Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is one of Bali’s most iconic and famous tourist destinations. It offers limestone plateaus with beautiful tranquil parks in southern Bali. Also, the massive size of the statue can be seen from many places on the island.
Attracting visitors from all over the world, GWK offers a glimpse into Bali’s fascinating heritage through intriguing cultural performances, legendary folklore tales, a giant statue, traditional Balinese dance, and dramatic film screenings. Here are some interesting facts that you need to know about GWK
Profile of Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue
Based on data from the Badung Tourism Office, the statue stands on four limestone walls about 263 meters above sea level in the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park land area of around 250 hectares. President Jokowi inaugurated this magnificent statue of the Balinese mascot on 22 September 2018. It is the tallest statue of a Hindu deity and the tallest statue in Indonesia.
The statue’s height reaches 121 meters monument, weighs 4,000 tons, and is made of copper, steel, and brass. With a height that exceeds the Statue of Liberty (93 meters), the GWK statue can be seen from a radius of up to 20 km, so it can be seen from Kuta and Nusa Dua.
The GWK statue is dedicated to the Hindu God of Lord Vishnu riding the Garuda bird and was built 75 meters high, with a foundation 70 meters high, and the wings of the Garuda bird stretch 66 meters wide. The statue is made of 4,000 tons of copper and bronze slabs to reach its current height. It is also the heaviest statue in Indonesia.
Operating Hours and Entrance Fee
GWK Bali operates from 08:00 to 22:00 WITA. An entry fee is charged to each visitor to enter the tourist area. Moreover, there is no difference in ticket prices for Indonesian citizens and foreigners.
Admission for adults and children aged 5-12 is IDR 95,000 per person. If you want to enter the statue area, the fee is IDR 125,000 per person. You can buy the ticket here.
How to Reach GWK Bali
GWK Bali located in Uluwatu St, Ungasan, South Kuta. If you are coming from Kuta and Canggu, it will take around an hour to reach GWK cultural park. But from Ngurah Rai International Airport, it will take approximately 15-20 minutes to reach GWK.
But you can use online transportation if you want to avoid going through the trouble of finding a parking space. You can also walk if your accommodation is living near tourist destinations.
Note that this time estimate is for smooth traffic conditions. You can use or rent a private vehicle to reach this tourist destination.
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Hindu Mythology
The Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park statue, which represents Lord Vishnu riding the Garuda Bird, was made by I Nyoman Nuarta for 28 years. Designed to be Indonesia’s tallest statue, Garuda Wisnu Kencana is inspired by an event with Hindu roots: Garuda’s quest for Amrita, the elixir of life. According to this story, Garuda agreed to ride Vishnu in exchange for the right to use the elixir to free his enslaved mother. The story of Garuda Wisnu Kencana is depicted in carvings on massive quarried limestone blocks.
What To Do in GWK Bali
The purpose of people traveling to Bali is to see Garuda Wisnu Statue. This large statue is the main attraction for domestic and foreign tourists to understand and see the traditional Balinese culture.
Visitors can enjoy the sunset next to the Garuda Wisnu Statue. There’s more to GWK Bali than just enjoying the beautiful scenery. The attraction also hosts a variety of entertainment events from morning to night.
Watching Cultural Show
You can see the majestic GWK statue and various art performances in Bali. About seven dances are performed each day. Cultural performances and international events regularly occur at Plaza Wisnu, on the highest level of grounds in the park, with the immense sculptures as a background. Kecak dance is one of the famous must-watch traditional dances in Bali.
The schedule of dance performances at GWK Bali is as follows
11:00 Sekar Jepun Dance, Kebyar Sitting Dance, Monkey Mask Dance.
12:00 Jauk Loud Dance, Oleg Tamulilingan Dance.
13:00 Sekar Jepun Dance, Jauk Manis Dance, Kebyar Sitting Dance.
14:00 Monkey Mask, Angklung Game
15:00 Barong Dance, Oleg Tamulilingan Dance, Jauk Manis Dance
16:00 Joged Bumbung dance
18:00 Performance of Garuda Wisnu Kecak Dance
Bali Art Market Store
GWK also has shops and restaurants selling various goods and Balinese souvenirs. Enjoy a 700-square-meter souvenir shop with unique Balinese handicrafts and sculptures. You can choose from many traditional crafts.
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Visit Balairung Dewi Sri
Balairung Dewi Sri is an exhibition hall where visitors can enjoy free nail painting and hair braiding services. It also shows a video of the making of the GWK statue or Panca Yadnya (his five sacred offerings in Balinese Hinduism). You can purchase the video at the GWK souvenir shop.
Taking An Aesthetic Picture
GWK Bali has many beautiful photo spots. One of them is on the limestone cliffs of the Lotus Pond district. There is also a very interesting background with tall statues.
On The Go with GWK Loop
GWK Bali Cultural Park covers an area of 60 hectares. If you have to walk around, it sure gets tiring. The red-themed shuttle bus “GWK Loop” is in operation, so if you get tired, you can use this transportation. The GWK Loop is available anytime near the ticket sales counter by paying IDR 20,000.
