Pengelipuran Village Bali

Penglipuran village is located in the Bangli district, central Bali, 45km north of Denpasar and at about 700m above sea level, surrounded by bamboo forests and coffee plantations. It is one of the Bali Aga villages, where the people, most of the farmers, still live after strict rules and regulations (the Adat) just like their ancestors did centuries ago.

Even among Balinese people, Penglipuran is famous for being so different by the other villages on the island and local people like to visit it, as well as foreign tourists.

The traditions and culture of Bali Aga villages derives from the Pre-Hindu animistic culture. One of things preserved from the pre-Hindu period is the way the religious life is organized. In Penglipuran there is no caste system – all villagers are Shudras – and the process of choosing the priests differs from the way it is done in other places. Usually in Balinese villages the priests are supposed to belong to the caste of the Brahmans, who are forming the highest caste in Balinese society.

The village was build with three distinctive parts, respecting the “Tri Mandala” concept which describes a place based on the location, function and level of purity. The first part is the holy part with the temple. The second is the housing, where the people live. The third is the place where the dead bodies are buried and where the garbage is thrown. The same structure is applied for the structure of each house compound.

In the front side of the courtyard, oriented towards the holy mountain in the east (Mount Agung – the place of the gods), there is the temple of the house, then in the middle, more westwards, there is the traditional kitchen and the house in which the family lives. In the back of the courtyard is the place where the animals are. The structure is supposedly similar to the human body with head, torso and legs.

The houses in Pengelipuran village exist in this countryside from north to the south is look very beautiful in particular the Balinese traditional entrance gate which are made similar each other. When we step down to this village, we will meet the Balinese houses are oriented northeastwards to Mount Agung which is located in north-east of Bali Island . The structure of house building between one house and others are equal in particular to condition, form, size and function from the building except building of family bed room is freeform.

The family temple building is places the same direction to the Agung Mount, kitchen is located in upstate from the lawn and the building of Bale Sakaenem is the six beamed building which its function for ceremony place. The place for look after the livestock and the place to plant assorted vegetable are referred as non irrigated dry field which is called Teba. Its Construction material is made from wood except family residence. It is predominated by substance from bamboo because around this countryside is bamboo producer.

Pengelipuran village  is lead by a leader which is Bendesa or Kelian or Penyarikan or Patengan and he/she is assisted by Sinoman. The social system is recognized by the 12 group terms that are number 1 until 12 as member of Pemerincik that is commissioned member converse the problem or plan and its result is submitted to the member. They are very trusting of 12 groups and have represented the tradition in heritage away back. 

The Consanguinity System in this countryside is Patrilinial system that is according to father lineage. This countryside religion leader is called as Jero Bayan which is consisted of 3 Jero Bayans that is a Jero Bayan Mucuk and 2 people of Jero Bayan Nyoman. The specific cultural potential like pattern of building architecture remains to be traditional, the beautiful nature and environment with cool atmosphere, hence this countryside is the ideal place to visit during your vacation in Bali