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Kecak Fire Dance in Uluwatu

Jalan Pura Uluwatu, Pecatu, Bali

Description

The Kecak Dance taking place in Uluwatu is the most famous such show on the island. It is based on the story of the Ramayana (one of the two major Sanskript epics of ancient India) and is performed in local temples and villages as a dance and music drama particular to the Balinese Hindu culture. It is staged with up to 100-150 people (mostly men) wearing checked cloths round their waist and has its roots in exorcism practices. The fire comes into play for the burning of Hanuman (the Hindu monkey god).

Access & Transport

The show takes place next to the Uluwatu Temple situated on Jl Pura Uluwatu, 14km southwest of Jimbaran beach, 20km west of Nusa Dua and 25km from the Kuta/Legian/Seminyak area.

Instructions & Recommendations

Make sure you arrive before 17h30 so you can get a ticket (starts selling around 16h30 or 17h00) and have time in hand to visit the temple (separate entrance fee). We advise visitors to keep all food, water and sunglasses in a bag to avoid having them stolen by monkeys (this is a very common problem).

Meta review

The show is well advertised and attended but online reviews are actually quite mixed. Most visitors agree that the setting is unique and the underlying story is interesting but there are several important drawbacks: several hundred spectators crammed together, very repetitive noises and singing, relatively expensive ticket given the length and quality of the show, and messy traffic to drive out after the show. The best tips are to get in 30mins early to choose a good seat and to be patient as the best part is towards the end of the show.

Environmental & Social

Environmentally neutral. Tourism helps local Balinese culture to flourish in some sense, but this is a crude commercial exploitation.

Conclusion

Any tourist to Bali should watch a Kecak dance once in our opinion, and the one held daily in Uluwatu provides the assurance of good quality and a unique setting. But it can be crowded and expensive for what it is, so don't feel like you are missing out if you have the opportunity to watch the dance elsewhere on the island.

Key positive

Visually impressive performance

Expensive

Key negative

Can be very busy

Some will find it boring

Suitability

Suitable for all ages but better if children are over 6yrs old. There looks to be a few stairs to access the show area so wheelchair users may require some assistance.

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

June 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Show is at 18h00 but you'll need to buy the tickets beforehand

av. transport time:1h

est. visit time:1h 30m

Regulated hours

Monday17:30 - 19:00

Tuesday17:30 - 19:00

Wednesday17:30 - 19:00

Thursday17:30 - 19:00

Friday17:30 - 19:00

Saturday17:30 - 19:00

Sunday17:30 - 19:00

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
IDR 150,000
Adult
18 - 64
IDR 150,000
Teen & Young
10 - 17
IDR 150,000
Child
2 - 9
IDR 100,000
Infant
0 - 1
IDR 0

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