The large banyan tree, which is about 700 years old and has strong, thick roots all around it, is regarded by the locals as a powerful defender of the land. The mythology has endured variations: the enormous tree is home to spirits, and these spirits guard the locals. The convoluted root system of the tree would spook out adventure seekers. To investigate the tree and its troubled roots, you must put out a fair lot of effort.
The Balinese people still hold the belief that the reason the Dutch did not capture the locals during the occupation was that they were sheltering inside this large banyan tree, where the spirits made everyone in the area invisible, causing the Dutch to flee in desperation. There is a proverb that states that if you make a wish before a tree, it will come true, which is another reason why the tree attracts crowds.
