Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Cultural theme park in Ungasan, Indonesia
Garuda Wisnu Kencana is a theme park in Badung that spreads across a former limestone quarry and includes several gardens, viewing platforms, and a large metal statue. The grounds sit on a hill overlooking the southern coast of Bali and combine open green spaces with paved plazas around the central sculpture.
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.
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