The Magnificent Monument of Garuda Wisnu Kencana

Written by Marvin Wijaya on Sunday 01 October 2023

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is one of Bali’s most iconic and well-known tourist destinations. You have undoubtedly heard about Bali Cultural Park, so you found this page. Whatever the reason that makes you see this page. This article is about a Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park visitor guide, commonly called GWK Bali. So before your visit, you will get a brief overview of GWK Bali culture park. 



Why Is It called GWK?

What does the GWK Bali name mean, and why is it called GWK?

Furthermore, GWK is an abbreviation of Garuda Wisnu Kencana. Below I will briefly explain the meaning of the name Garuda Wisnu Kencana so that it can answer why this attraction is called the GWK Bali.

  • Garuda comes from Sanskrit, meaning a bird shaped like a human. The head and legs resemble birds, and on the back are wings; however, the body is like a human. Of course, the Garuda bird is a mythological bird.
  • Vishnu/Wisnu is one of the deities in Hinduism who has a role in preserving and protecting all of God’s creations.
  • Whereas Kencana means Gold.

Inside the GWK Cultural Park is a statue of Lord Vishnu, who wears a golden crown and is riding a large Garuda bird. Therefore the culture park is named Garuda Wisnu Kencana.

The park attracts numerous domestic and international travellers due to its unique cultural attractions and impressive iconic statue. Also, the cultural park has become synonymous with Bali tourism landmark.

The History and Evolution of Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park


I Nyoman Nuar founded the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Foundation and started GWK Bali’s development in 1992. The aim of building this cultural park was to create the most iconic landmark in Bali, displaying the unique cultural heritage of the island of the gods.

After finalizing the initial draft ideas, it took the Foundation two years to determine the ideal location for the cultural park.

Then the location chosen for the cultural park has a height of 146 meters above ground level and 263 meters above sea level. Previously the location chosen was a limestone mining location in the Ungasan Hill area, which is adjacent to the Jimbaran beach location.

For your information, Pak Nyoman Nuarta is one of the leading modern sculptors in Indonesia. As the project’s leading architect and sculptor, Mr Nuarta played an essential role in shaping the vision of the GWK cultural park.

In 2013, PT. Alam Sutera Realty Tbk, a leading property developer in Indonesia, then took over the ownership and management of GWK Bali. With new ownership, the development of cultural parks can be achieved. The cultural park took over 28 years to build, with the grand opening in September 2018.

Over the years, GWK has developed into a centre for cultural exhibitions, events, and entertainment attractions such as music concerts and fashion shows. In addition, the park now serves as a place of information and communication for local, national, regional, and international cultures. 


Exciting Highlights at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Bali


Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is one of the popular tourisr attractions in Bali. Here are some exciting things about GWK Bali that tourists can see while visiting:


I. Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue

This statue is one of the tallest in the world and depicts the God Vishnu riding the mythical bird Garuda. Then the GWK statue is 121 meters high and made of copper and brass.


II. Cultural Performances

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park offers daily cultural performances featuring traditional Balinese music, dance, and other performing arts. Visitors can enjoy Balinese music and dances like Kecak, Legong, and Barong.




III. Exhibition

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park has an exhibition area featuring Balinese cultural heritage, including paintings, woodcarvings, and traditional textiles.


IV. Culinary Experience

Several restaurants and food stalls in the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park serve local and international cuisine. Visitors can enjoy traditions Balinese cuisine as well as international cuisine.


V. Sunset Views

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park offers sunset views, making it an excellent place to rest and unwind at the end of the daytime.

Overall, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Bali is an excellent tourist destination for tourists looking for entertainment, photography, and learning about Balinese culture. With its impressive statues, cultural performances, and interactive activities, GWK is a must-visit destination for those who like local culture, arts, and traditions when travelling to Bali.




