The Handara Gate is a Bali icon but it’s also just a gate to a golf course, so is it worth visiting and if so, what should you expect when you get there?
We think it is, with some provisos, and this is what you need to know before you plan a trip to the Handara Gate.
Where Is Handara Gate, Bali?
It’s outside of Bedugul not far from Pancasari in the Kabupaten Regency. This is Northern Bali and quite some distance from the beach towns and Ubud.
The Handara Gate address is Jl. Raya Singaraja-Denpasar, Pancasari, Kec. Sukasada, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81161, Indonesia
How To Get To Bali Handara Gate
You will either want to join a tour group or hire a private car and driver to get to this part of Bali. This isn’t expensive and will ensure that you can see all the other sights in the area too.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Handara Gate?
If you want a photo at the Handara Gate, we’d recommend that you either stay in the Handara Gold Resort Bali or you get up very early in the morning to reach it.
There is such a demand for taking photos at the Handara Gate that you may find that there is a queue of people over an hour long if you time your visit later in the day. This is still better than the 4+ hours that you might have to wait for a photo at Lempuyang Temple, mind you.
Otherwise, there’s no bad time of year to visit this part of the central highlands though, of course, in the rainy season there’s a slightly lower chance of sunshine when you reach the Handara Gate.
Is There An Entrance Fee For Bali Handara Gate?
Yes, as we go to press it’s 50,000 IDR for an adult and 30,000 IDR for a child. This includes the cost of a photograph taken by a local guide and sent to you of you enjoying the stunning panorama here. That’s a pretty steep entrance fee for a gate.
If you want to use a drone at the Bali Handara Gate, you should be aware that it will incur an extortionate charge of 300,000 IDR!
You cannot fly the drone over the Handara Golf Resort Bali or the world-class golf course, the fees only cover flying around the split gate.
What To Expect At Handara Gate
The gate is very popular and it is only a gate. If you want to spend time here, you will need to pay the entrance fee and then join the queue for a photograph.
This will be taken by a local photographer using their camera or yours if you want them to.
The entrance fee does not include access to the resort of the golf course. However, if you are a guest of the resort, you do not need to pay to be photographed at the gate.
Handara Golf Resort And Golf Course/Bali Handara Country Club
The golf course is one of Bali’s best golf courses and you will find a links-standard course here with some stunning views of the local countryside.
Many golfers prefer golfing in the highlands as the climate is cooler and more comfortable for 18 holes of walking.
The resort is excellent and first class with all the restaurants, bars, etc. that you would expect for an exclusive country club environment.
Where To Stay Near Bali Handara Gate
If you’re not staying at the golf resort there are some other great places to stay in this area including:
My Lodge Bedugul – a very homely resort with a wonderful team of staff to take care of your needs. The rooms are large and comfortable and the views of the local countryside are spectacular.
Pondok Wina Bedugul – a spacious villa-style resort with large rooms and cool beautiful bedrooms. There’s a large garden space to relax in and they serve some truly delicious food for breakfast.
The Taman Bonsai – a decent villa that won’t cost a fortune with fairly basic amenities. It’s decent value for money but nothing to write home about.
Svargan Lakeside Glamping and Restaurant – if you want to go camping not far from the Handara Gate, this is the place to go. This is a decent glamping environment with a nice onsite restaurant.
Wisma PLN Bedugul – a cozy hotel with very reasonable room rates. It also has a tennis court that is available for use by their guests.
Where To Eat Near Bali Handara Gate
There are some amazing places to eat in the area around Bali Handara Golf Resort and they include:
Asta Wilangun Giri Mas Pancasari – this is a very pleasant coffee shop just a few minutes walk from the Handara gate. It’s great value for money and their chicken soup is about the best thing we’ve tasted in Bedugul.
ACK Fried Chicken Bedugul – it’s a sort of low-budget KFC-style chicken offering, it wouldn’t be our first choice of restaurant in the area, but fussy kids might prefer it to some of the more local-style restaurants.
