Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park – Mandala Garuda Wisnu Kencana, or Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) – is a cultural park covering approximation 60 ha area located in Ungasan, Bali. It is devoted to the Hindu God Vishnu, and his mount, Garuda, the mythical bird who became his companion.

Currently, the statue of Vishnu is 23 metres (75.5 ft) high, although the original plan was for a 120-metre (390 ft) gold-plated Vishnu riding Garuda on top of an 11-storey entertainment complex. Garuda wing span will be 64 metres (210.0 ft) across.

 

The idea was not without controversy, and religious authorities on the island complained that its massive size might disrupt the spiritual balance of the island and that its commercial nature was inappropriate, but some groups agree with the project because it will make new tourist attraction over barren land.

Despite the sell… there was little of interest here. I found the car park more interesting than the statues and fails to explain what the strange rectangular mounts function were. The statues are interesting and massive, however, offer very little in terms of actual culture, unlike other UNESCO sites found on the island of Bali.