Klungkung Royal Palace

Klungkung Royal Palace

Klungkung Royal Palace in Indonesia is an ancient royal palace located in the heart of Klungkung on the main road. The Royal Palace is equidistant from Denpasar and Padangbai in Bali.

The Dewa Agung dynasty commissioned the construction of the Klungkung Palace, when the court was moved to Klungkung at the end of the 17th century, 1710 to be precise. Semara Pura is the existing palace, which contains a large square with spacious courtyards, lush manicured gardens, pavilions and moats. There are stone walls with water lilies in the moat surround the very beautiful Taman Gili complex.

What the tourists see today is actually a reconstruction, as the original Klungkung Royal Palace was destroyed by the Dutch during attacks in 1908. The final event that marked the end of Klungkung’s glory is a rather sad one and sends shivers down the spine of those who remember it.

In the early 20th century, the Dutch unleashed their reign of terror on Bali and started occupying it in the early 20th century, forcing each kingdom, to submit to their rule. The Dewa Agung of Klungkung refused to yield to the Dutch, thus inciting them to set themselves up, outside the Royal Palace to attack.

Thus came the black day in the history of Klungkung when the Dewa Agung and 200 of his courtiers marched down the street and committed a ‘puputan‘ (ritual group suicide) stabbing each other with ceremonial kris, rather than submit to the foreign power. Some of the royal family who were left were exiled in Lombok.

The quickest and comfortable way to get to Bali is by air and there are flights connect to Bali from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok as well as all the major cities in Indonesia. Ngurah Rai International Airport (Indonesian: Bandar Udara Internasional Ngurah Rai) (IATA: DPS, ICAO: WADD), also known as Denpasar International Airport or I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. It is located 13 km south of Denpasar.