Regency
of Badung which is located between 08 degree South latitude
and 115 degree east longitude, shaped like a "kriss"
the regency which has only 418,52 square kilometers of land,
divided into 4 districts (kecamatan) 40 administrative villages
(Desa Dinas & Kelurahan) and as many as 117 traditional
villages (desa adat). Those villages are again sub-divided into
smaller community group known as "Dusun" as many as
297, and 498 "Banjar". Each Banjar in the regency
has a Youth Organization named "Seekaa Teruna Teruni"
(STT). Total population of Badung regency is approximately 280.000
people, with the average density of 672 people/sq. kilometers.
In compliance with the state objective; the harmony between
material and spiritual development justly and evenly, the Governmental
structure down to the rural villages play important role. The
lowest level of Government programs also encourage people's
consciousness to take part actively in all development fields,
no matter boys or girls. As the regency is headed by Regent
(Bupati), Pak Camat, Desa, heads the District and Dusun are
headed by Perbekel (Lurah) and Klian Banjar/ Kepala Dusun.
In this five years term development Badung is divided into 3
Development Territories.
1. North-Badung: Includes Districts of Petang and Abiansemal
centered in Blahkiuh. The nomination here in board term, and
ground conservation.
2. Central-Badung: cover the whole Mengwi district with food
crops Agriculture, and home industry priority.
3. South Badung: Tourism industry, education and commercial
are the priority in this area which embrace: Kuta, Nusa Dua,
Tanjung Benoa, Bukit, Jimbaran and Kedonganan.
Agriculture and industries (especially home industry and small-scale
industries) supporting tourism sector are hoped to be intensively
expanded. Extension in tourism sector is up on cultural-base
rooted to Hindu religion. Tourism sector become the main sector
to strengthen foreign exchange, devise, employment, equity of
earnings and private business, which finally increase the community
welfare.
History
Nambangan was said to be the name of the regency before Badung
was forged by Gusti Ngurah Made Pemecutan in the late 18th century.
He who aided by magical kriss and whip conquered Mengwi, and
Jembrana until 1810. He was succeeded by two other "Rajas"
of whom the demise seems to have been engineered by the successor,
presumably brother, Raja Kesiman, who ruled trough crucial years
of 1829 to 1863. He showed him self to be predisposed to the
world beyond Bali and giving cause for hope to the Dutch. The
Dutch were allowed to set up recruiting station at Kuta in 1826,
return for handsome bounty paid to the response. A Danish trader,
Mads Johannes Lange, who came to Bali when he was 18 took mediator
role, where the raja then got attractive cut, since than Mads
Lange who was born in 1806 got good relation ship to most raja
in the island. In 1856, Lange was ill and tired, decided to
head back to Denmark but he died suddenly before his ship left
port. Kuta is also place where Captain Cornelius de Houtman
and his crews pitched up in 1557, when 20.000 Balinese troops
on the way to defend Blambangan from the encroaching Moslem
of Mataram kingdom. In 1904, a Chinese Ship "Sri Komala"
ran aground off Sanur under the Dutch flag.
The Dutch accused the local people to strip the wreck of its
contents and claimed the raja for all his lost and damages of
three thousand silver dollars and punish the culprits. The refusal
of raja of the accusation to pay compensation, causing them
to prepare the sixth Military expedition to Bali on September
20th 1906. Three battalions on infantry and two batteries of
artillery arrived off the coast of Badung. After the bombardment,
they marched toward Denpasar, and at the gate, they met no resistance.
They were greeted by the crowded all in white costume ready
to die at " Puputan" Commanded by the raja, his priests,
his generals and all his relatives, men and women, adorned themselves
with jewels and the dress of warrior, set out amidst the battle.
Abided by his religion, the ultimate goal of the warrior is
to die in battle; the soul may ascend to heaven. Surrender to
Tabanan, West of Badung in 1908, the raja of Klungkung also
held Puputan, giving the Dutch control the island.
In 1914 the army was replaced by a police force and the Dutch
reorganized the Government. Although the remaining princes were
deprived of political power, they maintained much of their influence
and importance as patron of the art. Bali's culture was safe
guarded and enjoyed a renaissance during the three decades of
Dutch control. The town of Denpasar which of 3 Kecamatan (districts)
used to be part of Badung Regency before it was assigned to
be municipality on February 227, 1992.
Temple-going
North, south, east and west of Denpasar, interesting temples
abound which are well worth a visit. Sea temples dot the coast,
such as the ancient Sakenan on Serangan Island, the breathtaking
Uluwatu temple on Bali's southernmost tip, and Jimbaran’s Ulun
Siwi temple, in front of which trance rituals often take place.
In Denpasar itself, have a look at the Maospahit temple, and
take a trip north of the city to Mengwi, which boasts the lovely
Taman Ayun gardens and the nearby Sada temple.
Beach-going
Kuta beach is not the only place to get wet in Bali’s southern
peninsula. There are many other sandy strips which are often
even more pleasant than Kuta, despite its fame. Sanur beach,
for example, is free of the break that buffets bathers at
Kuta and for that reason is favored by locals, especially
on Sundays. The trader-free Jimbaran Bay provides quick depth
and a view of the colorful Madureses fishing boats docked
at the end of the beach. The drive to Nusa Dua beach is a
scenic one, leading through the landscaped garden and past
the luxury hotels of this resort.
