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Place of interest: Klungkung
Japanese invasion moved it court from Samprangan in Gianyar to
Gelgel in fifteen hundreds then moved a bit north to Klungkung, the
present regency's capital due to internal revolt. Klungkung then
recognized as the highest authority in the next two centuries as the
royal family descendents set up rival courts. A final battle known
as 'Puputan Klungkung' in 1908 made the kingdom was the last ruler
in South Bali get invaded by the Dutch.
Gelgel
The former capital of Gelgel Kingdom since AD 1515 until 1710 before
it moved to more strategic in Klungkung. Pura Dasar, the royal state
temple with a few ruined gateways, is the only evident site of the
noblest of all the Balinese kingdoms. Gelgel now days is known for
its pottery and beautiful handwoven ceremonial cloth of 'songket'.
Kamasan
Formerly a village of artisan who produced the crowns, body
ornaments, and jewelry for the royal family, Kamasan later became
known as a center for 'wayang'- puppet style painting. The form of
Kamasan style painting considered the oldest painting form that was
executed in 14 centuries
The village itself lies four kilometers south of Semarapura town and
inhibited by at least 140 painters.
Kusamba
It was an important and busiest port one time in the mid 1800s for
agriculture products and slaves trading. A specialist clan of
blacksmiths skilled at weapons-making were centralized here once.
Kusamba was also the site of a fight between the Dutch and The
Virgin Queen Istri Kanya in 1849. Nowdays, Kusamba is a relatively
big fishermen village in the east of Klungkung and also known as
sea-salt panning place.
Tihingan
A village located two kilometers east of Semarapura, the capital
regency of Klungkung, known as the center of 'gong kebyar' making,
the complete Balinese music instruments. There are a significant
number of gong makers in this village, employing 100 people. Village
communities in Bali are still the common buyers of the whole
complete instruments and only few of them sold abroad. However,
buying one single instrument by tourists are common. Seeing and
observing the making process of the instruments will be interesting.
toya pakeh.
Goa Lawah
The bat cave temple is believed to be founded in 1007 by the holy
man Empu Kuturan. It plays an important role for religious rites
associated with cremation. Thousand of long-nosed bats hanging on
the ceiling of the holy cave that begins at the foot of a rocky
cliff and is said to extend all the way to the base of Gunung Agung.
The holy python is often seen sitting on one of the temple shrine.
Traditional salt making process can be seen on the beach across of
the temple.
Kertha Gosa
Based on the carving found on the main door of the complex, the two
pavilions in Kertagosa were built in 1622 according to Gregorian
calendar. It was originally use as meeting place of the Balinese
kings until it changed the function into traditional religious court
in 1908 due to Dutch occupation. Kamasan style painting on the
ceiling of the pavilion always amazed visitors especially who
interested in the philosophy of universal truth as it is described
by the painting.
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