To the modern traveler, Nusa Dua is synonymous with luxury. It is a world of manicured gardens, 5-star resorts, and pristine calmness. But long before the hotels were built, this land was defined by a legend.

Have you ever wondered about the name? Nusa means “Island.” Dua means “Two.”

But if you look at a map, you are clearly on the main island of Bali. So, where are the “Two Islands”? And why are they so significant?

The answer lies in the two small headlands that guard the coastline—and the tragic tale of forbidden love that created them.

Local Insight: The Geography

The Southern Island: Pulau Peninsula (Nusa Gede). This is the larger one, home to the Water Blow and the grassy field. The Northern Island: Pulau Nusa Dharma. This is the smaller, quieter one, home to the Pura Nusa Dharma temple. The Legend: They represent two lovers, forever separated by fate.

The Tale of the Exiled Lovers

Local folklore whispers of a time when the area was wild and uninhabited. A young soldier (Ksatria) fell deeply in love with a beautiful girl. However, their love was forbidden—some say by their families, others say by the king.

Desperate to be together but unable to marry, they were exiled from their village. They fled to the desolate coast of what is now Nusa Dua.

Tragically, fate (or perhaps a curse) would not allow them to be together even in exile. They were transformed into the two separate rock formations we see today.

• The Soldier became the larger, rugged island (Peninsula Island), standing strong and guarding the ocean.
• The Maiden became the smaller, serene island (Nusa Dharma), sitting quietly nearby.

They are destined to stand side-by-side for eternity, separated by a strip of white sand, forever looking at one another but never able to touch.

The Two Energies: War and Peace

If you visit the two islands today, you can almost feel the different energies of the lovers.

1. Peninsula Island (The Soldier) This headland feels active, powerful, and masculine. It is home to the Water Blow, where the ocean crashes violently against the rocks, symbolizing the soldier’s strength and perhaps his turbulent emotions. It is a place of energy, festivals, and statues.
2. Nusa Dharma (The Maiden) Just a short walk away, the smaller island feels completely different. It is quiet, contemplative, and feminine. It is home to Pura Nusa Dharma, a temple associated with peace and spiritual study. Locals often come here for meditation. It is a sanctuary of silence.

How to Walk the Legend

You can experience this legend yourself with a simple morning walk from Merusaka.

1. Start at the Beach: Walk north along the beach path.
2. Visit the “Maiden” (Nusa Dharma): Take the quiet path around the smaller island first. Feel the stillness. Notice the squirrels and the temple shrines.
3. Visit the “Soldier” (Peninsula Island): Cross the sandy divide and walk the loop around the larger island. Stand at the Water Blow and feel the spray of the ocean.
4. The View: Stand on the edge of Peninsula Island and look back at Nusa Dharma. You will see how close they are, yet distinctly separate.

A Land of Dualities

The legend of Nusa Dua is a reminder of the Balinese concept of Rwa Bhineda—the balance of opposites. Male and Female. Action and Stillness. Rough ocean and calm temple.

The next time you look out from your balcony at Merusaka, remember that you are looking at more than just scenery. You are looking at a monument to eternal love.

Discover More Hidden Stories in Our Cultural Guide

If you scroll through any Instagram feed about Bali, you will see it. A perfectly symmetrical, soaring gateway that looks like a mountain sliced cleanly in half, framing a volcano or the ocean. This is the Candi Bentar (Split Gate).

From the famous “Gates of Heaven” at Lempuyang to the grand entrances of Nusa Dua, these gates are icons of the island. But why are they split? And why is there no roof connecting them?

The answer lies in an ancient myth about the creation of Bali itself—a story of gods, mountains, and the balance of the universe.

Cultural Insight: Candi Bentar

The Name: Candi (Temple/Shrine) + Bentar (Split/Broken). The Shape: Resembles a sacred mountain cut perfectly in two. The Function: It is the “outer gate,” marking the transition from the chaotic outside world into a holy sanctuary. The Lesson: You must leave your negativity and worldly ego outside before you enter.

The Mythology: Lord Shiva and Mount Meru

According to ancient Balinese manuscripts, the island of Bali was originally unstable and floated in the ocean. To fix it, the gods decided to move the summit of Mount Meru (the sacred mountain of the universe in Hindu cosmology) from India to Bali to act as an anchor.

During the journey, Lord Shiva, the Destroyer and Transformer, saw that the massive mountain was too heavy to carry as one piece. With a strike of cosmic power, he split the mountain into two perfect halves.

• One half became Mount Agung (the masculine/father mountain).
• The other half became Mount Batur (the feminine/mother mountain).

The Candi Bentar represents this mythological event. When you walk through the gate, you are literally walking through the sacred mountain of the gods, entering a space of balance between the masculine and feminine, the earthly and the divine.

