street, Ekasari, Kec. Melaya, Kabupaten Jembrana, Bali 82252, Indonesia
How To Get To Bendungan Palasari
This part of Bali is not well visited and while you can easily use a Grab or Gojek app to get there, you won’t find much help from an app when you want to leave.
It’s best to hire a private car and driver so you can explore this region of Bali fully and enjoy the cultural and natural beauty of the area.
The good news is that this is fairly cheap and you can expect to spend about 500,000 IDR (that’s about $35 USD or $50 AUD) on a car, driver and petrol for the day.
What’s The Best Time To Visit Bendungan Palasari?
Travelers will find that the best weather is in the dry season from April to October but you can really come at any time of the year.
If it’s raining, it won’t rain for long and it even rains in July and August two of the driest months of the year.
You’re sure to see the sun at some point as there are roughly 8 hours of sunshine every day in Bali during the wet season.
There’s no need to rush your breakfast food though as the low number of visitors to this area of West Bali means that you’re not going to find any crowds when you reach Palasari Village and Palasari Dam.
Is There An Entrance Fee For Bendungan Palasari?
No, you can enjoy the dam free of charge. However, that means you can walk out onto the dam look at the lake and leave for free.
If you want to enjoy the beauty of this region, you will want to hire a boat a the dam and get out on the lake.
This is very cheap – 100,000 IDR per person (that’s about $6 USD or $10 AUD) and you will get an hour’s trip out on the water for that.
You can find a boat in the local village or in the area around the dam.
What To Expect At Bendungan Palasari
In essence, this is an area surrounded by amazing natural beauty and a place that’s extremely peaceful and relaxed.
It’s not somewhere that we’d make a special trip to visit but if you want to experience a side of West Bali that most visitors never see, it’s very much worth visiting on the way to the National Park.
It’s a decent trek from a beach and that means the reward of being there is you get an authentic cultural experience without any major Western influence.
However, the local village is not as Hindu as most of Bali and instead, is home to a large church and its congregation. If you’re seeking the word of God on the island from a Christian perspective, you might want to attend a service there.
Overall though, you will find this is a lovely place for a walk and a boat journey before you enter the national park and after you’ve climbed nearby Mount Merbuk.
Where To Stay Near Bendungan Palasari
This is a great place to stop for the night on your way to West Bali National Park and we can strongly recommend you break your trip here. The accommodation is quite basic but very cheap:
Taman Wana Resort Palasari Village – an excellent hotel within a short walk from the dam. It’s a four-star property with an amazing swimming pool area.
Puri Eling Blimbingsari – this may be the oldest villa in the village and it has amazing vintage vibes. The breakfasts and dinners they serve are super tasty too.
Nyoman Sudirman Homestay – a simple and peaceful local homestay of the kind you will find all across Bali. Expect pleasant hospitality and a basic room.
Taman Puri Siarma Homestay – this is model accommodation for the Blimbingsari tourist initiative and it has amazing views and a very friendly and helpful owner.
Pryasthi Homestay – another pleasant and cheap homestay in Blimbingsari, the rooms are clean and quiet.
Where To Eat Near Bendungan Palasari
It might be a long way from Denpasar but this corner of Bali offers plenty of great spots for you to eat including:
Warung Sising Tukad Blimbingsari – this is a very pleasant family-run restaurant with its own private waterfall set up on a river. Their menu is varied and super tasty.
Kedai Pasco Palasari Village (Kuliner Khas Bali) – delicious local food at very low prices, there’s no frills here but that’s OK. This is the real Bail and should be part of everyone’s trip to the area.
Wr. Babi Guling – if you want some delicious affordable babi guling then the suckling pig here is served in portions that cost just 10,000 IDR each! Mind you, you may want more than one.
Warung Giellies – this warung has really upped its game and aims to showcase the culinary heritage of the Jimbrana Regency. The soto ayam here is world-class and the views are wonderful too.
Waroeng Men Agus – a simple warung catering mainly to a local audience, if you want to try some adventurous food in Bali, you won’t be disappointed here.
Things To Do Near Bendungan Palasari
You won’t need to be making your own entertainment in this corner of West Bali and while you will need to drive a little, all of these places are fairly nearby:
Blimbingsari Village – a very Christian tourist village that is happy to welcome visitors to enjoy their culture and the stunning natural landscape.
Palasari Village – this Catholic village was founded in Bali in 1926 by migrants from Southern Bali and there is a church community that is over 2,000 members strong! The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is a stunning building that everyone should visit in this village.
Grojogan Waterfall – not to be mistaken for the mighty Grojogan Twin Waterfall this is a very small waterfall that’s quite hard to get to (we’d recommend using a local guide). It makes for some great Instagram shots and you will find that you can enjoy this place surrounded by lush jungle, without jostling with any other tourists.
Bendungan Benel – another attractive inland lake where you can enjoy some time out on the water in a boat. It’s a very different vibe from the beach towns.
Mount Merbuk – the third tallest volcano in Bali and often completely forgotten by tourists. You can climb to the summit of this mountain pretty easily and you will often be able to enjoy the sunrise in complete peace without another climber in sight!
FAQs
Are Dams Important In Balinese Culture?
All water is sacred in Bali. However, creating dams is a relatively new thing and anything derived from modern technology doesn’t tend to have a place in Hindu cultural mores.
However, there’s no doubt that dams are important for water management on the island.
Is There Much To Do In Palasari Village, Bali?
There is a nice garden and a pleasant art gallery in the village as well as one of Bali’s pre-eminent Catholic churches.
Even if you don’t go to church, it’s worth stopping for a few photos at this place.
Otherwise, it’s simply a nice spot to stop before you move on to the National Park.
Final Thoughts On Bendungan Palasari
If you’re passing through West Bali then a stop at Bendung Palasari is highly recommended.
A trip out on the man-made lake and around the dam in an area of exquisite beauty is a welcome relief from the long road trip to the national park.
Pelasari Village is also a lovely place to grab some lunch and just relax in the heat of the day as the Bali sun shines down on the island of the gods.
