As travellers, we’ve all been there. You’re chatting to one of the locals, and conversations start to turn to some of the (secret) spots that you absolutely must visit. Start to throw in a few urban myths, legends or truths (who are we to say?), and your curiosity becomes piqued. One such place that caught our attention was Taman Festival in Sanur.
Taman Festival is an old abandoned theme park situated at the northern end of Sanur Beach in Bali. Built in the 1990s at the height of the Asian Financial Boom, Taman Festival was envisioned to be the Balinese version of Disneyland. However, after only 18 months, it’s said that the owners struck financial difficulties and the park was closed down. It has remained abandoned ever since.
The Legend of Taman Festival
The Balinese are a deeply spiritual people, with deeply rooted beliefs. One of which is that wandering spirits and demons will quickly populate any abandoned property and will roam the grounds looking for offerings to appease their souls. Many of these lost souls are believed to be now wandering the grounds of Taman Festival.
Further to this is the legend of the cannibalistic crocodiles! When the park was operating, it was home to a number of crocodiles in pools built within the grounds. When the park was abandoned, it is said that the crocodiles were left behind to fend for themselves. They began to feed on one another to survive, before escaping the pools to wander the grounds. It is said that they can still be found on the grounds of Taman Festival.
Over the years, the buildings have fallen into a state of disrepair. Street artists use the walls of the building as a canvas to demonstrate their work. Nature has begun reclaiming the land and the buildings built on the land. It has created an eerily beautiful environment, almost reminiscent of an ancient lost world.
Once you add together the natural reclamation of the area, some local stories and beliefs and you have a recipe that can spark the interest of any curious traveller, particularly those interested in urban history.
Exploring Inside Taman Festival
There is a strange, almost surreal feel that awaits you as you explore the grounds. Wandering through the grounds it’s easy to imagine you are not alone. Where once there would have been crowds of people gathering in the courtyards, the roots of huge Banyan trees silently reach out to the ground below. Buildings with collapsed roofs have been overtaken by dense almost jungle-like plants and foliage. Birds and butterflies abound.
External walls, appearing much more ancient than the actual age of the buildings are covered with creepers and vines. Pathways have become an impenetrable web of tall grass, plants and branches. Old ponds and water features have a murky, almost swamp-like appearance, beckoning the question of what resides within them (crocodiles maybe!). It’s almost reminiscent of something out of an Indiana Jones movie.
Though within all these features can be found clues that allude to the grandeur that the developers would have been wanting to achieve all those decades back. Theatre complexes that would have entertained thousands of people each and every day; Grand stairways leading into courtyards, mosaic feature tiles peeking out through the dense foliage on the pathways and more.
Street Art or Graffiti?
Another feature of the park and one that in itself can provide an incentive to explore here is the Street Art. We had heard that some prime pieces of art painted by well-known local artists are waiting to be discovered. The amount of art is seemingly endless here with opportunities to view different pieces around every corner. Some of it appears of questionable quality, however, there are some pieces that really do reach out and grab your attention. Street Art is subjective. Not everyone may appreciate the nuances of individual pieces, however, it is an example of the current urban culture that is a very real part of the modern Balinese youth.
How to Get to Taman Festival
Taman Festival is located at the end of Jalan Padang Galak at the northern end of Sanur beach. It takes about 10 minutes to get here from the heart of Sanur. From Kuta Beach it is approximately 20 kilometres and it will take you approximately 35 minutes to travel. It’s also around 20 kilometres from Ubud with a similar travel time. From the far south of the island, around Nusa Dua or Uluwatu, it’s about 35 kilometres and the travelling here will take about 1 hour. All times are a guide only and as always in Bali are traffic dependant!
Cost of Admission
There is no official entry cost for your admission to Taman Festival. However, as you approach the park you will come across a group of locals in a Bale who will collect a parking fee from you. However, if you are going into the park, an additional “Fee” of 25K rupiah is payable. While this may or may not be a legitimate fee, this sort of payment is quite common in Bali and the money will go towards the local community. By the way, the 25K rupiah equates to approximately $1.75usd or $2.50aud.
A few Words About Safety
It would be remiss to write about Taman Sari without discussing a few helpful tips and safety considerations for your visit. First and foremost, It is abandoned, so there is no staff on site. You may or may not come across other visitors exploring the grounds. The buildings are decrepit, and in various stages of deterioration. Tripping hazards are everywhere. Things can and do fall from above, walls can collapse, and seemingly solid steps could give way at any time. So please be very mindful of your surroundings at all times. Look up and down. Look at where you walk and what you are stepping on or over. If in any doubt, do not proceed on a path, or enter a building.
What to Bring to With You
Oh, Did I mention the mosquitoes? There are huge numbers of the biting insects here. Luckily the local mosquito repellants are very effective, so make sure you bring some with you and apply liberally.
And make sure you bring plenty of drinking water. Time can pass quickly exploring here. Being mostly shaded by the canopy of the jungle-like growth, it’s easy to forget how hot it is and one could easily become dehydrated without realising it. And of course, there are no shops on site. (Though there are quite a few warungs a few minutes walk outside of Taman Festival towards the beach).
Taman Festival; Not your usual run-of-the-mill tourist attraction. However, for those with an interest in recent urban history and street art, this place is a definite must-do.
