Garuda Wisnu Kencana – Taking up 240 hectares on a previously uninhabited hill, Garuda Wisnu Kencana is a monumental venue that is a mega project established as a cultural park that supports diverse arts and cultural activities from the local community. When visiting the Island of the Gods, Bali, it is imperative that you stop by this popular tourist site in the South Bali region.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana, also known as GWK, is a prominent tourist destination in the South Bali region. This is why practically all Bali vacation packages include a stop at Garuda Wisnu Kencana – GWK Bali.
It’s no surprise that Garuda Wisnu Kencana – GWK is one of the most recognizable symbols of Bali’s tourism industry, given the wealth of online resources detailing the site’s history and describing its many attractions (beyond the obvious natural and cultural ones). Every day of the year, but especially around the holidays, Bali is overrun with visitors from all over the world.
Kecak Dancing, Presented by Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Bali
So, first-time visitors to the Island of the Gods should make a point of stopping by this landmark. It is conveniently located near to and in the same general direction as other renowned tourist destinations including Pandawa Beach, Tanjung Benoa, and the Uluwatu Temple. And other than the most renowned and well-known beach in South Bali, GWK is the only other major tourist attraction in the area.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue, a Popular Attraction in Bali
The Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue, which depicts Lord Vishnu as a symbol of the God of preserver of the universe and its contents, riding an eagle, is synonymous with the existence of the GWK Bali tourist destination. Lord Vishnu is revered by Hindus as the God of Protection and Sustainment, and he is one of the three forms of the Trimurti.
The construction of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) statue in Bali has not gone smoothly; in fact, only a small number of its many components has recently been finished and installed in a variety of different locations. Most frequently viewed on the internet are the Garuda statue’s head, which is angled to the left, and the body and head of Lord Vishnu.
I Nyoman Nuarta, a well-known sculptor in Bali, is responsible for the magnificent Garuda Wisnu Kencana – GWK statue that towers 120 meters over the summit of the hill. The statue’s construction, which began in May 2013, was finally finished in 2018. It stands between 10 and 20 meters tall.
Visitors to the GWK Bali landmark will find the Garuda Wisnu Kencana monument in the attraction’s southernmost location. This statue will be taller than the Statue of Liberty, which stands at a mere 93 meters.
This remarkable work of national youth art has established the Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park on Bali as the site of the world’s third-tallest statue, solidifying its status as a must-see for any visitor to the island of the Gods.
Unggasan village, Uluwatu highway, South Kuta district, Badung, and the GWK Bali cultural park recreation area are all part of the tourism map region of South Bali. It’s around a 20-minute drive from the airport to the Uluwatu landmark.
Renting a car in Bali allows you to easily get to Garuda Wisnu Kencana and other surrounding sights like Pandawa Beach, Balangan Beach, Padang Padang Beach, Suluban, Dreamland, and Uluwatu in a single trip.
Naturally beautiful seascapes predominate in the South Bali tourist district, with the exception of Garuda Wisnu Kencana, another must-see while in Bali.
Visitors flock to South Bali because it is convenient to the island’s other popular tourist spots and the Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana, a Tourist Magnet in Bali
In addition to the upright Garuda Wisnu Kencana monument, visitors to GWK Bali can also enjoy traditional Balinese dance performances every day from 10 a.m. to 19:15 witsa.
This South Bali attraction is open daily, starting at 08:00 WITA, and closing at 22:00. Streaming services make it possible to watch a wide range of shows at no charge.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana, a popular tourist destination in Bali, will host the following performances:
- 10.00 – 10.40: Barong dance and keris dance.
- 11.10 – 11.50: Balinese Dance.
- 12.00 – 12.50: Balinese Dance.
- 13.10 – 13.50: Garuda Wisnu Ballet.
- 14.00 – 14.40: Balinese Dance.
- 15.00 – 15.40: Balinese Dance.
- 16.10 – 17.20: Balinese Parade.
- 17.30 – 18.30: Joged Bungbung.
- 18.30 – 19.15: Kecak Dance.
Relax at GWK Bali all day if you want to see multiple dances, or plan your trip to Bali around the times of the aforementioned Balinese dance performances. A single admission fee grants access to the stunning scenery and magnificent statue, as well as the many activities and shows on offer.
In order to enter the GWK statue and ascend to the crown, an additional ticket fee is required.
The limestone hill that provides the backdrop for the stunning GWK Bali tourist attraction has been dredged and hacked into pieces such that it now resembles a rectangular mound of soil.
These plots of land come together to form picturesque byways, and the surrounding field provides ample space for a variety of impressive and photogenic performances.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana has grown into a hub for cultural events and exhibitions, serving as a platform for the dissemination of knowledge and the exchange of ideas in the realms of art and culture, particularly in Bali but beyond beyond.
In addition to the Amphitheater, Street Theatre, Wisnu Plaza, Exhibition Hall, Lotus Pond, and Indraloka Garden, visitors to the Garuda Wisnu Kencana tourist site can dine at either Jendela Bali or The Berandas. Vacationers who stop by this landmark in Bali will have many memorable encounters.
The Long Historical Process of Building the GWK Statue
Meetings between artist Nyoman Nuarta, Suharto administration ministers Joop Ave and IB Sujana, and Bali Governor Ida Bagus Oka in 1989 resulted in the proposal for the GWK Statue. After purchasing the plot of land in 1990, construction finally got underway in 1997. The shutdown was a direct result of the economic crisis.