Sate Kambing, Resto & Cafe – a very attractive Indonesian restaurant with excellent food and the gulai kambing is among the best we’ve ever tasted. The staff are super friendly and welcoming too.
Bali Jurassic – yes! It’s a dinosaur-themed restaurant with a dino-play park out the back. Our kids loved this when we visited and it’s cheap enough too. The food isn’t the best we’ve ever had, but it was tasty and the portions were generous.
Rumah Gemuk Bali – a lovely garden-style restaurant where you can enjoy a picnic on the ground floor (complete with a picnic basket). It’s the ideal spot for lunch for would-be influencers as well as those who just want a unique dining experience in Bali.
Other Things To Do Near Bali Handara Gate
This is a wonderful part of Northern Bali in the central highlands and there is plenty to see and do in the area including:
Ulun Danu Temple – a gorgeous temple which sits on the shores of Lake Beratan. It appears to float on the water when you visit in the wet season after the rains have become. It’s one of our favourite places in Bali.
The Twin Lakes (Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan) – a pair of volcanic lakes surrounded by temples, lush vegetation, and much more. They are the ideal venue for a bit of hiking in the Balinese countryside.
Lake Beratan – is home to the Ulun Danu Temple and a wonderful place to sit and relax on the shores too. We love to take a boat out on this tropical lake and enjoy the peaceful quiet and the sounds of the local wildlife.
Bali Botanical Garden -these lush tropical gardens showcase all the best of the botanical life of Bali and other parts of Indonesia. This part of North Central Bali really suffered under the pandemic lockdowns and supporting attractions like this makes a huge difference to the local people.
Hidden Strawberry Garden – a lovely place that specializes in local strawberries, which are tasty, sweet and reasonably priced. However, be warned, it’s best to park nearby and walk to this attraction when you visit Bali as the road is very narrow and it’s almost impossible to turn around when you need to get back from the garden.
FAQs
Is Bali Handara Gate Worth It?
We confess that the Bali Handara Gate wouldn’t be top of our list to visit unless we were visiting the Bali Handara Golf Course or staying at the Handara Golf Resort Bali.
The Bali Handara Iconic Gate is a gimmick and a good one to encourage people to visit this part of North Bali and while the split gate does look amazing in photographs, on its own the Handara Gate is a long way from anywhere else and you have to pay to have your photo taken with it.
Of course, if you’re a would-be influencer, you might find the entrance fee to be worth it for the Bali Handara Gate, but we suspect most people are going to be disappointed with the Handara Gate if they make a special trip just for that photo.
Why Is Handara Gate Famous?
It looks awesome in photographs. We may not think that the Bali Handara Gate is worth a special trip across the island but there’s no doubt that the Handara Golf Resort, Bali knew exactly what they were doing when they built it.
The roofed tower gate is truly iconic and a wonderful example of Balinese architecture. It leads to one of the most iconic Bali photos of them all and marks the entryway to a world-class golf course.
Is There A Dress Code For The Bali Handara Gate?
No, it’s the entranceway to a golf course. It doesn’t have any specific religious significance and you can dress as you want to get your picture of this Candi Bentar gate and the breathtaking mountain scenery around it.
What Is The Significance Of The Handara Gate?
This traditional Hindu gate symbolises Bali’s beautiful natural environment and its cultural heritage. It’s an example of how Balinese architectural design can be married to a spectacular mountain view and create a magnificent setting.
Final Thoughts On Whether To Visit Bali Handara Gate
While we wouldn’t make a special trip just to see Handara Gate, the area has plenty of other attractions to visit and combined, they make for a great day out.
Just make sure to get there early in the morning if you want that photo in front of the gate or you many be waiting some time. (Though the queues aren’t quite as bad as they are at Lempuyang Temple for the gates of heaven photo, they are pretty bad later on in the day).
