The Gala-Gala underground house

In 1961 a man in Lembongan village started digging into the ground beneath his home. He kept going, with a hammer and chisel, for about fifteen years. The result is Gala-Gala, a warren of rooms and tunnels cut into the island's limestone, and one of Lembongan's most unusual sights.

The story

The digger was Made Byasa, also known as Mangku Byasa: a farmer, a dancer and a puppet master. Accounts say he was inspired by a story from the Mahabharata, the Hindu epic that Balinese puppet plays often tell. He worked by hand from 1961 to 1976, carving out a home large enough to live in. Accounts of his later life differ, so we won't guess at the details.

What you'll see

Narrow steps lead down into a network of passages and small rooms, cool and dim after the sun outside. There's a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, living and dining areas, and a small room for meditation, joined by low tunnels, with several openings to the surface for light and air. The whole thing covers roughly 500 square metres. The chisel marks are still visible on the walls.

Visiting

A visit takes 20 to 30 minutes. There's a small entry fee, paid in cash at the entrance: published prices range from about Rp20,000 to Rp50,000, so check on the day. It's usually open from morning until late afternoon. Someone on site will often show you round and tell the story; a small tip is a kind way to say thank you.

Gala-Gala sits in Lembongan village, in the south of the island, a short ride from the Yellow Bridge, down a small signposted lane. It fits neatly into a day with the bridge, Ceningan and the mangroves.

Who it suits

Children usually love it, as long as they're happy in tight spaces. The tunnels are low, so you'll stoop, and the steps are steep and can be slippery. It's not for anyone with limited mobility or who dislikes enclosed spaces. Lembongan with kids.