Introduced in the 6th century, by Hindu traders from India, the religion spread rapidly across this huge archipelago of over 17,000 islands, peaking in the 14th century with the Majapahit Empire. The rise of Islam from the 14th century slowly but surely eclipsed the Hindu kingdoms, and Hinduism itself, and ultimately forced what was left of the Hindu elite to take refuge, consolidating in Bali around the end of the 15th century.
Their descendants have succeeded in protecting their heritage, and it’s this strong culture.

Tourism in Bali
Simply stated, tourism is the life-blood of Bali. Its unique culture, special ambience and physical features have drawn visitors to the island since the 1960s. The Balinese are generally very tolerant of tourists and their mores and almost always manage to maintain their smiles and composure. It’s their strong culture and tight village lifestyle that provides this foundation.
It’s not just the money that tourism brings to the island that the Balinese ...