Bali's Inimitable Allure

Whether you’re seeking spiritual and physical wellness, or a surfer’s paradise, this Indonesian island is a destination of balance.

- Alexandra Kirkman

FALLING WATER IS the prevailing sound at Gunung Kawi Sebatu, one of the most captivating yet least visited temple complexes in Bali. Nestled within a verdant glade seven miles northeast of Ubud, it’s composed of a series of ponds and pools—most full of golden carp sheltered by lotus flowers and water lilies—fed by the natural spring that flows beneath. Roaming guinea fowl and baby deer create a lively contrast to the many grinning statues that preside over the water gardens. Beyond a stone stairwell flanked by a traditional candi bentar, or Balinese gateway, rows of offering baskets brimming with fruit and fuchsia-hued flowers line the foundations of shrines bedecked with dragons and other mythical creatures, blanketing the gray stone in a joyous riot of color.