Cliff stabilization efforts have started at one of Bali’s most famous and spiritually significant temples.
Batu Bolong Temple, a famous temple close to the Tanah Lot Temple Complex in Tabanan Regency, is at risk of being eroded by the ocean.
Cliff crack stabilization efforts will help preserve the temple for many generations to come.
The Head of Tanah Lot Temple Complex Tourism Management, Wayan Sudiana, told reporters that the cliff crack stabilization efforts on the rocks below Batu Bolong Temple are an important effort to help maintain the safety of worshippers and visitors to the site.
Sudiana told reporters, “We hope that after this initial stage is completed, the repair process can run according to plan so that the Batu Bolong Temple remains safe for tourism and religious activities.”
These comments were echoed by the Assistant Manager of Tanah Lot Temple Complex Tourism Management, Putu Toni Wirawan, who confirmed that 50% of the main workload had already been completed.
Wirawan explained, “Currently, the construction has reached 50% progress and will continue after the implementation of Pujawali on 9th October 2024.”
As the Galungan and Kuningan festivities remain underway in Bali, worshippers have been unaffected by the cliff preservation efforts at Batu Bolong Temple.
Wirawan confirmed that Galungan Day saw a peak number of visitors and worshippers attend the temple, with 5,561 visitors on Galungan Day and 4,970 on Galungan Manis.
Tanah Lot Temple and Batu Bolong Temple have seen an ever-growing number of tourists visiting in recent years.
Since borders reopened after the pandemic lockdowns, the popularity of Tanah Lot Temple with tourists has soared.
In early 2024, the entry ticket prices for tourists at Tanah Lot Temple increased to help the Tourism Management team have sufficient resources to best serve tourists during visits and ensure the preservation of the sacred site.
International tourists must pay IDR 75,000, and international tourist children must pay IDR 45,000.
Batu Bolong Temple and Batu Bolong Beach are two different places; the Batu Bolong Temple can be found in Tabanan Regency, a five-minute walk to Tanah Lot Temple, and Batu Bolong Beach or Pantai Batu Bolong is located in the heart of Canggu and is backed by famous venues such as Old Mans.
The successful and subtle conservation efforts to the cliff face at Batu Bolong Temple in Tabanan Regency come in stark contrast to cliff stabilization efforts in Uluwatu, Badung Regency, that have seen a whole cliff face excavated in order to create access for heavy machinery to stabilize a crack in the limestone cliff.
The highly contentious Uluwatu Sea Wall Project has garnered plenty of attention from highly concerned residents and Bali visitors who feel that the project is doing more harm than good.
The cliff stabilization project in Uluwatu is touted as being a solution to help conserve and preserve the iconic Pura Luhur Uluwatu, which, like Batu Bolong Temple, was originally constructed on the cliff edge.
A police investigation is now underway to assess whether the project has gone ahead without correct management protocols, environmental impact assessment, and planning permissions.
Local leaders have been issued police summons to bring paperwork to Police Chief Kombes Jansen Avitus Panjaitan for investigation and questioning.
Leaders in Uluwatu also confirmed that the project and its associated construction would not impact Galungan and Kuningan ceremonies and festivities, but many feel that the destruction of the cliffside is overshadowing the mood of the area.
Despite the public outcry that the cliff excavation is causing environmental harm, leaders have been steadfast in their view that this is the only way to save the cliff and Uluwatu Temple in the long term.
The e Caretaker of Pura Luhur Uluwatu, Jro Mangku Gede Wayan Santana, told reporters, “This is a large-scale effort to save the cliff and the temple. So it’s not for tourism purposes.”
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