Inside the debate over the glass elevator Bali is building on the 'world's most beautiful beach'

The panoramic view from the top of the cliffs at Nusa Penida's Kelingking Beach is nothing short of iconic.

The steep, tree-covered cliffs, the vibrant blue waves that crash at the base, and a land mass that resembles the outline of a T-rex.

Thousands flock here daily to take in the beauty and snap social media photos, while a brave few take the steep hike down to the beach.

But a new addition to the view has locals and tourists in an uproar, deeply dividing many along Bali's tested fault line — development versus environmental conservation.

Rising from the beach is the towering construction of a 182-metre glass lift, with its supports buried into the cliff face.

Construction has been ongoing for more than 18 months, but this week Bali's provincial government took the extraordinary st