Sanur (Balinese: Pasih Sanur; Indonesian: Pantai Sanur, pronounced sah-noor) is a coastal stretch of beach east of Denpasar in southeast Bali (about a 30-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport), which has grown into a little town in its own right. A 5.1 km (3.2 mi) area of Sanur's coastline, from Matahari Terbit Beach to Mertasari Beach, was reclaimed in 2008.[1]
History
In 1906 the northern part of Sanur Beach was used as the landing site for the Dutch invasion troops during the intervention in Bali. During World War II, Sanur was again the entry point through which the Japanese forces landed to occupy the island of Bali.
Tourism
As the coastal area closest to the capital Denpasar, Sanur predates Kuta, Nusa Dua, and Uluwatu as the oldest destination for beach tourism in Bali. Grand Inna Bali Beach (formerly Bali Beach InterContinental Hotel) was built in Sanur under Indonesian President Sukarno in 1963 as the first five-star luxury resort in Bali. Before its construction, only three significant hotels existed on the island.[2] Grand Inna Bali Beach is unique for having ten floors, making it the highest hotel in Bali, which normally forbids buildings taller than the height of a coconut palm tree (it was built before the law regulating height limits was promulgated in 1971).
Aside from Grand Inna Bali Beach, Sanur contains some hotel resorts such as Maya Sanur Resort & Spa, the InterContinental Bali Sanur Resort (rebranded from Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali in 2022, which itself was rebranded from Regent Bali in 2014), the Hyatt Regency Bali (formerly Bali Hyatt, not to be confused with the Grand Hyatt in Nusa Dua), and Andaz Bali. Sanur is also home to a growing number of popular villa resorts.
Also catering to the tourists are many restaurants and shops spread around the coastal area. Many of these are Bali-grown brands that favor ingredients or materials original to the island. Among those, The Sandwich Bar, Flamingo Beach Club in Pantai Saba, or Italian Gelateria and restaurant Massimo is a long-standing institution,[3] with queues to be seen on almost every night. Another Italian style in Sanur is resort wear boutique BIASA, a fashion pioneer on the island founded by art enthusiast Susanna Perini.[4] There are plenty of other retail spots along the coastal area, which, in comparison to other destinations on the island, cater more to a mature group of Bali visitors.
Sights
Traditional fishing boats can be seen on the beach of Sanur offering a scenic view of the island Nusa Penida.
Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpes (1880–1958), a Belgian painter, lived in Sanur from 1932–1958. His house was transformed into a museum, Museum Le Mayeur, where about 80 of his most important paintings are exhibited.[5] Bali Orchid Garden, a park about 3 km north of Sanur, is worth a visit as well.[6]
Another interesting sight can be visited south of Sanur in Jalan Danau Poso Street beside Pura Blanjong, a small Hindu temple. A stone column, Belanjong pillar measuring 1.77 metres can be seen under a roof at the end of a small and short blind alley. This is the oldest human-made object in Bali. The column bears inscriptions dating from the 9th century written in Sanskrit and a very old form of Balinese.[7] Various objects made of stone possibly dating from the same period are exhibited as well.
Education
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The Sanur Independence School is located also in Sanur.
Rumah Kecil is a playgroup for children between 1–6 years old.[9]
Transportation
Sanur does have a comprehensive public transportation system - it is part of the extensive route offered by government-owned Trans Metro Dewata. However, despite serving as a form of public transport, it only covers a tiny percentage of the area and the locals mostly relies on motorbike for their own transportation.
Many tourists opt to hire private drivers or join organized tours to explore Sanur and other parts of Bali. This option offers convenience and allows them to customize their itineraries according to their interests.
^Adrian Vickers: Bali. A Paradise Created, Periplus 1989, p. 252, ISBN0-945971-28-1. Vickers lists the hotels as the Sindhu Beach Hotel at Sanur, the Kuta Beach Hotel at Kuta, and the Bali Hotel in Denpasar, all state owned hotels run by the government national tourist agency.
Indonesia
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