The Uluwatu Sea Wall Project is officially completed, but Bali’s leaders have just confirmed the next steps in its development.
The controversial Uluwatu Sea Wall Project saw huge sections of the famous limestone cliffs cut away to access a crack in the rock beneath the famous Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple.
As the first and main phase of the development have been completed, the Badung Regency Government has confirmed plans for the traditional blessing ceremonies required by the Balinese Hindu tradition and the next phases of development.
The Head of Water at the Badung Regency Office for Public Works and Public Housing, Anak Agung Rama Putra, spoke to reporters about what will happen next at the Uluwatu Sea Wall Project.
He shared “Pecatu Traditional Village… have coordinated with us. The cleansing [ceremony] will be carried out after the further work is completed, planned for 2026.”
Putra was clear to emphasized that the sea wall road under the Uluwatu cliff is only intended for maintenance purposes and religious activities such as the Mapakelem. This is a joint agreement between the Badung Regency Government, Pecatu Traditional Village, and Puri Jro Kuta.
He said “We have prepared the gate and the system will be closed and opened only when needed. The access key will be held by the custodian and us at PUPR. If there is any use for inappropriate activities, such as fishing, please ask the village and palace to remind them.”
It has been confirmed that while the cliff crack has been stabilized and the access road completed, a series of follow-up developments will be carried out in the next 2 years.
These include the construction of revetments to the Batu Metandal Temple area further down the cliff line, the stabilization cliff cracks on the east side of the Uluwatu cliff, and the planting of trees that provide habitat for the wild monkeys that live around the Uluwatu Temple.
The Badung Regency Government has prepared a follow-up budget for these developments that will be sourced from the 2025 and 2026 annual budgets.
Putra concluded “This work is large-scale and requires time and careful calculation. So the implementation of the new clearing can only be done after all stages of construction are complete. For the ceremony later, we will also coordinate with the Badung Cultural Service.”
The Uluwatu Sea Wall Project has been one of the the most controversial developments in Bali in recent years. Local communities were hugely concerned that the project had been given the go-ahead without a complete AMDAL, also known as an environmental impact assessment.
There was public outcries after footage went viral online of construction teams dumping debris from the cliff directly into the ocean, rather than disposing of it properly.
Uluwatu is one of Bali’s most in demand vacation destinations right now and tourists visiting the area this week must be aware that Uluwatu Temple will have restricted access for tourists.
The temple, which sits directly above the new sea wall, is one of the most spiritually important temples on the island and this week is welcoming worshippers for the annual Piodolan Ceremony.
A Piodolan ceremony is held at every temple in Bali every 210 days and marks the temple’s anniversary. The Piodolan ceremony at Uluwatu Temple will be held from 13th-16th May and tourists will have restricted access to the temple grounds, though the complex remains open for visitors and nightly kecak performances at the Uluwatu Temple Amipheathre will also be going ahead as per usual.
Tourists in the Uluwatu area who want to deepen their understanding of Balinese culture must visit the GWK Cultural Park for a fully immersive adventure through Balinese art, culture, and heritage.
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Tuesday 13th of May 2025
"The project had been given the go-ahead without a complete environmental impact assessment (AMDAL)."
In Indonesia well connected locals do not need to bother with laws and regulations. In the middle of Sanur remaining rice fields huge building recently erected by a Yayasan belonging to a Javanese businessman infamous for serving 5 years in jail for his contribution in a contract murder of a Jakarta businessman some 15 years ago.
Denpasar is supposed to have 30% green areas, but they seem to be selling it off day by day. Nothing left for future generations while some well connected families are getting rich.