Pura Meduwe Karang: Bicycle carving in NE Bali

Next saturday morning Ika and I are planning to go up to Tejakula in NE Bali (check it out on the new size maps). I drove up there in late 2005 and one thing I remember was the great looking temple on the clifftop near a place called Air Sanih. The temple Pura Meduwe Karang, is one of 4 big temples in the area and I’d like to take a look when I’m up there.

Here’s what my guide book says:

“Pura Meduwe Karang at Kubutambahan, is 11km east of Singaraja and 300m west of the junction with the Kintamani road. Its lively and whimsical carvings have a very human quality somehow missing in the other temples; if you only make it to 1 templein the north, this is the one to go for. Dedicated to Batara Medewi Karang (the lord possessing the ground), the temple ensures devine protection for crops grown on dry land, such as coconuts, maize and ground nuts. Its built on a spectacular site, with well maintained grounds and frangipani tress galore. The terraces at the front support 34 figures from the Ramayana, and the centerpiece shows the giant Kumbakurna in violent battle with hordes of monkeys from Sugriwa’s army.”

The inner courtyard has a carving of man on a bicycle being chased by a dog. This is a famous carving and could possibly be a Dutch artist named W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp, who rode around Bali on a bicycle in 1904. Photos will follow if I get there.