Candi Dasa

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'''Candi Dasa''', or often '''Candidasa''' is a seaside town on the eastern cost of [[Bali]] that rests on the edge of a fresh water [[lagoon]], named Candi Dasa Lagoon. The town is centred around ''Jalan Raya Candida'', where a number of hotels, restaurants, and shops line the main road. It is popular tourist stop, attracting divers and those looking for a more sedate alternative to the busy, nightclub filled [[Kuta, Bali|Kuta]] area or the large, manicured resorts at [[Nusa Dua]].<ref>[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2001/05/17/karma-prevails-over-popular-bali-seaside-resort-candidasa.html Karma prevails over popular Bali seaside resort Candi Dasa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607134502/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2001/05/17/karma-prevails-over-popular-bali-seaside-resort-candidasa.html |date=2011-06-07 }} The Jakarta Post, May 17, 2001</ref>

== History == [[File:Candidasa Lagoon 200507-4.jpg|thumb|left|Temple and Lotus Lagoon.]]

Most sources say a fishing [[Village People|village]] was founded on the site by the 12th century and before the modern name of ''Candi Dasa'' was adopted it was known as both Teluk Kehen ("Bay of Fire")<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.karangasemtourism.com/place_of_interest/candidasa/ |title=Karangasem Regency page on Candi Dasa |access-date=2009-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508063345/http://www.karangasemtourism.com/place_of_interest/candidasa/ |archive-date=2009-05-08 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> and Cilidasa. It is thought that the temple near the lagoon, with a statue of the fertility goddess [[Hariti]] surrounded by a group of children is the origin of the name ''cilidasa'' which translates from Balinese as "ten children". Many Balinese who want to have children go on pilgrimage to this temple to pray<ref>{{cite web |title= Candidasa, Pantai Berpasir Putih Layaknya Kuta |website= mediaindonesia.com |date= February 3, 2012 |url= http://www.mediaindonesia.com/mediatravelista/index.php/read/2012/02/03/3576/2/Candidasa-Pantai-Berpasir-Putih-Layaknya-Kuta |access-date=February 4, 2012 |archive-date=February 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206025726/http://www.mediaindonesia.com/mediatravelista/index.php/read/2012/02/03/3576/2/Candidasa-Pantai-Berpasir-Putih-Layaknya-Kuta |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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. The diving and snorkeling in the area brought many tourists and the village began to grow; hotels, villas and restaurants popped up along the main strip. A period of stagnation followed, due to the loss of touristic assets from unsustainable practices (see "Beach erosion below"). Tourism picked up again in more recent years as per the general trend on the island, bringing [[Automated teller machine|atms]], health clinics and mini marts. On top of good diving and snorkeling, the town provides easy access to other destinations in eastern [[Bali]].

== Beach erosion == As tourism boomed in the 1970s and 1980s, Candidasa received a large amount of investment in tourism and a construction boom occurred. 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.

During the 90's local hotel owners constructed a series of t-shaped [[Groyne|groins]] jutting out into the water in an attempt to preserve the beach, with mixed results.<ref>Pantai Bali, Keindahan yang Perlu Perhatian Oleh Melani Bali Post, November 22, 2006</ref> Several government programs aim at stopping erosion, restoring the beaches and raising awareness of the importance of the reefs. In 2015-2016, a study suggested that the existing seawalls, groins and revetments be removed because of their deterioration, their material to be reused for new structures where possible.<!--

according to the photos in the 2015-2016 (official) source, it does not appear that the beaches have recovered much. In 2017 (see ref "Eco Disaster Candi Dasa"), the "pontoons" installed end of 1990's were towed away to the next beach - not because they has succeeded at getting some beach back, but because they had failed AND needed repairs.

--><ref>{{cite web |date= 2015–2016 |title= Bali beach project. Appendices project management plan and evaluation |website= repository.tudelft.nl |series= |url= https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid:8aae8131-bb83-42a5-ad2b-2781f70c1d36/datastream/OBJ/download |access-date= 2024-05-18 |page= 18: comparison on the beach condition in 2004 and 2011, photos }} See also [https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3A8aae8131-bb83-42a5-ad2b-2781f70c1d36 synopsis and other annexes for the Balli beach project].</ref>

Early 2017 four large floating platforms from concrete were placed in Candidasa's bay, possibly as an ill-advised attempt at reducing the pounding of the waves on the shore. Being badly anchored, these structures freed themselves within a few days of their installation and were repeatedly smashed against the rocks on the shore. The concrete broke up and loosened the [[polystyrene]] foam used to float the structures, resulting in the polystyrene invading the coast as far as [[Padangbai|Padang Bai]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Eco Disaster Candi Dasa |website= balipod.com |date= 24 March 2017 |url= https://balipod.com/forum/threads/eco-disaster-candi-dasa.11944/ |access-date= 2024-05-18 }}</ref>

