Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Cultural theme park in Ungasan, Indonesia
Garuda Wisnu Kencana is a cultural park at Ungasan, Badung, built on a former limestone quarry. Its centrepiece is a 75 m copper and brass statue of Vishnu riding Garuda, crowned with golden mosaics, on a pedestal reaching 121 m. Behind Plaza Wisnu, Plaza Garuda holds an 18 m Garuda head amid carved limestone pillars.
Sculptor I Nyoman Nuarta began planning a monumental sculpture depicting a Hindu theme in a former stone quarry during the early nineties. Work on the figure continued for several decades, and the base was gradually expanded with performance spaces and gardens.
The name combines Garuda, the mythological bird, with Wisnu, a Hindu deity, and Kencana, which means gold in Balinese. Ceremonies and dance performances take place regularly on the open terraces, where local artists retell legends from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Shuttle buses run between the different levels and reduce the walk to the higher viewing points. Shaded areas are found in the gardens and under covered sections, where visitors can rest before exploring the next zone.
Assembling the sculpture required custom-built scaffolding taller than most buildings on the island. Each metal plate was cut on site and attached by hand, turning the construction into a lengthy craft project.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,225 contributors worldwide.
