Share the article
As Bali is a destination best known for its blissful beaches and vibrant jungles, many tourists overlook the provincial capital of Denpasar.
Home to a wealth of historical gems, blaring music, a coffee scene and great shopping, Denpasar is a vibe!
Last month, the Denpasar City Tourism Office launched a free horse-drawn carriage service for tourists.
The local government confirmed that since the launch of the program on February 3, more than 1,000 tourists, both local and foreign, have taken free rides around the capital’s tourist hotspots.
@cheapesttours Travel to Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar, Bali #bajrasandhi #bajrasandhimonument #bali #indonesia ♬ original sound – Bali Insider’s Guide – Bali Cheapest Tours
Speaking to reporters, head of the Denpasar City Tourism Office, Ni Luh Putu Riasthiti, said: “This free float service is one of the Denpasar City Government’s efforts to preserve Denpasar City’s typical air-towing ways.”
It was once incredibly common for horses and carts to transport goods and people around Bali before cars and motorbikes became the norm. But with Denpasar now a bustling metropolis, some tourists have raised concerns about the horses’ welfare.
Especially since animal welfare organizations have conducted extensive investigations and found that there are no ethical animal tourism operations in Bali.
Many tourists are shocked by the condition of the horses used for tourist taxis in the Gili Islands and hope that the same fate will not befall the horses in Denpasar.
@ngurahsuryakusuma As the provincial capital of Bali, Denpasar has many beautiful and interesting man-made tourist attractions to visit. One of these tourist attractions is the statue of Titi Banda, which later became one of the icons of the city of Denpasar. The statue, which was inaugurated by the Mayor of Denpasar in December 2014, is located in the middle of Jalan By Pass Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra Jalan By Pass I Gusti Ngurah Rai. With this very strategic placement, the Titi Banda statue is no longer a stranger to people crossing this road. Although it is often overlooked, there are still many people who do not know the meaning or philosophy of this statue. The Titi Banda statue depicts a story from the epic Ramayana. To be precise, Rama’s journey was to build a bridge in the middle of the ocean to free his wife Devi Shinta from the prison of Rahavana, the king of Alengka Pura. Where Sang Rama stands proudly carrying a bow that is about 10 meters high, with a row of statues of monkeys or apes that loyally served Sang Rama for the construction of the Titi Banda Bridge. His philosophy contains the importance of cooperation and mutual cooperation. This is reflected in how the community officials work together to realize the development of Bali with a wise leader who is able to lead and protect the people well. The Titi Banda Statue is a special stop for road users coming from the south and east of Denpasar City. Especially at night its beauty is even more enchanting. @BagusBaliBus.com #TitiBandaStatue #TitiBanda #Bali ♬ BagusBaliBus.com – Ngura Surya Kusuma
Riyastiti told reporters, “With this free decorated cart, we can maintain the health of the horses through regular inspections by the Denpasar City Agriculture Office and help the cart drivers earn income.”
The shuttle is free for tourists, but they are welcome to tip their driver. Trolley drivers will receive an income of IDR 350,000 per day from the Denpasar City Government for their services.
The free car service operates in the Depasar Heritage Area every Saturday and Sunday between 9am and 4pm. There are only eight horses and wagons at two meeting places.
The first collection point is at Tegal Terminal on Jalan Imam Bonjol and the second is on Jalan Sulawesi Utara.
@cheapesttours Travel to Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar, Bali #bajrasandhi #bajrasandhimonument #bali #indonesia ♬ original sound – Bali Insider’s Guide – Bali Cheapest Tours
The horse and cart shuttle operates on two routes, each taking approximately 30 minutes. Each horse and buggy can take two adults or two adults and one small child.
To book a horse and carriage ride, tourists must arrive at the chosen meeting point, fill out a form and, if a carriage is available, proceed with the ride.
Denpasar City Tourism Office Head of Tourist Destinations Department, I Gusti Agung Komang Vidnyana, said the project would help attract more tourists to the city and educate the public about the area’s history and culture.
Widnyana explained: “We also equip the cart drivers with barcodes containing information about tourist attractions in Denpasar.”
He noted that at the end of March, we will conduct trainings for cart drivers to equip them with knowledge about tourism and traffic rules.
One of the most famous historical and cultural attractions in Denpasar is the Bajra Sandi Monument, also known as the Bali People’s Struggle Monument.
The stunning monument can be found in the heart of the city, in the center of Lapangan Puputan Renon Park.
Many tourists or longer stay tourists will pass by Lapangan Puputan Renon Monument and Park either on their way to the airport or if they are going to Denpasar for a meeting at Denpasar Immigration, but it is worth stopping by for a walk.
Tourists can enter the heritage area from the southern entrance, which is well signposted.
Entrance tickets to the Bajra Sandhi Monument for foreign tourists cost IDR 100,000 for adults and IDR 50,000 for children.
Be sure to walk all the way to the Utamaning Utama Mandala room at the top of the monument to enjoy a 360-degree view of the city and beyond.
