Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park Place guide

Located in the southern region of Bali in the Badung area near Uluwatu, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is a 60-hectare park complex that attracts thousands of tourists daily. 

Some of its most famous features are:

• Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue: An 18m (60ft) high statue carved by the famous Balinese sculptor Nyoman Nuarta
  
  
• Street Theater: The starting point of the park, where dances and parades are held at certain points of the day
  
  
• Lotus Pond: Surrounded by limestone pillars, this is the largest outdoor area in the park, and is a venue for large scale events
  
  
• Indraloka Garden: Named after the Indra deity, the garden offers panoramic views of the park
  
  
• Amphitheater: Traditional Balinese dance performances are usually held here 
  
  
• Wisnu Plaza: Sitting atop a hill, it is the highest area of the park from which visitors can view the statue of the god Vishnu

The GWK Cultural Park also arranges daily performances:

• Balinese Dance: Known for its gesticular characteristic, the Balinese Dance is dynamic and expressive, with a rich storyline
  
  
• Rindik Instrument: A traditional Balinese instrument usually played by three people, it is known for its simple yet distinctive sound
  
  
• Barong Keris Dance: A dance that tells the story of King Dasapati’s two sons, Sunda and Upasunda, and their power and ambition to rule the world
  
  
• Garuda Wisnu Ballet: A traditional Balinese ballet performance that tells the story of Garuda Wisnu — the legendary bird or bird-like creature who acts as the vehicle mount (vahana) of the Hindu god Vishnu
  
  
• Joged Bumbung: A dance that is seen as a thanksgiving ritual to the goddess of fertility, Dewi Sri
  
  
• Nusantara Dance: This performance features a variety of Indonesian dances from the different parts of the country; each performance is different
  
  
• Balinese Parade: A reenactment of Kang Cing Wie, a Balinese folklore that portrays the acculturation of the Chinese into Balinese society
  
  
• Kecak Garuda Wisnu: One of Bali’s most impressive dances, it is also known as the ‘Fire Dance’ and is supported by the chanting of male dancers
  
  
• Garuda Cilik Cinema: An animated film that tells the story of Sang Garuda saving his mother from slavery

For an updated list of the performances and prices, you can clickhere.

TripGuru Tips

• When to go: While the GWK Cultural Park can be visited all year round, the best time to visit is during the dry season, which is usually from April to October. November to February usually sees intermittent rains in Bali, which make visiting the park less than ideal.
  
  
• Operating Hours: The GWK Cultural Park is open from 8am to 10pm, with a variety of different performances scheduled throughout the day. If you’re planning to see a certain performance, we recommend going a couple of hours before the scheduled time to allow you to explore the rest of the park.
  
  
• Entrance fee: Prepare IDR125,000 for the Uluwatu Cultural Park entrance fee, which you can pay at the ticketing station at the entrance.
  
  
• Do: Some activities (besides photo taking!) you can do in the area include watching traditional performances and films, riding segways through the Lotus Pond, dressing up in traditional Balinese outfits, shopping for souvenirs, visiting the exhibition hall, watching a parade, and dining at one of the many eateries.

How to get there

• It is quite easy to get to GWK Cultural Park. Most hotels and accommodations, particularly around Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Ungasan, Tanjung Benoa and Nusa Dua should know the location of GWK, and can help arrange transportation to the park. 
  
  
• You can also opt to rent a car or motorbike to get there yourself. 
  
  
• If you’re not comfortable driving around Bali, you can always hire a driver, get a taxi, or use a ride sharing app like Grab or GoJek to get you to the park. 
  
  
• It will take approximately 10-15 minutes to get to the park from the Ngurah Rai International Airport, and around 20 minutes from Kuta.

Address: Jl. Raya Uluwatu, Ungasan, Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80364, Indonesia