Traditional Heritage of Penglipuran Village

Wed, 22 Jun 2011

Traditional Village of Penglipuran

Penglipuran village  is a traditional countryside owning and still maintaining unique characteristic life, socializing and culture. It is located in Kubu Village, Bangli Sub district and Bangli Regency. This village can be reached through roads connecting district of Bangli with Kintamani. If you start from Denpasar, you will need time around one and a half hour to reach this village meanwhile from Bangli town to the north up to Kubu village about 5 kilometers, then have turn left, one will arrive at Penglipuran and will be received with warm welcome by the villagers. Based on the local story the area of Penglipuran Village takes it’s name from the word ‘Pengeling Pura, which translates roughly as remember your ancestors although another school of though is that the word Penglipur meaning ‘entertainer' or relaxation mean as good spot for resting place since long period ago. Its nature is beautiful and can give the peacefulness and inspiration at the time of experiencing a problem.

What make it look different with others village in Bali?

Traditional Balinese Building

          All  of the houses exist in this countryside from northern part  to the southern part is look very beautiful in particular the Balinese traditional entrance gate which are made similar each other. The house is unique to the area and extremely aesthetically pleasing with rows of very small but tall traditionally built houses that are very decorative and with thatched roofs. These roads are straight and within the field areas meaning there is a tropical country feels as well as being very culturally interesting. The village has cultural potency which is up to the present time still well preserved in the form of traditional Balinese buildings; which differentiate this village from others.

          If we step down to the center of this village, we will meet the Balinese houses are oriented northeastwards to Mount Agung which is located in north-east of Bali Island. The structure of house building between one house and others are almost the same in particular to condition, form, size and function from the building except building of family bed room is free form.

Small temple of family building is placed at the same direction to the Agung Mount, kitchen is located in upstate from the lawn and the building of Bale Sakaenem is the six beamed building which its function for ceremony place.

This building is also for look after the livestock and the place to plant assorted vegetable are referred as non irrigated dry field which is called “Teba” (Teba means rice field). The construction material is made from wood except family residence. It is predominated by material from bamboo because around this countryside is bamboo producer which belong to the village territory.

Social Genius System used

In maintaining the community existence, Penglipuran village is lead by a leader which is called Bendesa or Kelian or Penyarikan or Patengan and he/she is assisted by Sinoman. The social system is recognized by the 12 group terms that are number 1 until 12 as member of Pemerincik that is commissioned member converse the problem or plan and its result is submitted to the member. They are very trusting of 12 groups and have represented the tradition in heritage away back. The Consanguinity System in this countryside is Patrilinial system that is according to father lineage. This countryside religion leader is called as Jero Bayan which is consisted of 3 Jero Bayans that is a Jero Bayan Mucuk and 2 people of Jero Bayan Nyoman. The specific cultural potential like pattern of building architecture remains to be traditional, the beautiful nature and environment with cool atmosphere, hence this countryside is the ideal place to visit during your vacation in Bali.

Local Policy for Environment Preservation

Penglipuran village is hardly well-known for its tidy row of traditional Balinese entrance gates and its unique architectural traditions. The village has also succeeded in preserving its 75-hectare bamboo forest located in the northern part of the village. Members of the Desa Adat village institution have applied a consistent role from generation to generation in this preservation since they have a strong commitment to the system of "ayahan desa" - a philosophy committed to respecting the land on which the village stands. A portion of the "desa adat" are known as "krama pengarep", or privileged members. Each of them is given an eight-acre house yard, 40-acres of agricultural land, 70-acres of bamboo forest, 60-acres of riverside irrigation, and 25-acres of rice field.