History of Bali Island
Bali provides many interesting things that make many local and international tourists interested in visiting it. Stunning views, diverse culinary delights, and exotic nightlife.
And the Balinese people, who uphold the value of tolerance, are always welcoming visitors with pleasure. According to Tourlane, one of the well-known travel start-ups from Germany, Bali outperformed the islands of Ibiza and Spain, by becoming the most searched island to visit.
As the only Hindu-majority province in Indonesia, Bali has its own uniqueness in highly developed arts, including sculpture, traditional and modern dance, painting, music, leather, and metalworking. These things are of course influenced by the past history that made the island of Bali what it is today.
The name Bali Dwipa (“Bali island”) meaning island of sacrifice, reincarnation, or offer, has been discovered in various inscriptions, including the Blanjong pillar inscription written by Sri Kesari Warmadewa in 914 AD. Linguistically, the Balinese are closely related to the people of the Indonesian archipelago, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Oceania. Balinese culture was strongly influenced by Indian, Chinese, and particularly Hindu culture, beginning around the 1st century AD.
According to geological calculations, the age of the island of Bali is younger than the island of Java. The island of Bali has formed 15 million years ago. The oldest rock in Bali is found in Ulakan and the rock is called the Ulakan Formation. The Ulakan Formation, which is the beginning of the formation of the island of Bali, originates from volcanic processes under the sea. The formation of Nusa Dua and Nusa Penida is a perfect analogy to the process of mountain formation surrounded by coral reefs. Over time, the coral reefs became rocks, just as the mountains did.
The history of ancient Bali records that the island of Bali was also controlled by the Dutch colonialists in 1597, Cornelis De Houtman from the Dutch colonial colonists arrived in Bali with the formation of the Dutch East India Company in 1602. The Dutch also carried out attacks against the Balinese who resisted. And as a defense, the Puputan Margarana appeared in Tabanan led by I Gusti Ngurah Rai. Many died as heroes, and in that place, a monument was built called the Margarana Monument.
The charm of Bali’s nature is not only due to its tourist attractions and recreational areas, the presence of culture, unique traditions, and the beauty of art, be it painting, dance, or sculpture, are the main attractions. Even during the colonial period in Bali, many foreigners were captivated by its natural beauty and decided to settle on the island, especially those who were artists, and they even married Balinese people as their life companions.