=== Coral restoration ===

More efficiently, coral restoration is taking place since 2016 in the wake of similar work started in 1992 in [[Gerokgak, Buleleng#Reef conservation and turtle protection in Pemuteran Bay|Pemuteran bay]] by the "Reef Gardeners" of the Reef Seen Divers' Resort.<ref name="garden">{{cite web |title= Reef Gardeners of Pemuteran |website= reefseenbali.com |url= https://reefseenbali.com/reef-gardeners/ |access-date= 2024-05-13 }}</ref> Vincent Chalias started the first industrial coral farming in 2000. In 2016, with partner Manumudhita he founded the NGO "Ocean Gardener" which provides courses on coral reef restoration, and works on several sites in Bali and [[Nusa Penida]] - establishing coral nurseries, planting corals and installing "spiders".{{efn|As of 2024, the NGO "Ocean Gardener" is working on five sites on Bali and two sites on Nusa Penida.<br> On Bali: * Kuku beach: direct planting and coralling * Tulamben beach: hard coral nursery, spiders and direct planting * Lipah beach: hard coral nursery, spiders and direct planting * Candidasa: hard coral nursery and spiders * Sanur beach: soft coral nursery and spiders On Nusa Penida: * Crystal bay: hard and soft coral nursery, rope planting * PED beach: rope nursery, rope planting and corraling The 'spiders' are simple wiry structures anchored on the seabed. Corals use them as support to build up colonies. }} In Candidasa they have set up a hard coral nursery and installed spiders.<ref>{{cite web |title= Ocean Gardener |website= oceangardener.org |url= https://oceangardener.org/about-us-2/ |access-date= 2024-05-18 }}</ref>

== Marine protected area == In 2017 a large swath of the coast around Candidasa has become a [[Marine protected area|Marine Protected Area]], as part of the "Karangasem Bali [[Marine conservation|Marine Conservation]]" area. This covers about 8 km of coastline on each side of Candidasa, from the north end of Virgin Beach to the east up to near the Crystal Beach Bali hotel to the west. The protected area extends at sea to include the little islets of Gili Tepekong and Gili Mimpang.<ref>{{cite web |title= Karangasem Bali Marine Conservation |website= ctatlas.coraltriangleinitiative.org |url= http://ctatlas.coraltriangleinitiative.org/MPA?id=1015911 |access-date= 2024-05-22 }} See map linked in that page.</ref>

== Diving == Candidasa is a good spot for snorkeling and diving, notably around the three islands just of the coast: Gili Tepekong, Gili Mimpang and - a bit further south-east, Gili Biaha. Gili Mimpang includes three large rock formations and six smaller ones and is also known as Batu Tiga ("Three Rocks").<ref>{{cite web |title= Site de plongée Gili Mimpang |language= fr |website= blogplongee.fr |url= https://blogplongee.fr/site-plongee/gili-mimpang |access-date= 2024-05-17 }} </ref><ref name="ltsbeng">{{cite web |title= Diving in Candidasa: Gili Mimpang, Tepekong and Biaha |website= lotusbungalows.com |url= https://www.lotusbungalows.com/news/diving-in-candidasa-gili-mimpang-tepekong-and-biaha/ |access-date= 2024-05-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Gili Mimpang, map |website= openstreetmap.org |url= https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=17/-8.52915/115.57884 }}</ref> All three offer excellent diving, especially for more experienced divers. Currents can be quite strong and surprising, but most dive centres in and around Candidasa have experienced dive instructors and guides to lead the way.<ref>{{cite web |title= Avis sur la Plongée à Candidasa |language= fr |website= blogplongee.fr |url= https://blogplongee.fr/plonger/candidasa#content |access-date= 2024-05-17 }}</ref><ref name="ltsbeng"/>

A few dive sites are accessible from Candidasa by small traditional [[jukung]] boats. But there is no pier or other mooring for dive speedboats in Candidasa; diving operators moor their boats in [[Padangbai]] (11 km west) and take their clients there by private bus.<ref>{{cite web |title= Scuba diving in Candidasa: Padang Bai, the closest dive base |website= gekodivebali.com |url= https://gekodivebali.com/en/padang-bai/scuba-diving-bali-from-candidasa |access-date= 2024-05-19 }}</ref> Padangbai holds several excellent diving sites.

==In the area== The large Lotus Lagoon on the main road in Candidasa is a favorite stop for photographs; it is especially pretty at sunset.

Candidasa is a good base for explorations in East Bali. The Virgin Beach, also called Pantai Perasi<ref>{{cite web |author= Andy Harman |title= All You Need To Enjoy Virgin Beach, Candidasa |website= thetwohappywanderers.com |date= June 11, 2022 |url= https://thetwohappywanderers.com/all-you-need-to-enjoy-virgin-beach-candidasa/ |access-date= 2024-05-23 }}</ref> (Perasi being the nearest village) or Pantai Pasir Putih (meaning white sand beach),<ref>{{cite web |title= 15 More Reasons To Be Excited About Candidasa Beach |website= greenerbali.com |url= https://greenerbali.com/15-more-reasons-to-be-excited-about-candidasa-beach/ |access-date= 2024-05-23 }}</ref> a well known white sand beach in Bali, is 20 minutes east of town.<ref>{{cite web |title= Candidasa - Virgin Beach near Perasi, trip on map |website= google.com/maps |url= https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-8.5001551,115.6106917/-8.5129848,115.5790845/@-8.501798,115.5835417,4432m/am=t/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1?entry=ttu }}</ref> <br> The village of [[Tenganan]] Pegringsingan, inhabited by [[Bali Aga]] people and one of the oldest villages in Bali, is 4 km north. [[Amlapura]] is 14 km north-east, with the nearby [[Ujung Water Palace]] 12 km away. [[Semarapura]] and its [[Klungkung Palace]] are 25 km west.

==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed"> File:Candidasa Fishing Boats.jpg|Fishing boats File:Jetty at candidasa.jpg|Wave-breaker File:Candidasa Lagoon 200507-1.jpg|The Lotus lagoon </gallery>

== Notes and references == === Notes === {{Notelist}} === References === {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Wikivoyage-inline|Candidasa}}

[[Category:Populated places in Bali]]