To The Skies!

Garuda Wisnu Kencana

Rising from the rugged hills of Bali’s Bukit Peninsula, the magnificent Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue stands watch over the island.  The towering statue is Bali’s most iconic landmark and depicts the Hindu God Wisnu, atop his mount, the mythical eagle, Garuda. The Garuda is the national emblem of Indonesia, an enduring symbol of freedom from oppression. Soaring to a height of over 120 meters, this is one of the tallest monumental statues in the world, higher than both the Statue of Liberty and Christ the Redeemer.

GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) is a government built and run tourist site located at Ungasan, Badung in the island of Bali, Indonesia about 10–15 minutes driving from Ngurah Rai International Airport. It is devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, and his mount, Garuda, the mythical bird who became his companion. Planned to be established as a landmark or mascot of Bali, construction of the 120-metre statue of Vishnu riding his mount Garuda was completed in August 2018. The park has a land area of about 60 hectares and is located at an altitude 263 metres above sea level^.

The 75-m tall, 65-m wide statue was designed by Nyoman Nuarta. It sits atop a pedestal to bring the total height of the monument to 121 m (397 ft), which is nearly 30 m (98 ft) taller than the Statue of Liberty in the United States. The completed monument is about as tall as a 21-storey building. It weighs 4000 tonnes, making it the heaviest statue in the country. The statue is made of copper and brass sheeting, with a stainless steel frame and skeleton, as well as a steel and concrete core column. The outer covering measures 22000 m² in area. The crown of Wisnu is covered with golden mosaics and the statue has a dedicated lighting arrangement. The monument was completed on 31 July 2018 and inaugurated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo on 22 September, 2018^.





Here are some facts about Garuda Wisnu Kencana
1. World’s third tallest

Garuda Wisnu Kencana stands 121 meters tall with a wingspan measuring 65 meters, making it taller than the Statue of Liberty by up to 30 meters. It is considered to be the third tallest structure in the world after the Spring Temple Buddha and Myanmar’s Laykyun Sekkya Buddha. Domestically however, it remains the tallest structure in all of Indonesia.

2. Collaboration of 120 artists

While the master architect of the GWK statue is credited to I Nyoman Nuarta, the overall project is the collaboration of up to 120 artists.

3. 3,000 tons of copper and bronze pieces

The statue itself is made of 3,000 tons of copper and bronze slabs to reach its current height. It is also the heaviest statue in Indonesia.

 4. 28 years in the making

The total construction project of the GWK, from concept to finish, took a whopping 28 years. It was designed initially in 1990 by I Nyoman Nuarta. The actual construction of the monument began in 1997.

5. Earthquake-proof

The statue is a design masterpiece that combines the elements of art, technology and science to make it withstand the powerful tropical storms in Bali as well as earthquakes. 

The Garuda Wisnu Kencana is a must-visit whenever you get a chance to come to Bali. Only seeing it in person will you appreciate its grand design and colossal size.