Updated: January 2025
Perhaps you have been to Bali so many times, you think you know all about what it has to offer? Well, have a look at this post and maybe you’ll learn something new about this number one tourist destination. Check out these 10 fun facts about Bali that you might or might not have known before!
1. Black sand beach
We don’t blame you for conjuring up the image of pristine, sandy white beaches when you think of Bali. But surprise, surprise! Bali is also home to incredibly stunning black volcanic sand beaches. Courtesy of the active volcanoes that dot the island and the Indonesian Peninsula.
2. Mount Agung, a.k.a. “The Sacred Volcano”
Mount Agung (3142 metres) on Bali is considered the most sacred place on the island. All temples across Bali face towards the mountain, and Balinese people traditionally sleep with their heads pointed in its direction. The locals believe that Mount Agung represents Mount Meru, which, according to Balinese Hinduism, is the celestial axis around which the universe revolves. The volcano holds great spiritual significance for the Balinese, and you will see it prominently in their folklore, customs, and traditions.
3. Bali’s dependence on tourism
This may not be such a surprise, considering Bali’s popularity as a tourist attraction. However, did you know that about 80% of Bali’s economy depends on tourism? Bali certainly wouldn’t be what it is without the steady stream of tourists. For better or for worse, tourism has made Bali what it is today.
4. Dolphin in Lovina!
Did you think you could find dolphins in Indonesia? In Lovina, the north tip of Bali, there are at plenty of dolphins! There is the Southeast Asian spinner dolphin, the spotted dolphin, the Frasers dolphin, the Rissos dolphin, and suspected sightings of common bottlenose dolphins.
5. Nyepi day
Nyepi day has just passed, and this unique festival is only ever celebrated in Bali. The whole island shuts down, and no work, traveling or even noise is allowed. They certainly take their silence very seriously.
6. Most expensive coffee: Kopi Luwak
Do you fancy coffee made from civet droppings? Some people certainly do, considering that prices for this coffee can go up to as high as 50 dollars a cup! Kopi Luwak is not exclusive to Bali, but it is one of the few places where you can get authentic Kopi Luwak.
7. Wayan, Made, Nyoman, Ketut
The Balinese usually have one of the following four names: Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. They simply mean First born, Second born, Third born and Fourth born and it doesn’t matter if the child is a boy or a girl!
8. Bali is majority Hindu
Bali is located in Indonesia, and Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country. However, surprise, surprise! The majority of the Balinese practice Hinduism. This is why they are allowed to eat Babi Guling, or suckling roast pig, a delicacy that would be off limits to Muslims.
9. The Balinese calendar has only 210 days
Dont be too shocked if locals wish you a happy new year sometime along the year. They traditionally keep a different calendar that has its origins in the Hindu religion. It consists of 10 weeks made of 10 days. We think that is a pretty convenient calender.
10. An unusual way to honor the dead
For the lovers of the macabre, here’s an interesting fact! In the village of Trunyan in Bali, rather than cremating their deceased as is common elsewhere on the island, the locals simply lay their deceased loved one on the ground, covered with cloth, with a bamboo cage to enclose them. The body is placed under the tree of Taru Menyan, which means “pleasant tree odor”. When the bodies start decomposing, this tree emanates a perfume that neutralizes the odor of rotten bodies.
So how did you fare? Did you already know all these 10 facts?
