If you are planning to climb Mount Agung, please note that it will be partially closed to tourists from July 18th to July 24th. This closure is due to a religious ceremony at Pura Besakih Temple located at the base of the mountain.
The ceremony is part of the series of rituals called Karja Asyi Purna Kasa, a traditional religious event held once a year. The temple guardian of Pura Besakih, Nyoman Artawan, explained that the closure is necessary to ensure the uninterrupted conduct of the rituals.
Artawan also mentioned that the climbing restriction applies only to the route passing through Pura Pengubengan Temple. Other routes around Mount Agung can still be used during this period as usual.
Mount Agung is an active volcano and the highest point in Bali at 3,142 meters. Balinese people believe that gods reside at its summit, protecting the island from evil forces, hence the mountain is considered sacred. Naturally, during the ceremony, disturbing the gods is not advisable.
It's worth noting that climbing Mount Agung without guides can be quite dangerous even when ceremonies are not taking place. Independent tourists often stray from the paths, get lost, and require search and rescue operations by local rescue services or ordinary residents.
For instance, recently, two British tourists lost their way at around 1,700 meters altitude. Realizing something had gone wrong in their adventure, they began calling for help. After some time, their cries were heard by a local farmer who informed the search and rescue team about the stranded tourists.
Sources: tribunbali, antaranews
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