If you've landed at Bali airport in the last couple of years and headed north, you might have seen this unusual building just a few kilometres away on the bypass.
The wooden front makes this building stand out
Krisna Oleh-Oleh is a chain of souvenir stores in Indonesia, and this one located on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai is currently the largest of them all. It's an impressive building, both outside and inside. But is it worth a visit if you want to buy souvenirs in Bali?
There are both traditional and modern Balinese statues throughout the store
Inside, traditional Balinese arts meet more modern architecture and the result is quite impressive when you first walk in. The centrepiece of three huge wooden chandeliers hangs alongside the escalator tower that takes you up and down the three floors.
But, let's be honest, the decor is not the main reason you'd come here. It is, after all, the largest souvenir shop in Bali.
Among the three floors, you'll find sarongs, paintings, snacks, homewares, jewellery, clothes, toiletries, and a whole lot more.
There is plenty of parking for cars and bikes, as well as clean toilets and a small coffee shop.
Krisna is certainly a one-stop shop for any souvenirs you want to pick up for yourself or your friends back home. And if you're living in Bali, you'll find plenty of things to decorate your home as well.
A lot of the products at Krisna Oleh-Oleh are the same things you'll find at the small shops that line the streets of Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Sanur, and beyond. So why come to a mega souvenir store like this when you could be supporting local businesses?
Well, there is certainly something to be said about shopping at smaller businesses and feeding into the local economy. However, you must be prepared to haggle with each vendor. Some people love this; I, personally, do not.
So, for me, the benefit of getting Bali souvenirs from a place like Krisna is the fixed prices - which are, by the way, very reasonable.
You'll find a vast range of traditional and beach sarongs
Beach sarongs range from 40k to 80k depending on quality, and you can also pick up more traditional Balinese and Indonesian-style batik sarongs in different materials.
These prices are about what you'd expect to pay after haggling in the smaller tourist shops.
I looked at some paintings and found some small ones for as little as 17k, while the very large ones are around 250-500k. These prices are very cheap, but of course, you don't get the charm of meeting the artist or being able to order a custom design yourself.
The floor plan gives a better idea of the range of items you can find at Krisna Oleh-Oleh Bali:
There's also a hidden gem on the fourth floor - a
rooftop pool with a bar and restaurant where you can enjoy beautiful views and good food.
All in all, Krisna Oleh-Oleh Bypass is worth a visit if you prefer to buy your souvenirs in one place and at a fixed price. As it's so close to the airport, you could use it as a last-minute stop to pick up any gifts you still need to buy before returning home (and it's certainly a lot cheaper than souvenir shops at the airport).
However, if you enjoy the experience of haggling for your purchases and you prefer to support the local economy, stick to the smaller shops in touristy areas.
