Karangasem Regency covers most of East Bali and it’s one of the many places on the island that are worth visiting.
However, as it’s a vast area, you’re going to need our guide to see the best things while you’re on holiday here in Bali.
The (Brief) History Of Karangasem Regency
The Karangasem Regency covers the area of the original Karangasem Kingdom. It would have been the home of the Royal Family or Karangasem.
The Karangasem is a compound of the words Karang and Semadi or “Coral Meditation” as it would be in English.
Mount Lempuyang, the home of the famous Lempuyang Luhur Temple was originally the Karang Adri (“Coral Mountain”).
It is believed the regency gets its name from the fact that the God Hyang Agnijaya made the temple as a place to meditate.
Amlapura The Capital Of Karangasem Regency
In 1963, catastrophe struck the Karangasem Regency, Mount Agung, Bali’s largest volcano erupted and destroyed many of the towns and villages in the area.
Nearly 2,000 people lost their lives and the beautiful original city of Amlapura, which was rich with Dutch colonial buildings was gone.
It has been rebuilt in the years since the eruption but despite its position near the East Coast and the impressive view of Mount Agung from the city, there’s not much to see in the city and most people pass through on the main road and keep driving until they reach their destination.
Where Is Karangasem Regency?
The Karangasem Regency is the province that covers most of the East part of the island and it has an area that is around 840 square kilometres.
It covers 8 districts and 78 villages and is one of the larger regencies in Bali.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Karangasem Regency?
There’s no bad time of year to visit Bali and even in the rainy season we get more than 8 hours of sunshine a day on average, thus there’s no bad time to visit East Bali, either.
We would note that you may find that it’s hotter and more humid in the wet season, but that’s offset by lower flight, accommodation and day tour costs.
Conversely, it’s more expensive in the dry season, but there is less rain, it’s less humid and a bit cooler due to the onshore breeze on most of the island.
17 Things To Do In The Karangasem Regency
This area has plenty of interesting things to do and you can often get Mount Agung in the background of your photos of places in this regency too, which makes for a great Instagram feed.
Tirta Gangga
This was once a royal palace and is based on Tirtagangga (“Water of the Ganges”) has lovely tiered fountains, lush tropical gardens and amazing stone sculptures of creatures from Hindu mythology.
There are bathing pools galore and if you step outside of the palace grounds, you will find some of the best views of rice paddies of anywhere on the island.
Ujung Water Palace (Taman Soekasada Ujung)
This palace was constructed in 1919 and it’s all set around gorgeous sculpted pools of water, many say that Ujung Water Palace is more attractive than the more famous Tirta Gangga.
Look out for the “Bale Ship” entrance if you visit as it’s one of the most unique features of any building in this corner of Bali.
Virgin Beach
As the name suggests, this beach is covered in virgin white sand and though it can be a challenge for swimmers as the current can be very strong.
The beach has plenty of facilities for visitors, but we’d avoid the “on-beach massage” as none of the masseurs has been properly trained and is likely to lose interest quickly after being paid for their services.
Jemeluk Beach
This is an amazing location for snorkeling fans with some of the best marine life in East Bali.
The coral reef offshore is lovely and you can snorkel straight from the beach, there’s no need to rent a boat to take you out to sea.
If you want diving lessons, you will find the PADI schools here are among the best value places in Bali.
White Sand Beach
We’re not sure why they call it “White Sand” Beach because the sand here is more of a grey colour than white.
However, it’s a clean, pleasant place that’s ideal for a long walk following a glorious sunrise and you will find there are some pleasant facilities in the surrounding area.
Besakih Temple
The Mother Temple of Bali, Besakih Temple, is on the slopes of Mount Agung and it sits at 3,000 feet (1,000 meters) above sea level.
The complex has been around for over 1,000 years and is home to over 20 temples and there are over 70 different traditional rituals conducted here each year!
Each ritual is symbolically linked to the wellbeing of the land and its people.
Hiking Mount Agung
Mount Agung is Bali’s largest active volcano and to the Balinese people, the mountains on the island are sacred places.
You can climb this mountain through most of the year, though it is sometimes sealed off to protect the local culture when religious rituals are being conducted on the slopes and at the temple here.
It’s not an easy climb but if you can stay the course, you will be rewarded with a view that puts all other hills and mountains on the island to shame.
