Candi Dasa

Candi Dasa
A view across the lagoon to Gili Tepekong, Gili Biaha and Gili Mimpang, three uninhabited islands popular with divers and local fishermen.
Candi Dasa Location in Bali
Coordinates: 8°30′0″S 115°34′0″E
Country	Indonesia
Province	Bali

Candi Dasa is a seaside town in eastern Bali that rests on the edge of a lagoon. It is popular tourist stop and is often described as a more sedate and laid back beach alternative to the teeming, nightclub filled Kuta area or the large, manicured resorts at Nusa Dua.

History

Lagoon in Candi Dasa.

Most sources say a fishing village was founded on the site by the 12th century and before the modern name of Candi Dasa was adoped it was known as both Teluk Kehen ("Bay of Fire") and Cilidasa. There is a temple near the lagoon, with a statue of the fertility goddess Hariti surrounded by a group of children, and cilidasa translates from Balinese as "ten children." The modern name is thought to be a corruption of this older name. The town began to catch on as a tourist destination in the 1970s, since there is good snorkelling and diving in the area and the town provides easy access to other destinations in eastern Bali.

Beach erosion

In the 1970s and 1980s, the area received a large amount of investment in tourism and a construction boom. To fuel the construction of beach bungalows, new homes and restaurants, the offshore reef was mined for lime to make cement and other construction materials. This removed the coastal barrier that had protected the beach which was undermined and washed away. Local hotel owners constructed a series of t-shaped groins jutting out into the water in an attempt to preserve the beach, with mixed results.

External links

Candidasa travel guide from Wikitravel