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During my first visit to the beautiful island of Bali, I made it a point to visit the holy giant tree with a hole in its body – a natural landmark in Jembrana – west of Bali.
Meaning of BUNUT BULONG
It is popularly known as Bunut Bulong, which means “A tree with a hole”. The word Bunut is a certain type of tree that has very similar characteristics to a banyan tree, and the word “Bolong” means a hole. Bunut is a rare tree that grows only in certain areas. Its roots hang from the tree to touch the ground and become a new trunk with indentations – which creates curves that are so beautiful and charming to the eye.
A SACRED TREE
According to locals, Bunut Bolong is centuries old and holds a strong aura and magical powers. Bunut Bulong tree is sanctified by the local community, they consider Bunut Bulong as a sacred tree that will protect them against all negative things that will enter their village. Beside the tree is an altar/shrine where locals do their offerings and prayers.
Tourist can visit Bunut Bulong tree for free, but please be mindful and respectful when in the area.
MYTH of BUNUT BULONG
Based on the stories from the locals, in 1928 the village here contracted a deadly disease. The village elders prayed and meditated on this Bunut Bulong tree to ask for directions. Their prayers were answered, and they finally got spiritual instructions to move their residence from north to south of the Bunut Bulong tree. and miraculously the deadly disease in the village subsided.
Bunut Bolong is truly a work of nature that is rarely found. The tree formed a hole on its own, precisely where the road leads to the entrance of the village. Its as if the tree knows where exactly to place itself so that the local people has a passageway. From afar, the tree looks like a human foot with space in between (the hole). Even a large vehicle can fit in the hole under it.
My BUNUT BULONG EXPERIENCE
The hole looks like just a tiny space. Our tour guide said that the tree’s hole can miraculously change its size based on what passes through it.
While we were there, my friend and I were both holding our breath when a medium-sized truck was about to pass the hole of the tree. The truck looks like it is way bigger than the hole and won’t fit in, but it passes through the hole of the tree effortlessly as if the hole was flexing its size to fit in all that passes through it. Seeing those things happening under this tree is truly a magical and one-of-a-kind experience. It feels like you can only experience something as enchanting as this in fairy tale movies.
During our visit to Bunut Bulong tree, we didn’t see any tourists aside from us, probably because Bunut Bulong is far from the other tourist spots in Bali.
BUNUT BULONG LOCATION
Bunut Bulong is in the village of Manggisari, Jembrana district – which is the western part of Bali. It’s a 3 to 4 hours drive from Denpasar or Kuta.
But for us, it was only 2 hours drive since we came from Bali Bistro Tower – another “must” visit place when in Bali (but that’s for another blog!)
What NOT to do when in BUNUT BULONG
Our tourist guide also mentioned the “taboos” when in Bunut Bulong. He said besides the mystical tales believed by locals, the Bunut Bulong tree is also thought to have certain rules that shouldn’t be broken, as doing so could lead to undesirable results. One of them is that the couples who are about to get married should not passed by this tree as they believed that their marriage will be put off if they go through this Bunut Bulong tree. It is also believed that the hearse or funeral cars and ceremonial processions must go through the alternate path and not under this Bunut Bulong tree.
On one side of the Bunut Bulong tree is a small road that is considered the alternate route.
