Situated on a limestone escarp overlooking the South Bali tourist region, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park showcases the art and culture of the Island of the Gods in the thick of dramatic natural backdrops and dazzling panoramic vistas, Bali Driver leads you to visit Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park. Located fiften minutes from the international airport and less than an hour from most major hotels and resorts, GWK is one of the island’s premier venues for artistic performances, exhibitions, and conferences as well as for sightseeing and relaxation.
The Story of Garuda Wisnu Kencana
Here is the story of Garuda Wisnu Kencana will tell the story by Bali Driver Guide which follow the birth and deeds of the mythical bird Garuda as quoted from Wikipedia. You can find this story carved into stone relief, placed in GWK Street Theater.The story of Garuda’s birth and deeds is told in the first book of the great epic Mahabharata. According to the epic, when Garuda first burst forth from his egg, he appeared as a superb hell equal to the cosmic conflagration that consumes the world at the end of every age. terrified, the gods begged him for mercy. Garuda, hearing their solicitation, reduced himself in size and energy.Garuda’s father was the creator-rishi Kasyapa. His mother was Vinata, whose sister was Kadru, the mother of serpents. One day, Vinata entered into and lost a stupid wager, as a result of which she became enslaved to her sister.Mahabharata mentions about a bet between sisters and wives of Kashyapa, Vinata and Kadru, about the colour of Uchchaihshravas‘s tail. While Vinata, the mother of Garuda and Aruna, said it was white, Kadru said it was black. The loser would have to serve as a servant of the winner. Kadru told her sons, Naga (“serpentâ€), to cover the tail of the horse and thus make it appear as black in colour and thus, Kadru won.Resolving to let go his mother from this state of slavery, Garuda approached the serpents and asked them what it would take to purchase her freedom. Their reply was that Garuda would have to bring them the elixir of eternity, also called amrita. It was a tall order. The amrita at that time found itself in the possession of the gods, who cautious it jealously, since it was the resource of their immortality. They had ringed the elixir with a massive fire that covered the sky. They had blocked the way to the elixir with a fierce mechanical contraption of sharp rotating blades. And finally, they had stationed two gigantic poisonous snakes next to the elixir as deadly guardians.Undaunted, Garuda accelerate toward the abode of the gods purpose on plunder them of their wealth. Knowing of his design, the gods met him in full battle-array. Garuda, however, defeated the whole host and disseminate them in all directions. Taking the water of many rivers into his mouth, he quell the protective fire the gods had thrown up. Reducing his size, he slither past the rotating blades of their homicidal machine. And finally, he mangled the two gigantic serpents they had posted as guards. Taking the elixir into his mouth without swallowing it, he launched again into the air and headed toward the eagerly waiting serpents.En route, he encountered Vishnu. Rather than fight, the two exchanged promises. Vishnu promised Garuda the gift of immortality even without drinking from the elixir, and Garuda promised to become Vishnu’s mount.Flying onward, he met Indra the god of the sky. Another exchange of promises occurred. Garuda promised that once he had delivered the elixir, thus fulfilling the request of the serpents, he would make it possible for Indra to regain possession of the elixir and to take it back to the gods. Indra in turn promised Garuda the serpents as food.At long last, Garuda alighted in front of the waiting serpents. Placing the elixir on the grass, and thereby release his mother Vinata from her slavery, he urged the serpents to perform their religious ablutions before consuming it. As they hurried off to do so, Indra swooped in to make off with the elixir.From that day onward, Garuda was the ally of the gods and the trusty mount of Vishnu, as well as the implacable enemy of snakes, upon whom he preyed at every opportunity.
A PLACE OF SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE
neighboring to Wisnu figure is the Pahrayangan Somaka Giri, a sacred spring from which flows water be fraught with a rich mixture of minerals. As the existence of the spring in these arid limestone hills has no scientific explanation, it has become a place of pilgrimage and meditation. If tourists want to visit and try out the holy water from limestone springs Bali Driver Guide are ready anytime to guide you there, the water is believed to cure disease, and is widely used by local conjurers in ritual to invoke rain in order to ensure good crops.
MODERN RENDERINGS OF ANCIENT TRADITION
Dominating the park is Wisnu, a bust of a Hindu deity constructed from giants slabs of copper and brass. Representing the divine force responsible for the protection of the universe, the 22 meter Wisnu figure is a modern rendering of an ancient cultural tradition. The companion piece, Garuda, represent the giant bird which transports Wisnu, a symbol of both freedom and selfless faithfulness.
The two 25-meter natural limestone pillars comprising the Gapura Batu, at the entrance gate to the complex, are carved with images taken from the Ramayana, the Mythical cycle of stories forming the dramatic basis of most Balinese art forms. The base-relief carving on the gate describe scenes from the Wayang, the shadow puppet theatre unique to Bali and neighbouring Java.
AVENUE FOR EVERY OCCASION
With little rainfall and open to fresh tropical breezes, GWK facilities are ideal for all types of outdoor events. The first-class acoustic environment of the 800-seat Amphitheatre is a inimitable venue for intimate cultural performances. Enclosed by enormous limestone pillars with the Wisnu figure as a backdrop, the dramatic Lotus Pond area has a capacity for 7500 persons. Like the ceremonial boulevard of a Balinese village, the Street Theatre is appropriate for processions, fashion shows, and other mobile performances. The most intimate space, the Plaza Kura Kura, can hold 200 people. In additional to the open public chamber, the Exhibition Gallery provides 200 square meters of covered area as well as ten square meters of internal open courtyard.
