Garuda Wisnu Kencana, or affectionately known as GWK, is a cultural park carved out of limestone in Bukit Peninsula, south of Bali.
It is devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, the source of wisdom, who rides on the back of Garuda, the mythical bird, heading towards Amerta, the symbol of perennial virtue.
Made from more than 4000 tons of giant slabs of copper and brass, the statue of Vishnu is 23 meters high although the original plan was for a 146-meter gold plated Vishnu riding Garuda on top of an 11-storey entertainment complex.
But further construction now proceeds at a snail’s pace due to the economic crisis of 1998 and later the bombings in Bali, which must have discouraged investors.
The statue and its pedestal are surrounded by more than 240 hectares of cultural park which was once an abandoned and unproductive limestone quarry.
The cultural park provides attractions with supporting facilities such as Lotus Pond, which can accommodate some 7.000 people, the Festival Park, a 800-seat amphitheater with first class acoustics, street theater and an exhibition hall.
At present, the statue of Wisnu, the statue of Garuda and the hands of Wisnu are placed temporarily in three different plazas within
the park.
They were made in Bandung, West Java, and transported by sea piece by piece.
“GWK is intended to educate, especially the young generation, about the importance of preserving and cultivating one of the world’s cultural heritage,” says Made, one of the guides who are always on hand at the premises to offer their on-the-spot service from dawn to dusk.
The two 25-meter natural limestone pillars comprising the Gapura Batu at the entrance gate to the complex are carved with images taken from the Ramayana, the mythical series of Indian-inspired tales stories.
A bas-relief carving on the gate depicts scenes from the wayang, the shadow puppet theatre.
Adjacent to Wisnu figure is the Pahrayangan Somaka Giri, a sacred spring from which flows water containing a rich mixture of minerals.
“The existence of the spring in arid limestone hills has no scientific explanation; as such it has become a place of pilgrimage and meditation,” according to Made.
“The water is said to cure diseases, and is widely used by local spiritual people in rituals to invoke rain that would produce good crops.”
It takes about an hour to cover GWK, depending how much time you allow yourself for stopping and viewing art in the museum, which features local contemporary works and is close to small shops selling pleasant and affordable food and drinks.
Designed and built by Nyoman Nuarta, one of Indonesia’s most celebrated sculptors, the planners envisioned visitors arriving by plane observing the colossal statue as a warm greeting to Bali. For now, Bali’s landmark would have to remain the people’s hospitality and, of course, the island’s incomparable natural beauty.