About the Destination
Alila Manggis is situated within the regency of Karangasem, close to the town of Candidasa. Here the local people follow a traditional lifestyle, whether cultivating rice, farming, fishing, weaving baskets and the famous double ikat textiles, or salt making. Various walking tours are available, taking in sights like Mount Agung, home to Bali’s mother temple at Besakih, and the spectacular terraced hillsides. Other tours can be arranged to see the traditional Bali Aga village of Tenganan, the water palaces of Tirta Gangga and Ujung, the weaving village of Sidemen, the Kerta Gosa Palace of Justice at Klungkung, and various Balinese temples. The waters east of Manggis teem with diverse marine life and are home to seven wondrous dive sites.
Our Leisure Concierge Top Picks
Amed
A mostly quiet place with stunning ocean views, Amed is a scuba divers' haven in Bali. Everywhere you go you will see crystal clear water, which we can't get enough of...
Pura Besakih
Dramatically set on the slopes of Mount Agung, Besakih Temple (Pura Besakih) is considered by the Hindu Balinese to be their mother temple. The single most important temple complex on the whole island, it consists of more than 20 separate temples and numerous other smaller shrines, spread out over three kilometres.
Tenganan
Tenganan is perhaps one of the most secluded and conservative villages on the island of Bali. Protected by a strict code of isolationism, this original Bali Aga village has retained its unique culture and customs over the centuries. High walls surround the village, and marriage to outsiders is frowned upon. The famous double-ikat or ”Gringsing” woven cloth is made here, in a process which takes anything up to four years to complete.
Mount Agung
Standing some 3,142 metres above sea level, Mount Agung is the highest mountain on the island and its omnipresence dominates the region. Aside from specifically hosting Pura Besakih, the mountain is of great spiritual significance to the Balinese who regard it as a fragment of mythical Mount Meru and the seat of the Gods. No visitor can fail to be impressed by the majesty of Agung.
Tirta Gangga
Tirta Gangga literally means "water from the Ganges" and it is a site of some reverence for the Hindu Balinese. Strictly speaking, the name refers to the water palace built here in 1946 by the King of Karangasem. However, it is widely used to refer to the general area which includes the water palace and some particularly stunning rural areas around.
East Bali beaches
Explore the beaches and coastal life along the south coast from the port town of Padang Bai to Candidasa and beyond, dotted with attractive waterfront villages. The two coves with white sand beaches that lie either side of Padang Bai are absolutely gorgeous and often remarkably free of visitors.