Bali: The Island of Gods

Bali – An ancient land first discovered by the Chinese in 2500 B.C. - has over centuries been occupied and influenced by many Asian migrants who brought various cultures and religions to the island. Buddhism and Hinduism were practised by the early settlers and are still the major religions to this day.

Located eight degrees south of the equator in the Java Sea, Bali is an island of Indonesia situated between Lombok and Java. Home to approximately 4.2 million people, Bail has a rich and fascinating history which began with the Chinese who were the first on the island and set up a complex and effective irrigation system to grow rice and other agricultural products which is still being used in modern Bali society.

As was so often the case during the 16th century, Europeans and especially the Dutch who were prolific in their search for new territory, arrived on Bali and soon Western influence made it mark on the culture, lives and religions of the island. In 1602, 45 years after the first Dutch explorer set foot on Bali , the Dutch East India Company was established leading to the Dutch gaining economic and political control of Bali for a number of years until the European wars occurred during 1795 to 1815 causing control to shift between the French to the British and then back to the Dutch.

It wasn’t until 1945 that Indonesia proclaimed its independence from the Dutch and the Balinese regained control.

A tourist haven