Bajra Sandhi Monument (Monumen Bajra Sandhi)

There is a small fee to enter the Bajra Sandhi Monument and a more substantial charge to captures selfies in the I AM (Interactive Art Museum) Bali 3D Museum. Of course it’s free to admire the monument from the park that surrounds it, or indeed from the street. You don’t need to join a tour to visit here, but, as Denpasar is off the mainstream tourist trail and traffic can be hectic, many visit as part of a dedicated Denpasar tour or with a private driver/guide.

• History buffs will appreciate this modern monument with its tales from Balinese history.

• The structure of the Bajra Sandhi Monument mimics a bajra, the ceremonial bell used by Hindu priests.

• Due to the steps, the Bajra Sandhi Monument is not wheelchair-accessible.

The Bajra Sandhi Monument stands in Lapangan Puputan Margarana, a popular park on the border of Denpasar and the suburb of Renon. It’s about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Ngurah Rai International Airport, and the only practical ways for foreigners to get here are driving, with a private driver, or on a tour.

The Bajra Sandhi Monument is open from morning to early evening seven days a week, with the 3D museum open a little later. Both the park and the monument can get busy on weekends, so it’s better to visit during the work week (Monday to Friday) and avoid Indonesian public holidays.

The Balinese love of art and sculpture really comes through in the island’s vast selection of monuments. Bali’s signature monument is the 397-foot-tall (121-meter-tall) Garuda Wisnu Kencana, one of the tallest statues in the world, while other highlights include the grand Titi Banda statue, inspired by the Ramayana, and the monument on Puputan Square.