On the long drive from the airport to our hotel, we spotted a super eye-catching, giant statue in the distance! Our friendly driver told us it was newly completed in 2018 and is located in the Uluwatu area inside the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park. Standing at an impressive 120.9 meters (about 21 stories high), it currently holds the title of the fourth tallest statue in the world—it's even 30 meters taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York! This monumental statue really piqued our curiosity. Since the GWK Cultural Park was less than a 10-minute drive from where we were staying at the Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa, we decided to spend one of our afternoons checking it out!

📌 Recommended Reading: Brand New! Bali Accommodation Guide | Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa

🦅 Table of Contents

★ Ticket Information
★ How to Explore GWK Cultural Park?
★ How Much Time Should We Spend Here?

🦅 Ticket Information

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
On-site Ticket Prices: Adults IDR 125,000 / Children & Seniors IDR 100,000
Official Website: GWK Cultural Park

📌 Book Online via Klook Now for a Discount

A couple of days earlier, while visiting other attractions in Uluwatu, our Grab driver was chased away by some of the locals. It honestly gave us quite a scare! After that, we stopped booking Grab rides ourselves and instead asked the hotel staff to help us arrange a half-day private driver. Our plan was to visit the GWK Cultural Park in the afternoon, and then rush to the Uluwatu Temple before 5:00 PM to catch the Kecak Fire Dance. Before entering the park, our driver passed through a toll booth where the parking fee had to be paid in cash.

📌 Quickly Book a Private Car Charter on Klook｜Scooter Rental

After our driver parked the car, we headed to this spot ☝🏻 to catch the shuttle bus.

The shuttle bus takes you straight to the ticket office at the main entrance.

Right next to the ticket office, you can already see a whole row of massive white limestone blocks and statues!

If you buy them on-site, tickets are IDR 125,000 (about $8.50 USD) for adults, and IDR 100,000 (about $6.70 USD) for children under 130 cm and seniors over 60. We only realized later that buying tickets online through Klook is actually cheaper than buying them at the door 😭😭😭. We didn't know this at the time, so we ended up paying the on-site price 💸💸💸. We highly recommend checking Klook's prices before your visit!

📌 Book Tickets on Klook

When you buy your tickets on-site, they give each person a yellow sash printed with an illustration of the Garuda statue. It makes for a pretty great souvenir to take home! According to Balinese custom, you need to wear long skirts or pants when visiting any temple, and if you're wearing shorts or a short skirt, you must wrap a sarong around your waist before entering. When you visit Plaza Wisnu inside the park, you'll need to wear a sarong out of respect for the statue of Lord Vishnu there. We're guessing that's exactly why they hand out these sashes!

📌 Recommended Reading: Bali Travel Guide ☆ Temple Taboos & Etiquette

🦅 How to Explore GWK Cultural Park?

Along with your tickets, you'll receive a park map marking the locations of the three main statues. Today, we're going to take you through all the must-visit spots in the park following our own relaxed walking route!

▶︎ Commercial Strip
▶︎ Amphitheater
▶︎ Plaza Wisnu
▶︎ Plaza Garuda
▶︎ Lotus Pond
▶︎ Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue

Commercial Strip (Map Spot 2)

After buying your tickets, you have to walk through a whole row of souvenir shops to get to the entrance. We reasonably assumed that in such a commercialized park 👉🏻 the shops would be super expensive. But when we actually compared prices, we found the items here were even cheaper than at Pandawa Beach! Just that morning at Pandawa Beach, Cherry had bargained hard for a sun hat, only to find that the starting price here was significantly lower than her hard-fought bargained price… 😅

Amphitheater (Map Spot 8)

Besides the three massive statues that you absolutely cannot miss, we also highly recommend catching a traditional Balinese dance performance at the Amphitheater. There are multiple different shows scheduled every day. You'll get a performance schedule when you buy your tickets, so we suggest checking the times first before planning your walking route through the park!

On both sides of the back of the stage, a live band plays traditional Balinese instruments. The dancers, dressed in stunning traditional attire, convey the unique characteristics of the dance through expressive eye movements and intricate hand gestures. Paired with the traditional music, the performance beautifully highlights the rich cultural charm of Bali.

The grand finale featured a Barong dance, performed by two people (one in the front, one in the back). At first glance, Cherry thought it was a traditional Chinese lion dance, but looking closely, both the costume and the dance movements are actually quite different! The Barong dance is one of Bali's most famous traditional performances, so if you're in the park, definitely don't miss it!

Plaza Wisnu (Map Spot 12)

There are a total of three large statues in the GWK Cultural Park. In addition to the tallest monument of Lord Vishnu riding his mount Garuda, both Lord Vishnu and Garuda have their own individual statues in the park. The statue of Lord Vishnu (Wisnu) stands an impressive 23 meters tall and is located right here in Plaza Wisnu. In Hinduism, "Brahma - Vishnu - Shiva" are known as the Trimurti (the Hindu trinity), which shows just how important Lord Vishnu is as a primary deity. Plaza Wisnu is the only area in the entire park where you are required to wear a sarong. There's staff at the entrance handing them out, and this is the perfect time to tie on that yellow sash you received at the ticket office!

