11 Fun Facts About Bali

We’ve gathered 11 fun facts about Bali, from its unique Balinese Hinduism and 20,000 temples to its famed Kopi Luwak coffee and daily ceremonies.

When I first traveled to Bali I expected beautiful beaches, delicious food and exciting outdoor activities. I found all of those things, plus a few more I wasn’t expecting: one of the worst sunburns of my life, and a newfound fascination for the culture of Bali.

I stayed in a local Balinese family’s home and my host family taught me all about their customs and daily lives. There’s a lot more to Bali than the tourist attractions.

Let me share some of the fun facts about Bali I learned that will keep me visiting Bali as often as I can.

1.) Kopi Luwak coffee from Bali has a special ingredient – the digestive system of a civet

Kopi Luwak is a type of coffee produced in Bali that involves fermenting coffee cherries in the digestive system of a civet. Also known as civet coffee, Kopi Luwak is widely regarded as the world’s most expensive coffee due to its unique processing. The resulting coffee from the thoroughly cleaned coffee cherries is a cup of smooth, earthy flavored coffee with a unique back story and a sizeable price tag.

The farmer of the Kopi Luwak I visited in Bali told me that it was not just the fermentation that makes the coffee world class. The civets are picky eaters, they only eat the best tasting cherries. The whole next step feels like it should extinguish those “tasty” notes, but I quite enjoyed my cup of Kopi Luwak. The atmosphere and storytelling might have been doing most of the heavy lifting though.

2.) While Indonesia is mostly Muslim, Bali is 87% Hindu

Bali is the only Hindu majority island in Indonesia. While 87% of Indonesia is Muslim, 83% of Bali is Hindu, making up less than 2% of the country’s population.

In the past, Indonesia was dominated by Hinduism and Buddhism starting from the 1st century CE. When the largest Hindu empire of Majaphit fell in the 16th century, Hindus fled to Bali while Islam became the major religion elsewhere in Indonesia. Bali was able to preserve its Hindu origins because its geographic and political separate from the Islamic kingdoms in the main island of Java.

3.) Balinese Hinduism is different than other sects

Balinese Hinduism is not the Hinduism that you might be familiar with. When Bali become the last refuge for Hindus in Indonesia, it had to incorporate the local beliefs and customs of Balinese culture in order to prosper and survive. Local beliefs like animism, or the belief that spirits inhabit natural objects, became a core part of the Hindu practices in Bali.

Here’s a look at the key difference between Hinduism in Bali and in India:

4.) Bali is home to over 20,000 temples

In Bali there are over 20,000 temples, gaining the Indonesian island the nicknames “Island of a Thousand Temples” and “Island of Gods.” These temples consist of small family shrines to large public temples, including three main temples called the “Kahyangan Tiga” in every village.

To give you an idea of just how many temples 20,000 means, let’s compare how many temples there are in Bali to the number of McDonalds in New York City.

In Bali there is 1 temple for every 215 people, compared to 1 McDonalds for every 36,087 people in New York City. That’s a lot of temples.

5.) The Balinese people have A LOT of ceremonies

Every day of the year there will be a ceremony at some temple in Bali, if not dozens. I had to stop asking my taxi driver why the streets were blocked; the answer was always a ceremony. Odalan is the anniversary of a temple, occurring every 210 days following the Balinese Pawukon calendar.

With 20,000 temples or nine every square mile, and each temple with a different anniversary… There’s a lot of ceremonies going on. Not to mention the Canang Sari, or woven baskets with offerings to the gods that are prepared daily in front of most homes, businesses and temples.

Here are some of the other major ceremonies celebrated in Bali:

6.) Balinese babies get started on ceremonies at birth

Ceremonies for Balinese people start young with many traditions that begin from the day you are born. The Grounding Ceremony, Nyabutan or Kepus Puser, is a custom that babies are not allowed to touch the ground for the first 105 days of their lives. Babies are believed to be in a divine or spiritual state, connected with the heavens and not fully a part of the human world.

