Get amazed with the 21-story monument that showcases the deity of Lord Vishnu riding the Garuda that is regarded as a legendary bird. At this cultural park, one can have an amazing time as it features a number of entertainment zones like the Garuda cinema where you can watch the Balinese movie and take a deep look into its history or can just tour the 60-hectare park with the GWK loop buses that have large windows and allows visitors to enjoy the views without any obstruction.
There is even an Amphitheater where one can learn about the Vishu’s story and can learn a little more about history with the carved walls and ceilings.
This beautiful tourist destination is dedicated to the Hindu lord Vishnu and Garuda, who is believed to be his mount as per Hindu mythology. The Garuda Wisnu Kencana was constructed to form the tallest statue in Indonesia. The structure draws inspiration from a story from the Hindu mythology.
It is believed that Garuda allowed himself to become the mount of Lord Vishnu, in exchange for the promise of an elixir of life for his mother.
The construction of the structure was done amid controversies, with a few patrons citing that the huge structure might bring imbalance to the spirituality of the island. Others saw this as a commercial opportunity on a near deserted island which gave way to its construction.
The architect behind the construction of this 75 metre tall and 65 metre wide statue is Nyoman Nuarta. The total height of the structure, after counting the pedestal base is 121 metre, which makes it 30 metre taller than the Statue of liberty.
It is said that the weight of the structure is almost 4000 tonnes and is composed of brass and copper. The monument was inaugurated recently in September 2018 and since then, has been a centre of attraction for tourists in Indonesia.
This 240 hectare cultural park is located at the south end of Bali. The park is divided into numerous phases, with each of them depicting a different phase of the park. Today, this cultural park has become one of the most iconic tourist attractions of the city.
The reason why it has become a tourist hot spot is that people wish to come and witness the remarkable spectacle of the Hindu mythology, which has been constructed as the largest statue in the world. Undoubtedly, you should visit this enchanting place on your trip to Bali.
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The park is located in Ungasan of the Badung Regency and is located at a driving distance of 10 – 15 minutes from Ngurah Rai International airport. Visitors can easily hire a cab outside the airport to get to the cultural park. At times, one may also catch a shuttle service operating between the airport and the city.
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The months from April to June are regarded as the best time to visit the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural park. You may want to avoid the peak noon time to visit the park and avoid the harsh sun. Any time after 4 in the evening is best for a visit to the park.
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Location : Jl. Raya Uluwatu, Ungasan, Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80364, Indonesia
Timings : Monday to Sunday; 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Price (for locals and for foreigners) :
Locals
Adults : RP 125,000
Children (5 – 12 years) : RP 100,000
Inner statue side : RP 200,000
Foreigners :
Adult : IDR 1,25,000
Child (5 -12 years) : IDR 100,000
Child smaller than 5 years and height less than 100 cm : Free
Inner side of statue : IDR 200,000
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The construction activity on the Garuda Wisnu Kencana was initiated by the Garuda Kencana Foundation in the year 1992. It took a time span of two years for the foundation to locate a suitable spot for the construction of the park at such a massive scale. The statue of Lord Vishnu, represents the Hindu religion, which is also followed by many people in Bali.
The statue can be seen holding different items in his hands, including a lotus flower, mace, conch and discus. At the same time, the bird, Garuda symbolises a watchful protector and is believed to be the mightiest bird among all. The location of the statue at Ungasan, seems to watch over the island.
The statue adds a remarkable feature to the Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park, which sprawls across 60 hectares of land. It is believed that the park can accommodate up to 70,000 people at a time.
The development of the structure has been done by expert architects who have designed the complex structure with immense creativity, ensuring that all joints of the structure are fixed with precision. It took a time span of 2000 hours to lay down the tesserae structures and complete the irregular design of the Lord and the bird.
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1. When visiting the park, do not miss out on the traditional performances and films which are portrayed at the park. They are a one of a kind of experience that you must not miss.
2. Take the GWP Loop, which is a shuttle service and takes you around the park, saving you from feeling exhausted. A ticket costs RP 20,000.
3. If you want to know about the history of the park, visit the amphitheatre, where you will find ample information about the park.
4. Get to know the schedule of the activities that will be held in the park on the day of your visit.
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The complete art work of the statue of Lord Vishnu and the bird Garuda, is composed of copper and brass material. The entire structure is supported by 21,000 steel bars and 170,000 bolts. Copper and brass sheeting is used to make the statue while a framework of stainless steel and concrete core column has been used to make the statue stand upright.
The symbolic crown of Lord Vishnu is designed with gold mosaics. To bring out the beauty of the structure, special lighting arrangements have also been made to decorate the statue. The statue has been placed on top of a building base.
The iconic statue of Lord Vishnu and Garuda, his mount, masts as high as 75 metre. Also measuring it along with the pedestal on which it stands, the total height of the structure mounts to 121 metre, or 397 feet. It makes the statue almost 98 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.
The entire structure is as high as a 21 storey building. The statue is also 65 metre wide, which makes the proportions of the length and breadth of the structure almost equivalent. The surface area of the entire structure is almost close to 22000 square metre.