Lipah Beach
This is a very attractive black sand beach that is perfect for fishing, snorkelling, and swimming.
There is very little current, so your whole family can swim safely here and best of all, there are no beach vendors!
Lempuyang Luhur Temple
Lempuyang Temple is one of the best-known sights in Bali, mainly due to the trick photograph taken at the “Gates of Heaven” at the side of the Lempuyang Temple complex.
However, we’d skip the long line of people waiting for the Instagram shot and head straight up the mountain and explore one of the most spiritual parts of the island. It’s an adventure that’s yours for the taking.
Amed Beach
This beach and fishing village on the Northeast side of the island are near to Tulamben and some of the most famous dive spots in Bali.
The area is quite lovely and if you’re looking for a budget destination here, you will find your money goes much further in Amed than in many other parts of the island.
Diving The Japanese Shipwreck
Just off the coast of Amed is a sunken Japanese ship that has become the most famous dive spot here in Bali.
If you love to explore the marine environment, this is a great place to do it.
Sidemen Valley
Sidemen Village is what Ubud was like before mass-market tourism arrived and it’s a lovely place for long walks in nature.
It also has some excellent silversmithing workshops where you can learn to make your own jewelry.
Guungan Hill Trail
If you don’t fancy climbing mountains this group of hills is very easy to climb and you get some lovely views of the ocean and the surrounding countryside.
Just watch out for wild monkeys on the route, they can be a bit of apina.
Bugbug Village
If you want a snapshot of a classic Balinese village, you will find it in Bugbug.
It’s a gorgeous location with lovely residents.
Asah Hill
This is a super spot for sunrise watching and getting awesome phtoso of the ocean below.
Gembleng Waterfall
This delightful waterfall is a bit out of the way and that means you can often have the place to yourself, unlike say, Gitgit Waterfall or Sekumpul Waterfall which see huge numbers of visitors.
The big draw at this waterfall is the natural infinity pool which provides an amazing view over the local countryside.
Blue Lagoon Beach
Blue Lagoon Beach is a semi-circle beach that creates a “Blue Lagoon” in the centre of the sand.
The sand here is white and there are beautiful green hills to either side of the beach which provide a natural frame for the environment.
It’s a man-made beach and by design, they used a local black coral reef to shade Blue Lagoon beach from waves, which makes it an excellent place to swim.
You will also find snorkelling in the Blue Lagoon to be a very rewarding experience.
Petung Natural Water Park
This interesting natural feature in the heart of Bali is a “natural water park” in that the river has broken off a little and produced a water slide down the cliff edge.
It’s perfectly safe but it’s quite a long way from the beaten path and mostly, it’s visited by local tourists seeking a fun distraction in the heat of the day.
You won’t spend very long here but it’s a bit different and something more other people will never do.
FAQs
What Is The Kingdom Of Karangasem In Bali?
It’s the modern-day Karangasem Regency. As Bali is part of Indonesia now and Indonesia is a constitutional republic, there is no royal family anymore, though members of the previous royals are often considered to be important still to the local people.
Where To Explore In Bali?
The whole island is worth exploring, this article is about East Bali and the Karangasem Regency but there’s plenty more to see and do here and each of Bali’s regencies is worth your time and exploration.
Where Are The Most Beautiful Beaches In Bali?
There are some very beautiful beaches in East Bali such as the Blue Lagoon Beach and Virgin Beach.
However, it’s fair to say that most people who visit Bali consider the Nusa Dua area to have the best beaches and that’s why so many of the brand-name international luxury resorts can be found in Nusa Dua, Bali.
We think Berawa Beach is pretty awesome too, particularly when viewed at sunset from a sun lounger at FINNS Beach Club, the world’s best beach club, with a cocktail in hand. That can’t be beaten as an authentic Bali experience.
How To Book A Holiday In Karangasem Regency?
We always recommend that you book a Bali holiday through the Bali Res Center a locally owned and operated travel service that gets great deals on flights, hotels, etc.
Final Thoughts On Karangasem Regency
Karangasem is a great place to visit during your Bali holiday and there’s plenty to see and do in the area.
We would spend a few days in the regency before or after spending some time in Canggu, the home of FINNS Beach Club, the best beach club in the world. After all, a visit to Bali without a visit to FINNS isn’t a holiday at all.