In other words, Balinese children can beat you at a game of the floor is lava any day. Here are some of the other ceremonies you can expect in your first year of life as a baby in Bali:

Placenta Burial (Ari-Ari Ritual)

The placenta (called Ari-Ari) is considered a sacred companion to the baby. After birth, it is carefully cleaned and buried near the family home. The placenta is believed to have a spiritual connection to the child, protecting them throughout their life.

Naming Ceremony (Upacara Nama)

Balinese babies receive their name through a naming ceremony, usually held after the 42nd day. The family chooses the name based on traditions that reflect the baby’s birth order and family heritage.

Names follow a pattern based on the order of birth:

• Wayan or Putu for the first child,
• Made or Kadek for the second,
• Nyoman or Komang for the third,
• Ketut for the fourth.

The Baby’s Guardians (Kala and Sanghyang Jaran)

Balinese believe that certain spirits protect babies. Kala is thought to guard children from harm, while the Sanghyang Jaran is a divine figure believed to ensure the child’s well-being. Rituals involving offerings are performed to honor these spirits, seeking their protection for the newborn.

105-Day Celebration (Three-Month Ceremony)

At the 105-day mark (the “three-month” ceremony), a celebration called Telung Bulanan is held. The baby is introduced to the extended family, community and ancestors.

The 105-Day Celebration marks the beginning of the baby’s integration into society. Oh, and they can finally touch the ground.

7.) Bali’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site is an irrigation System: system

There is only one UNESCO world Heritage site in Bali, the Subak Irrigation System. The sites official name is one of the longest UNESCO site names: Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy. More simply, the Subak Irrigation System is an ancient, community-based water management system used in rice terraces.

It was recognized by UNESCO in 2012 for its sustainability and community-based water management.

8.) The last eruption of Mount Agung lasted 11 months and killed 1,000 people

Mount Agung is a dangerous, active volcano that has continues to be a threat to communities on Bali. The most recent major eruption was in 1963. It lasted 11 months and killed over 1,000 people. Despite its danger, the volcano is also considered sacred and has many temples in the area.

You can thank Bali’s active volcanoes for the famous black sand beaches that draw tourists every year. Mount Batur is another famous volcano that has erupted over 20 times in the last two centuries. At the peak of Mount Batur lies Lake Batur, a large volcanic lake formed in the massive crater left behind by a past eruption.

9.) Bali has its own language

Bali has its own language called Balinese or Basa Bali. It might be a small island of Indonesia, but due to its Hindu population and isolated history, Bali was able to develop and preserve its own language.

Basa Bali has very different vocabulary and lexicon, but most Balinese people are able to speak Bahasa Indonesia and Balinese.

Bali sits in the center of the Coral Triangle, home to 76% of the world’s coral species.

10.) Monkeys are sacred in Bali

Monkeys, in particular Macaques, are sacred animals in Bali because of their connection with Balinese Hinduism. They are most closely associated with the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman, who rescued his wife from the demon king Ravana. Monkeys are considered the companions of Hanuman and guardians of sacred temples.

The most famous monkey sanctuary in Bali is the Ubud Monkey Forest, home to over 700 carefully cared for macaques. The monkeys of Ubud Monkey Forest are well accustomed to tourists and more than a bit mischievous. Don’t forget to secure your sunglasses, unless you are a ready to part with some extra cash to see them again.

11.) Bali makes up 40% of all monthly tourist visits to Indonesia

Tourists in Bali make up 40% of all international tourists in each month. Bali might just be on of nearly 18,000 island of Indonesia and make up only 1.7% of the countries population, but at it’s pre-pandemic peak 6 million international tourists visit Bali each year. It wasn’t always a tourist hotspot. Let’s take a look at tourism in Bali over the last 100 years:

Brief History of Tourism in Bali