People flock to the island of Bali for its strong and distinct culture, beautiful countryside, charming beaches and rich yoga heritage. But another attraction that is worthy of your attention and time is the Banjar Hot Springs.
Situated less than a mile from Banjar village in the northern section of Bali, Indonesia, this hot spring offers relaxation with waters generating temperatures up to 37 degrees Celsius or 98 degrees Fahrenheit. The natural spring water comes from the ground, goes through the mouths of stone-carved dragon-like figures and into the pools. Like other hot springs, the Banjar water contains sulphur and is strongly believed to possess healing capabilities.
The history of the hot springs can be traced back to the Japanese colonization of Indonesia. The Japanese, who have been known to like taking hot baths, were the developers of the spring site. Locally called Air Panas Banjar, the spring pools are divided into 3 sections. The top pool area has the hottest temperature while the other two are relatively cooler. The last pool provides a natural massage as water falls into it from about a height of 20 feet.
While spending time at Banjar Hot Springs, there are also attractions nearby that you can visit. Some of them include the lovely Lovina Beach, the large Subak temple of Beji and the Buddha monastery Brahma Vihara Arama, the only one of its kind in Bali. The monastery exudes traditional Buddhist and Balinese architecture and features intricate details like gold-leaf Buddha images, wood carvings, and a bright stupa. The hot spring pools are also well adorned with beautiful gardens. At the top portion of the site, there are small stalls lined up selling the usual beach items.
Banjar Hot Springs is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. You have to pay a minimal entrance fee to use the hot spring pools. Within the grounds of the hot springs are some guest facilities like changing cabins, an outdoor shower area and a restaurant that serves a good lunch. But don’t forget to bring your own towel as these are not provided at the site. Bathing in nude and using a bar soap are strictly prohibited. To avoid the crowd, try to come very early in the morning, before 10 am. The spring area is especially busy during the weekends and national holidays. If you want to do an overnight near the hot spring vicinity, the closest tourist lodging establishments are concentrated in the Lovina Beach area.
You can easily reach the hot spring area, by riding an ojek (motorcycle) though the main road in the region and passing through the Banjar town. If you are coming from Lovina Beach, there are bemo and public bus services that pick up passengers from the main road junction to Banjar town. From the Bali International Airport in Denpasar, it takes 3 hours to drive to the spring site. In addition, there are some tour companies operating in Bali offer tour packages that include a stop at the Banjar Hot Spring Water, and other major attractions.
