'Garuda Wisnu Kencana' (GWK) Cultural Park is a ± 60 ha area of cultural park located in 'Ungasan', 'Badung' Regency or about 10-15 minutes driving from Bali’s 'Ngurah Rai' International Airport. With a future plan of ±120-meter tall and 64-meter width statue of 'Garuda Wisnu' as its main attraction. 'GWK' Cultural Park boasts one of the largest artistic masterpiece and most astonishing works of arts ever created in Indonesia’s art history, which reflects the strong values of one of Indonesia’s inherited local cultures.
It was 'Garuda Wisnu Kencana' Foundation who initiated the idea of the project back in 1992 with the vision of becoming the landmark of Bali’s world known tourist destination.
One of the founders of 'GWK' Foundation, Mr. I Nyoman Nuarta, who is also the conceptor behind the iconic masterpiece, began to realize his big idea by developing the existing limestone hill through a combined land art approach with a modern Architectural Landscape, alongside a strong idealism to continuously align the harmony between human, environment and God the Almighty.
As a 21st century alternative of an artificial tourism infrastructure, 'GWK' Cultural Park is currently developing into a cultural park that covers cultural exhibitions, events and amusement attractions as well as becoming the information and communication forum for local, national, regional and even international cultures.
Finding the perfect location for such a mega-structure project was not an easy task. It took another two years following the initiation of the project’s concept before finding the perfect spot. It was an abandoned limestone mine at a barren hill in the village called 'Ungasan'.
Despite the fact that the area was so wasted and desolated, the founders believe that this area carries a lot of potential that it inspired 'GWK' Foundation to commenced rehabilitate it.
To design and realize the enormous sculpture, 'GWK' Foundation appointed I Nyoman Nuarta as one of Indonesia’s finest modern sculptors to be the lead sculptor in this mega-structure project. After the initial groundbreaking on 8 June 1997, the cultural park began its public exposure in 2000 by exposing and exhibiting some parts of the 'Garuda Wisnu' statue and running several trials for some of the supporting facilities.
To date, ever since GWK Cultural Park’s ownership and management has been taken over in 2013 by one of Indonesia’s most reputable property developers, PT Alam Sutera Realty Indonesia, GWK Cultural Park is now offering a number of facilities ideal for various types of events, private or public, small or big, local or international. Various supporting infrastructures such as the the 'Wisnu' Plaza, Street Theatre, Lotus Pond, Amphitheatre, Street Theatre, 'Indraloka' Garden, 'Tirta Agung', the 'GWK' signature restaurants such as 'Jendela' Bali and The Beranda, as well as a number of Boutique and Souvenir shops – all are set to be geared up.
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