Substantial investment at Bali’s most sacred religious site and surroundings at Pura Agung Besakih on the slopes of the holy Mount Agung volcano has transformed the entire area to welcome devout Hindus and visiting tourists.
Improvements have been introduced in covered parking areas, public toilets, shops, public pavilions (wantilan), grade schools, village offices, community health centers (puskesmas), buildings for medium and small-sized businesses, and an audio-visual auditorium with a capacity for 115 people.
As reported by NusaBali.com, the significant renovations at the Pura Agung Besakih Complex in the Rendang Sub-district of Karangasem Regency are targeted for completion in early February 2023.
During a visit and survey of the project area on Friday, 13 February 2023, Bali’s Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati (Cok Ace) announced the completion of some nine separate projects. Cok Ace also stopped at a new cultural center (PKB) at Gunaksa in Klungkung.
The lion’s share of the project has been completed, with only decorative relief items left to be installed.
The revitalization of the temple complex and surrounding areas includes building a four-story parking garage equipped with 80 public toilets and 26 additional toilets in the shop and kiosk area.
The parking garages will accommodate 3,288 motorcycles, 5,738 cars, and 187 medium-sized buses.
Other facilities that now complement the temple complex include:
- Retail kiosks.
- Public pavilions.
- A grade school.
- Village administrative offices.
- A community health center.
- A center for small and medium-sized enterprises.
- An audio-visual auditorium with 115 seats.
Bali Deputy Governor Cok Ace welcomed the many facility enhancements at Bali’s much-revered Besakih Mother Temple Complex. Adding: “I have directly seen and reviewed the progress and quality of the work completed (on the project). I only wish to underline that a few points must be decorated with base reliefs that need to be done before the targeted completion date.”
The Deputy-Governor said the total cost of the improvements and renovations at the Complex had consumed a budgeted Rp. 1.5 trillion. The next phase will include further physical improvements at the Complex, require Rp. 1 trillion, and commence in 2023.
In the cultural center at the temple complex, 15 new presentation and traditional art areas will be built, including thematic museums, a “Bung Karno Auditorium,” a disabled persons village, Bali International Convention Center, Bali Exhibition Center, and Export Promotions Centers.
Several open stages accommodating 15,000 guests, 4,000 guests, and 3,000 guests also form part of the Complex.
Space is also designated for the future development of hotels, apartments, and tourism enterprises. 7—90 hectares of land have also been selected as forested and ecological gardens.