Plaza Garuda (Map Spot 14)

Lord Vishnu's majestic mount, Garuda, also has its very own statue proudly displayed in Plaza Garuda. Garuda is a legendary bird-like creature in Hindu mythology, often depicted with golden wings. You'll find different fascinating accounts of Garuda in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

Lotus Pond (Map Spot 16)

Just a short walk down from Plaza Garuda is the Lotus Pond. The name is honestly a little puzzling because we really didn't see a single lotus flower or pond! 😆 😆 😆 The Lotus Pond is actually a massive open plaza surrounded by towering walls of white limestone. It might sound a bit plain, but trust us, the most breathtaking view in the entire GWK Cultural Park is hidden right here!

Framed perfectly between two towering, sheer limestone blocks, the view of the magnificent Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue isn't just spectacular—it adds an incredible touch of exotic mystery, doesn't it?

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue (Map Spot 20)

This colossal monument was designed by the renowned Balinese sculptor Nyoman Nuarta. It depicts Lord Vishnu (Wisnu), one of the principal deities of Hinduism, riding his devoted mount, the eagle Garuda. Lord Vishnu is the preserver and protector of the universe, symbolizing wisdom and guardianship over all living things on Earth. His trusted mount, Garuda, represents loyalty and selfless devotion. Garuda also serves as the national emblem of Indonesia, symbolizing freedom and independence.

The park brochure we picked up notes that this is the fourth tallest statue in the world, and it even features a fun infographic comparing the top eight tallest statues globally. Such a cool piece of trivia!

You can actually take a guided tour inside the monument itself for IDR 150,000 per person. We really wanted to join, but since we were rushing to catch the Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu Temple, we just didn't have the time.

There is actually a building situated directly underneath the statue that you can enter and explore. The photo above shows what it looks like inside!

In the main lobby, musicians were playing traditional instruments.

This looks like the elevator used for the guided tour. Even the elevator doors are beautifully decorated with traditional motifs! If you're interested in taking the tour, this is definitely something to look out for.

Spanning 60 hectares, the GWK Cultural Park is absolutely massive! Plus, parts of it are still under construction. Walking around in the sweltering Bali heat can exhaust you pretty quickly. If you want to get up close to the main Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue, walking there is quite a trek. We highly recommend paying IDR 30,000 per person for the buggy service. You'll spot the dedicated ticket booth just as you walk past the limestone walls of the Lotus Pond toward the main statue.

If you don't feel like taking the buggy, you can also rent an electric scooter!

🦅 How Much Time Should We Spend Here?

We spent a little over 3 hours at the GWK Cultural Park watching the dance performances and exploring the various statues. Since there are still parts of the park being developed, 3 to 4 hours feels like the perfect amount of time to allocate. Spending an afternoon here allows you to immerse yourself in Indonesia's rich religious and cultural heritage, enjoy vibrant traditional dances, and witness one of the tallest statues in the world! It is absolutely worth it. The dramatic limestone walls and exotic statues throughout the park are incredibly photogenic, too. If you are planning to head to the Uluwatu Temple for sunset and the Kecak Fire Dance, checking out the GWK Cultural Park in the early afternoon makes for a really fantastic itinerary!

🦅 Bali Travel Resources

★ 【Transport】Bali Private Car Charter｜Private Airport Transfers
★ 【Jungle Swings】Picheaven Swing｜Ubud Swing｜Waterfall & Swing Trip
★ 【Nusa Penida】Round-Trip Ferry Tickets｜Private Car Charter｜Group Day Tour｜Private Day Tour
★ 【Tickets】Uluwatu Kecak Fire Dance｜GWK Cultural Park
★ 【Accommodation】Where to Stay in Bali Guide

▼ For more attractions around Uluwatu, check out 👉🏻 5 Must-Visit Attractions Near Uluwatu Temple

▼ For more Bali attraction guides, check out 👉🏻 [Bali Travel Guide] Exploring Top Bali Attractions by Area! (Map Included)

🦅 More Bali Travel Guides

★ [Bali Travel Guide] Exploring Top Bali Attractions by Area! (Map Included)
★ 5 Must-Visit Attractions Near Uluwatu Temple | South Bali Itinerary
★ Let's Go See the T-Rex at Nusa Penida! | Bali Island Hopping Day Trip
★ Stunning Sunsets, Cliff Temples, and Kecak Dance at Uluwatu Temple
★ Bali's Secret Beach Revealed! | The Hidden Gem of Pandawa Beach
★ Must-Visit Cliff Club! The Viral IG Spot | OMNIA Dayclub Bali
★ Bali Travel Guide ☆ Temple Taboos & Etiquette
★ Brand New! Bali Accommodation Guide | Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa
★ $0 Stay in a 5-Star Suite at Renaissance Bali Uluwatu!! ☆ Marriott Bonvoy Points + Suite Upgrade Example
★ Ultra-Luxurious Executive Suite | The Bathroom is Bigger Than My Room! | Renaissance Bali Uluwatu
★ Sumptuous Buffet & VIP Breakfast | Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa

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