Having first been inhabited around 2000 BC, Bali’s cultural roots run true and deep. Here are 4 interesting things to know about the fascinating ” Island of the Gods”.

Hindu Influence

Hindu influence plays a major role in the culture of the island. The two most commonly believed theories are that Hinduism was brought by South Indian sea traders, and the other is that the Indonesian Royalty embraced the religion and the common masses followed.

File:A procession with offerings entering a Hindu temple Bali.jpg
Rollan Budi from Vancouver, Canada, A procession with offerings entering a Hindu temple BaliCC BY-SA 2.0

Balinese Dance

Lithe, graceful and dramatic with intricate hand movements, Balinese dancing is sure to leave the audiences enchanted. Do make time to watch a performance while on a visit as it’s among one of the most popular Uluwatu things to do.

Flying PharmacistLegong Kraton FarewellCC BY-SA 3.0

Native Cuisine

The Balinese cuisine is made up of a variety of spices, fresh vegetables, meat and seafood with steamed rice as the main staple. Foodies intent on sampling authentic dishes can do so at premier hotels such as Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort. Joining one of the many cooking schools on the island too would prove to be a fun experience to enjoy while on holiday.

File:Bali cuisine.jpg
Everett Harper from San Francisco, USA, Bali cuisineCC BY-SA 2.0

Language

The local language on the island is Bahasa Bali, however, Bahasa Indonesia and English are spoken in popular tourist areas.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+