This Onam was special for actor-politician Krishnakumar and their family as his daughter Diya tied the knot with her long-time beau Aswin. After the wedding festivities, the family is currently enjoying a vacation in the exotic locales of Bali. The actor has shared a picture of his daughters and wife Sindhu, captioning it ‘Girls in Bali’, on his social media page. In the picture, Ahana, Diya, Ishaani, Hansika, and Sindhu sit in a restaurant, wearing garlands. Meanwhile, a user commented that the picture has a Midhunam movie vibe, in which the entire family accompanied the couple on their honeymoon.
Why Bali?
Bali's lush greenery and tropical weather are uncannily similar to Kerala's, making it a popular honeymoon destination. Bali, one of the most beautiful archipelagos in Indonesia, is known for its serene beaches, verdant paddy fields that sprawl in acres, beautiful lakes, waterfalls, volcanoes, and ancient temples. Moreover, it is a place where Indian tourists can visit on an affordable budget.
Most popular spots
Tanah Lot, which means ‘land on seas’ in Balinese is one of the most visited spots in Bali. This beautiful temple which is situated in Tabanan, around 20 kilometres away from the capital city of Denpasar is built atop a rock formation. Interestingly, this rock has been formed as a result of the high tides in the ocean, since ages. The main idol here is Deva Baruna or Bhattara Segara. This is one of the seven ocean temples around the Balinese coast. It is believed that the temple was built in the sixteenth century by Dang Hyang Nirartha, a Shaivite monk and traveller. The legends say that the monk chose this beautiful location as a sacred spot to adore the sea Gods. Moreover, it is believed that the venomous snakes living on the ocean floor protects the temple from evils. However, entry to this ancient temple isn’t free. There are many food joints in the vicinity for the tourists.
Beratan temple is a major Shaivite temple in Bali visited by hundreds of devotees and tourists. This temple is situated on the banks of the Brutton lake in the mountain – lake resort region of Bedugul. Built in 1633, this temple is dedicated to Devi Bhanu, the Goddess of water, ocean and rivers. Besides, you could also see a Buddhist monastery inside the temple. Tegalalang rice fields is known for dense forests and verdant paddy fields. The step cultivation has turned this region into a haven of greenery. Rice cultivation is mainly seen in Pejeng, Kampuhan and Tegalalang regions. Besides, the Tegalalang rice fields have been included in the UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.
The cultural capital
Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali where you could see lots of paddy fields and hills. The Puri Saren Agung palace which was the royal seat of Bali’s last king Jede Saren Sukhavati is here. The palace is still owned by the royal family. However, dance performances and other festivities are held in the palace yard during special occasions. Here too, you could see lots of ancient temples. The Elephant Cave or Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi are the other attractions in Ubud. Besides, tourists flock to see the Moon of Pejeng which is the world’s largest bronze kettle drum. The tourists could also enjoy the resorts, spas, shopping centres, museums and zoo here.
Monkey Forest is another popular spot in Ubud. This dense forest is not just home to the monkeys, but to unique flora and fauna too. The numbers show that there are more than 186 species of rare flora here. Besides, as the name suggests, you could see more than one thousand three hundred macaques in the forest. Interestingly, more than ten thousand tourists visit the Monkey Forest every month. Three temples too are part of this beautiful ecological region.
The Kuta and Seminyak beaches are some of the iconic beaches in Bali. Meanwhile, the Penglipuran village offers a peek into the scintillating Balinese culture. This village is where you could enjoy the fabulous sights of Mount Batur, which is an active volcano in Bali. Even though tourists visit Bali throughout the year, the months from April to October is the best time to visit this tropical paradise. The air fare to Bali and the hotel charges would be significantly less during this season. Moreover, the temples and other tourist spots would be less crowded.