Tuesday, March 19, 2024
With Bali 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, thrumming 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 has confirmed that since the launch of the program on the 3rd of February, over 1,000 tourists, both domestic and international, have hitched a free ride around the capital’s tourism hotspots.
Speaking to reporters, the Head of the Denpasar City Tourism Office, Ni Luh Putu Riyastiti, said, “This free float service is one of the City Government’s efforts to in Denpasar to preserve tractional modes of transpiration typical to Denpasar City.”
Once upon a time, it was incredibly common for horses and carts to transport both goods and people throughout Bali before cars and motorcycles became the norm.
But as Denpasar is now a buzzing metropolis, some tourists have voiced welfare concerns for the horses.
Especially since animal welfare organizations have conducted extensive investigations and found there to be no ethical animal tourism operations in Bali.
Many tourists are shocked by the condition of the horses used for tourist taxis on the Gili Islands and hope that the same fate won’t affect the horses in Denpasar.
Riyastiti told reporters, “With this free decorated cart, we can maintain the health of the horses through regular inspections carried out by the Denpasar City Agriculture Service and help the cart drivers earn an income.”
The shuttle service is free for tourists to use, though they are welcome to tip their driver. Cart 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 Denpasar’s Heritage Zone every Saturday and Sunday between 9 am and 4 pm. There are just eight horses and carts available at two meeting points.
The first meeting point is at Tegal Terminal on Jalan Imam Bonjol, and the second is at Jalan Sulawesi Utara.
The horse and cart shuttle operates across two routes, each taking approximately 30 minutes. Each horse and car can take two adults or two adults and one young child.
In order to book a horse and cart ride, tourists must arrive at their chosen meeting point, fill in a form, and, provided there is a cart ready to go, proceed with the trip.
The Head of the Tourism Destination Division of the Denpasar City Tourism Office, I Gusti Agung Komang Widnyana, said that the project will 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 “at the end of March we will hold trainings for the cart drivers to equip them with knowledge about tourism and traffic rules.”
One of the most famous historical and cultural landmarks in Denpasar is the Bajra Sandhi Monument, also known as the Bali People’s Struggle Monument.
The stunning monument can be found at the heart of the city, in the center of Lapangan Puputan Renon Park.
Many tourists or longer-staying tourists will drive past the monument and Lapangan Puputan Renon Park either on the way to the airport or if going into Denpasar for an appointment at Denpasar Immigration, but it is so worth stopping by for a walk around.
Tourists can enter the heritage area from the south entrance, which is well-signposted.
Entry tickets for 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 up to the Utamaning Utama Mandala room at the top of the monument to enjoy 360-degree views of the city and beyond.
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