Voyage Vistas

Exploring Bali often conjures images of luxury hotels, waterfalls, trendy cafes, and verdant rice fields. Yet, just north of Sanur, in southern Bali, lies an unexpected sight: an abandoned theme park overtaken by the jungle. Taman Festival, closed for over 20 years, now stands as an eerie site with derelict buildings adorned with street art. Nature is reclaiming the park, while graffiti artists have left their marks. The park remains relatively undiscovered by tourists and is considered cursed by locals. During our visit, we encountered only a few people. The History of Taman Festival Bali Taman Festival opened in 1997, featuring Bali’s largest swimming pool, a 3D theatre, and a laser show with a budget exceeding 5 million dollars. The total construction cost reached around 100 million dollars. However, the park soon faced challenges. On March 13th, a lightning strike hit the laser show, leading locals to believe the park was cursed. Combined with Indonesia’s economic crisis, visito