The Iconic Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
My first memory of Garuda Wisnu Kencana is of watching it wither away against a stunning skyscape as we approached the Ngurah Rai International Airport. While the plane descended from the sky, speeding wildly down the runway, my eyes were glued to this massive Balinese structure. The airport’s Balinese architectural theme then drew my attention away. Later that day, I inquired about the colossal statue I had seen with a local driver. It was GWK, he said. I was intrigued, but it wasn’t until the last day of my 10-day trip that I was able to visit this iconic cultural park.
The GWK cultural park is located on the Bukit Peninsula in Bali’s hills. It is for this reason that Garuda Wisnu Kencana’s colossal statue soars to new heights. As a result, this statue can be seen from a large part of Bali. A plethora of giant eggs marks the GWK parking lot. Each artificial white egg is intricately carved with lovely designs and laced with golden borders. On one side, there’s a rock cropped backdrop, and on the other, there’s GWK’s entrance. Under a decorative ceiling, GWK’s ticket counter is a series of queues.
The hanging pendant lamps add to the worktop’s aesthetic appeal. As the local guide stood in line to purchase an entry ticket, I wandered around willy-nilly. I stumbled upon a colossal white statue depicting Lord Kashyap and his two wives as an unintended part of a course. Inscriptions about these deities can be found underneath the statue. The message on the wooden boards reads, “Bhagwan Kashyap is one of the seven sages (Sapta Rishi) mentioned frequently in Hindu texts. He is also known as the Father of All Beings and the mighty Garuda’s father.”
“Bhagwan Kashyap’s wife, mother of mighty Garuda” and “Bhagwan Kashyap’s wife, mother of 1000 dragons” are the other two. Suta, my local guide, arrived with the tickets just as I finished taking pictures. Finally, it was time to get up close and personal with Bali’s most famous landmark! The main Garuda statue can be reached in two ways. You can either walk up or hire a Segway or golf cart to take you there. I decided to walk up because I wanted to see what was along the way to the statue. The ascent was a breeze, thanks to a series of roadside shops that kept my attention.
It takes about 25 minutes to get to the exact location. This location is guarded by a separate checkpoint. It is here that you must present your ticket. As I crossed the security line, a breathtaking sight greeted me. Between stone walls, the colossal statue peered through the gorge. The Hindu God Vishnu (Wisnu) is depicted atop his mythological eagle, Garuda, in this fascinating structure. At the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, I discovered why this – Indonesia’s tallest statue steals the show. GWK is based on Hindu mythology. It’s a story about finding the elixir of life.
Lord Wisnu allowed Garuda to be ridden in exchange for the elixir that freed his imprisoned mother, as stated in the legend. The GWK statue stands at nearly 400 feet in height. This 75-meter tall and 65-meter wide statue, designed by Nyoman Nuarta, sits atop a plinth, bringing it to a height nearly 100 feet higher than the Statue of Liberty. It is also Indonesia’s heaviest statue, weighing in at 4000 tonnes. It’s made of copper and brass, with a hint of concrete and steel thrown in for good measure. Wisnu’s crown and neckpiece are both gold-encrusted. In the evening, the statue is illuminated by strong lighting.
On your right, as you approach the exit, you’ll notice a massive Garuda wall. On my way back, I stopped to watch Balinese men perform traditional Balinese music. These gentlemen were seated near the main road’s dancing fountains. You must follow Bali’s mythology, cultural shows, giant statues, folklore anecdotes, and climactic performances to get a beguiling glimpse into its captivating heritage. GWK was established in July of 2018. As a result, visiting this 60-hectare cultural park in 2019 was even more exciting.
A $9 entrance fee is required to get around the GWK area (IDR 125,000). The entrance fee to the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue is $15 (IDR 200,000) per person. I’d like to see Kecak Dance on the premises the next time I visit. The setting is ideal for getting a closer look at Indonesia’s most cherished dance form. Kecak is performed nearly every other evening at GWK. I concluded my tour, by getting a Guinness stout beer from the store near the entrance.
