It's been just two months since the "soft opening" of the TV tower in North Bali. Because of the confusing entry system, not many have been able to visit.
News that Turyapada will be closing again in May is surprising. Some say it's because the ground under the structure is unstable during the rainy season; others say it's to address major unfinished work inside the building. What exactly did the Balinese build there, and is it worth a visit before it closes?
Anyone who has been to northern Bali recently probably watched the construction of the 165-meter Turyapada Tower. They started building it back in 2022, and although they planned to finish within a year, the tower welcomed its first guests only on December 27, 2024. Just after New Year's, we made our first attempt to review the new landmark. However, we couldn't get inside. It turned out that even though entrance to the tower is free, you need to register on the official website for a visit.
Since Turyapada Tower is only open to tourists two days a week (Saturday and Sunday), and there are many who want to go up, we had to wait a month and a half for our turn. A QR code was sent to our email, and you need to bring a passport (a photo of the document was sufficient for us).
The journey from Canggu to Turyapada takes about 1.5 hours. The last kilometer after turning off the main road hardly feels like you're heading to a new tourist attraction. The bumpy concrete road, which is covered with gravel in some places, does not encourage rushing, especially in the rain. The road by the tower isn't much better, it seems the builders left the access routes for the future.
However, right in front of Turyapada Tower, everything is perfect. The main entrance looks inviting. There's bike parking around the corner. The guard there immediately informs us that the tower is closed today.
“We have a reservation,” we tell him.
“Do you have a QR code?” the guard asks, sounding unsure.
Only after we show the registration email on our phone, the staff member offers to escort us to the reception. There are four lovely employees checking the bookings and issuing badges. No queues. In the lobby, there are a couple of other guests, no other foreigners besides us.
A nice receptionist accompanies us to the elevators. Today, she will be our guide. Her English is limited, but she does her best to guide us. On the other hand, the main thing on the tower is to enjoy the views.
And it seems there's plenty to admire at Turyapada Tower. The project promised a panoramic restaurant, an open 360-degree observation deck, a glass bridge, and a planetarium on the tenth floor. It all looked spectacular in the renderings! But the elevator doors open and…
Yes, this is the future panoramic restaurant. It's not completed yet, our lovely guide explains. However, she promises that the menu will include European cuisine. When asked when we can taste it, she replies: "Next year!"
Even if the chef, waiters, and set tables eventually appear here, the view from the panoramic windows is not so promising. Thick fog and clouds, which are more frequent than sunny weather and blue skies in this area, make going up lose its purpose. We weren't lucky.
We head to the next point. The open observation deck is located on the 9th floor. But, as you might have guessed, it's about the same as in the restaurant.
The open observation deck is still closed. Since the builders haven't finished installing protective barriers, it's not allowed to go outside. We enjoy the fog from this floor and move on!
The glass bridge with an observation platform at the end is the main highlight of the new tower. But we couldn't appreciate the architects' idea. Due to rain, the bridge exit is closed. You can view it from inside.
Slightly disappointed, we enter the elevator. What's next on our agenda?
"Finish," the guide announces cheerfully.
"Finish," we repeat thoughtfully.
On the ground floor, the staff member leaves us alone. Nobody is rushing us, so we can take plenty of pictures of the empty corridors of the new Balinese landmark.
Turyapada was initially envisioned primarily as a communication tower for digital TV broadcasting, telecommunications, internet, and radio transmission. There is no information about whether it's functioning for its intended purpose. But as a tourist attraction, it’s still hard to recommend. Right now, the best view of this tower is still the one from below.
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