The colossal Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue


The main attraction of the GWK culture park lies in the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue. The famous Balinese sculptor, Mr I Nyoman Nuarta, built and carved it. The GWK statue is made from copper and brass and weighs around 4,000 tons. Furthermore, the icon’s name represents the God Wisnu riding on the back of the mythical bird Garuda.

Creating the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue takes USD 100 million, with 25 years in the making. The icon has an initial plan to be built at 126 meters in height and 60 meters in width. However, the finished construction of the statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana became 121 meters high and 65 meters in width.

The statue’s height, constructed now, is 75 meters. If combined with the pedestal height, it becomes 121 meters. If you compare the iconic Liberty statue in the USA, from the bottom of the copper Liberty statue to the torch is 46 meters tall, and from ground level to the torch is 93 meters tall. Therefore, there is a significant margin of 28 meters of the Gwk statue  compared to the Liberty statue.

Now the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue has become an icon of Bali island. Which offers one of the most significant sculpture works and the most complicated jobs with artwork that reflects the value of local Balinese culture.

Also, at the GWK culture park, visitors can enjoy the sunset view. Not only beautiful scenery, but the GWK culture park also offers a wide range of entertainment from the morning until evening.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Landscape of Beautiful Nature In Kemenuh Village

Image
by Charista Elliani Sosrodjojo Bali Island has a number of traditional villages that have been opened as tourist attractions, Usually, some traditional villages offer historical tours, religious tourism, and cultural tourism for tourists, depending on the characteristics that stand out from each village. Well, recently the residents of the Kemenuh Indigenous Village in Sukawati Subdistrict, Gianyar Regency changed the surrounding area to attractive natural tourism. Indigenous Village of Kemenuh You can go to the Indigenous Village of Kemenuh for about an hour drive from Denpasar and about 30 minutes if you depart from downtown Gianyar. Surrounded by several famous tourist attractions such as Tegenungan Waterfall , Goa Gajah , and the Kemenuh Butterfly Garden , this beautiful place offers fresh, clear river water and shady forests. Yes, in the Indigenous Village of Kemenuh, you can visit the Petanu River. This Petanu River water flow originates from Tampak Siring and later flows to Tege...
Read more

Mount Batur Trekking

Image
Written by Marvin Wijaya on Thursday 28 September 2023 Mount Batur volcano is located in the province of Kintamani, Bali. Its peak is 1,717 meters above sea level. Mount Batur trekking is one of the most popular activities for adventurous tourists visiting Bali (and with good reason). Let me share with you exactly what to expect and how much you should pay if you decide to climb Mount Batur yourself.  Mount Batur Trekking  The most popular time to trek Mount Batur is for sunrise. The trek to the top of Mount Batur starts at 4 am. If you are staying in Ubud and joining a Mount Batur tour you will need to get ready at 3 am. If you are joining an arranged tour from Kuta or Seminyak then you will need to wake up between 1 am to 2 am.  Preparing for the Hike Mount Batur is not a very hard climb, however you do need to be reasonably fit to attempt the climb. It takes approximately an hour to an hour and a half to summit the peak of Mount Batur. Here are a few things that you sh...
Read more

Pusering Jagat: The Oldest Temple and the Center of the Universe in Bali

Image
by Marvin Wijaya Pura Pusering Jagat is one of the must-visit temples on the Island of the Gods. Besides having a unique building shape, this temple holds a very high value of Balinese culture. This sacred place is also often the location of Hindu religious ceremonial events in Bali. Pura Pusering Jagat The name Pura Pusering Jagat has the meaning of the center of the world. Because this is one of the heavenly celestial temples which is an important place to maintain the spiritual balance of Bali. Because, if it’s examined etymologically in Hinduism, the heavenly temple is the stana or place where Lord Shiva lives. It has the same level of importance as the Lempuyang Luhur Temple in Karangasem, it's no wonder that this temple is very sanctified by Balinese Hindus. This temple is also a place of worship of Batara Amangkurat as a guiding god for the authorities who hold positions in managing people's lives. During their time as leaders, they are expected to always have a religiou...
Read more