Nyepi, the Hindu New Year, will be celebrated in Bali on 26 March with the traditional “day of silence”. For 24 hours, from sunset on 25 March until sunset on 26 March, residents of the island are required to stay inside, make as little noise as possible and avoid all light. Balinese Hindus believe that by drawing as little attention to themselves and making it appear as if the island is empty, the evil spirits will pass by without noticing them… an auspicious start to a New Year!
The day before Nyepi is usually an exciting time in Bali, with Ogoh-ogoh parades through Denpasar and around the villages of the island. The huge effigies of monsters and other fantastic creatures are painstakingly constructed by young men in the banjars, sometimes taking weeks and large amounts of money to create. The figures are then paraded through the streets, stopping to dance and circle at every crossroads, in an attempt to ward off demons and evil spirits in preparation for the cleansing of Nyepi.
Unfortunately, this year the big Ogoh-ogoh parades have been cancelled in Bali, but the Hindu communities in Lombok are busily building and creating these huge papier-mâché figures for our annual Ogoh-ogoh parade through the centre of the city on Nyepi eve, 25 March. If you are in Lombok at this time, join the crowd in Mataram to witness the awesome spectacle of hundreds of giant monsters and other weird and wonderful creations parading through the city!
While Lombok has a large Balinese Hindu community and Nyepi is an important local event, unlike in Bali, the island does not come to a halt for Nyepi. In Bali, the airport is closed, traffic stops for the day, most businesses are closed and all is quiet for 24 hours. To show respect for local customs, visitors are also required to stay within their hotel and avoid light and noise, which means many people look for a getaway during this time and Lombok, Bali’s close neighbour, is bound to be a favourite choice.
Many Lombok hotels are offering special deals and Nyepi packages, so now is the time to plan your “Nyepi Escape” to the magical island of Lombok. Bounty Cruises are also offering a special package to Lombok and will spend Nyepi cruising the waters around Lombok. Included in the package is accommodation at top resorts and a day cruise to Gili Ringgit, an idyllic island off Lombok’s southwest coast.
The choice of where to stay while in Lombok is huge, depending on personal tastes and budgets. Whether you prefer a laid back holiday in a luxury resort, or an adventurous trip with diving and water sports, or a cultural experience with quaint villages and natural scenery, Lombok can offer all this and more! Below is a brief summary of the main areas to stay in Lombok, with some recommendations for hotels, to make the choice easier:
Senggigi is the main tourism resort, on the west coast of Lombok and only 20 minutes from Selaparang Airport in Mataram. A small resort town with a large selection of accommodation ranging from 5-star to budget, Senggigi is a perfect base for exploring the island. There are a number of very good restaurants and bars, shops and other tourism facilities, spread out along the main road. Senggigi Beach is a sweeping bay, lined with resorts and restaurants, with good swimming and magical sunsets across the ocean to Bali on the horizon. For top accommodation, try the Sheraton Senggigi Resort, located right on the beach. Less expensive, but still lovely, are both the Senggigi Beach Hotel and Santosa Villas and Resort, also located beachfront. For comfortable budget accommodation with loads of style, try the beach bungalows at The Beach Club.
Mangsit is only five minutes drive north of Senggigi and boasts some of the best beaches and resorts in the area. For upmarket accommodation, try the stylish Qunci Villas and the newly completed Qunci Pool Villas. Puri Mas Boutique Resorts and Spa, with its charming traditional antique furnishings is another good choice. The Holiday Resort is a large resort, located on its own beach with beautiful gardens and pool. For budget accommodation, Windy Beach Resort is a peaceful escape with a white sand beach and relaxed atmosphere.
Kuta, South Lombok is only around 45 minutes drive south of the airport and has some of the most stunning beaches on the island. Famous for surfing and awesome scenery, the beaches are white sand and largely deserted. Kuta itself is a small, laid back town with simple restaurants and lots of budget accommodation catering to the surfing crowd who flock to the area. The Novotel Lombok is a stunning resort on the pristine beach at Mandalika, with wonderful architecture and first class facilities. For simpler and cheaper style, try Ken’s Hotel in town with clean rooms and a pool.
The Gili Islands need no introduction, being a favourite with Europeans and the expat community in Bali and Java. These three idyllic islands each have their own style to suit the personal tastes of all travellers. Gili Air, closest to the mainland, has great diving and snorkelling, good restaurants and a variety of accommodation catering to all budgets. Try the Gili Air Hotel on the north of the island, with a range of rooms and a beachfront pool.
Gili Meno, the central island, is the quietest of the three Gilis and perfect for a Robinson-Crusoe style escape. Small restaurants, fresh seafood, good diving and snorkelling and tranquil clean beaches make this a good choice for families and couples. Villa Nautilus has some very nice upmarket rooms facing a lovely beach.
Gili Trawangan is the most popular of the three islands, and for good reason! The range of accommodation is amazing – from simple budget bungalows to stylish villas, all tastes are served here. The restaurants line the beachfront, again ranging from simple warungs to quality international restaurants, as well as exotic offerings such as Ryoshi Japanese, Pesona authentic Indian restaurant and Sheesha lounge, and Tir Na Nog Irish Bar. For top accommodation, Hotel Vila Ombak is the island’s largest resort, with a range of comfortable rooms and villas, swimming pool, spa and good restaurant. The Beach House is always popular, with a good selection of mid-range rooms and more upmarket villas with private swimming pools. Cheaper but charming accommodation is available in funky chalets at Manta Dive and Good Heart Bungalows.