Why No Roof? The Connection to Heaven

Unlike Western gateways or arches which are closed at the top, the Candi Bentar is always open to the sky. This is not just an aesthetic choice; it is deeply philosophical.

The split sides represent the material world—the physical reality we live in. But the open space in the center represents the void, or the direct channel to the heavens (Swah Loka). By leaving the gate open at the top, the Balinese ensure that the connection between the temple ground and the gods above is never broken or obstructed.

Rwa Bhineda: Finding Balance

Just like the Saput Poleng (checkered cloth), the Split Gate is another physical representation of Rwa Bhineda (balance).

The two halves of the gate are identical, mirror images of each other. They symbolize the opposing forces of the universe: Good and Evil, Joy and Sorrow, Male and Female. Neither side is higher or larger than the other. They stand in perfect equity.

The lesson for the visitor is simple: To pass through the gate safely and enter the holy ground, you must find your own inner balance. You must walk the “middle path,” centered between these opposing forces.

Capturing the Moment

The next time you pose for a photo at a Candi Bentar—whether it’s at a famous temple or right here at the entrance to our Nusa Dua sanctuary—remember the story.

You aren’t just standing in a doorway. You are standing in the center of a split mountain, grounded by the earth, open to the sky, and perfectly balanced in the middle of the universe.

Discover More Myth & Magic in Our Cultural Guide

As you stroll through the lush gardens of Merusaka or explore the streets of Bali, you will spot it everywhere. It’s wrapped around majestic Banyan trees, draped over stone guardian statues, and even covering shrines. It is the iconic black-and-white checkered cloth known as Saput Poleng.

To the untrained eye, it might look like a decoration or a chessboard pattern. But in Bali, nothing is ever just “decoration.” This simple cloth is a profound visual manifesto of the island’s core philosophy: the concept of Rwa Bhineda.

Here is the beautiful story behind why Bali’s trees wear sarongs, and what it teaches us about balance.

Cultural Insight: Saput Poleng

The Name: Saput (Blanket/Cloth) + Poleng (Two-colored/Checkered). The Colors: White represents Good/Positive. Black represents Bad/Negative. The Philosophy: Rwa Bhineda (The balance of opposites). Where to See It: On large trees, statues, and shrines throughout the resort and the island.

It’s Not About Good vs. Evil; It’s About Balance

In many cultures, the goal is to defeat evil and let good triumph. Balinese Hinduism takes a different, more pragmatic view.

The philosophy of Rwa Bhineda (literally “two differences”) teaches that the universe is made up of opposing forces that cannot be separated.

• Day and Night.
• Joy and Sorrow.
• Life and Death.
• Dharma (Order/Light) and Adharma (Chaos/Dark).

The Saput Poleng represents this duality. The white squares symbolize the light/positive, and the black squares symbolize the dark/negative. By wrapping an object in this cloth, the Balinese are not trying to banish the dark; they are acknowledging that both must exist side-by-side.

The goal of life in Bali is not perfection, but Harmony. The cloth is a constant reminder that we must respect and balance both the light and the dark energies in the world.

Why Trees and Statues?

You won’t see every tree wearing a Saput Poleng. It is reserved for specific places that are considered energetically powerful.

1. The Guardians When you see the cloth on a statue at a gate (like the ones guarding the entrance to Merusaka), it signifies that the statue is an active guardian. The cloth “activates” the spirit within, asking it to protect the space by balancing any energy that enters—filtering out the bad and letting in the good.
2. The Spirit Trees Large, ancient trees—especially Banyan trees—are believed to be dwelling places for spirits, both mischievous and benevolent. By wrapping the tree in Saput Poleng, the community is marking it as a sacred spot. It is a sign of respect, saying, “We acknowledge the spirit here, and we honor the balance of nature.”

• Visitor Etiquette: If you see a tree or statue wrapped in this cloth, treat it with the same respect you would a temple. It is considered a holy site.

The Grey Area (Literally)

Sometimes, if you look closely, you might see a variation called Poleng Sudamala, which includes Grey or even Red squares mixed in.

• Grey: Represents the transition between black and white, reminding us that life is rarely clear-cut.
• Red: Represents Brahma (the creator) and energy.

But the classic Black and White remains the most powerful symbol of the island’s stability.

Finding Harmony at Merusaka

The next time you walk through the grounds of Merusaka and see a frangipani tree or a stone guardian wrapped in checkered cloth, take a moment to pause.

It is more than just fabric. It is a silent teacher. It reminds us that a perfect holiday—and a perfect life—isn’t about ignoring the shadows, but about finding a beautiful balance between relaxation and adventure, stillness and energy, day and night.

Discover More About Our Island’s Unique Heritage