Denpasar
Giving the impression of a bustling overgrown village, Denpasar
is the largest city on the island, the center of commerce
and governmental administration. Belated town planning is
doing is best to control the urban sprawl of the bustling
little city, and the recent addition of traffic lights at
the busiest intersections as well as a great number of one-way
street signs are ironing out the main traffic problems. The
main street Jalan Gajah Mada is the commercial center of shops,
banks and restaurants, and backs onto the Pasar Badung market
place, a sprawling complex of stalls with every imaginable
commodity available from salted fish, spices and herbs, to
gold jewelers and fine woven cloth.
The Museum is well worth visiting in Denpasar. In representative
style of the palaces or the ancient kingdoms of Karangasem,
Tabanan, and Singaraja, the buildings house a fine collection
of item ranging from prehistoric times to the early 20th Century,
and a fine selection of modern wood carving and paintings.
Art Centre at Abian Kapas is a large new complex with a open
air stage arena, exhibition halls and restful gardens. Performances,
exhibitions and dances are regularly organized by the center,
and a program of events can be obtained.
Temples of Denpasar
One of the most beautiful temples of Denpasar is the Central
Pura Agung Jagatnatha, at the Northeast corner of Puputan
Square. This temple comes alive at the full moon ceremony,
worshippers from all over the city gathering to make their
offerings and devotions.
Patung Catur Muka
The statue that stands on the crossroads northeast of Mayor`s
Office in Denpasar has been there since 1973. It is called
Catur Muka (Four Faces0 because it has four heads facing out
to the four quarters of the compass. A team of craftsman led
by the locally renowned artist I Gusti Nyoman Lempad from
the village of Mas created the statue. The 9-10 meter high
statue is a representation of the God Brahma (God Brahma,
as the creator of the universe) with four faces and has its
origins in an episode of the Mahabharata.
Bajra Sandhi Monument
Bajra Sandhi Monument is a Balinese people strunggle monument,
that the building in the form of Genta/Bajra (the Hindu`s
priest bell). Located at south side of Puputan Margarana civic
center Niti Mandala, Renon and near from representative house
of Bali and Governor Office.
Taman Puputan Badung Square
The name Taman Puputan Badung is a dedication to the memory
of the war on 20th September 1906 in which the Balinese fought
bravely against the Ducth who invaded the land. That date
is always commerated every year, and a monument called Taman
Puputan Monument has been erected for the important event.
This monument stands at the northern part of the Puputan Square.
Many local people every afternoon for recreation and every
Sunday there activities particularly organized for children
visit this square.
The Temple of Mahospahit
The Temple of Mahospahit is an old temple, which is located
at the Dr. Sutomo Street, about 950 meters from The Catur
Muka Statue. The main market of Pasar Badung is close to this
site. Many visitors pay visits to this old temple because
it is also an archeologically site. There is a terracota statue
considered to be archeologically old, and taken as the artefact
of the Kingdom of Majapahit in East Java.
On the main street of Denpasar, its restful shade and gnarled
frangipani trees offerings a welcome contrast to the hubbub
of city traffic, is the market temple, Pura Melanting, where
busy vendors pause too make their offerings for a prosperous
day.
A little further out of town, in East Denpasar, is the Pura
Pengerebongan of Kesiman, where once every six months a massive
trance ceremony is held, with visiting Barong and Rangda masks
from over fifty local villages contributing to the conflagration
of magic powers in a reenactment of the age-old conflict between
good and evil which acts a purification and purging of evil
spirits.
The Palace of Satria
The palace of Satria, located about 300 meters toward the
north of the Taman Puputan Square at Veteran Street, is one
of the palace attractions of the city tour programs. The areas
in front of the Royal Temple is location of the "Bird
Market" the palace are unique, and there is an open hall
"Pendopo" which was formerly used for meeting of
the kings throughout Bali. It can be reached for ten minutes
walk from the city center.
Bali Museum
The oldest museum in Bali where collected Balinese archaeological
relics. Museum Negeri of Bali Province or Bali Museum is the
oldest museum in Bali and as a pioneer of the founding other
museums in Bali. Those are Museum Gedung Arca (the Bali, West
Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor historical
and archaeological conservation), Museum of Puri Lukisan Ratna
Warta, Le Mayeur Museum, Subak museum, Finger Print Museum
has just founded at Tanjung Bungkak area.
Based on its collections, there are different from others.
Its features are archaeology, fine arts, and irrigation. While
Bali Museum belongs to ethnography, whose collections include
cultural tools of everyday life, and tools of Balinese ceremonies
from last time until now. Balinese culture has a unique character
with the basis of historical, religious, and other aspect
development. Bali Museum located at a strategic location at
the central of Denpasar face to the Puputan Square. It is
visited by tourists as a part of city tour program, open to
public everyday, except Monday. The structure consists of
several cultural elements, namely original Bali, ancient Bali
with the merging of Buddha and Hindu into Balinese cultures
nowadays. The heritage of archaeological remains apparently
seen on the prehistoric, Ancient Balinese, and Mid Balinese
collections of Bali Museum.
Werdhi Budaya (Art Center)
The Werdhi Budaya Art Center was built in 1973 to the design
of the prominent Balinese architect, Ida Bagus Tugur, as a
showplace for Bali`s performing and fine arts. Strategically
situated on Jalan Nusa Indah, Abian Kapas, Denpasar, the art
center has three art galleries, including one permanent art
collection, and several outdoor stages and performance pavilions
including the huge open stage and arena, Ardha Chandra. Local
artist often utilizes seminar and exhibition halls and there
are groups and the dance, drama and music school, STSI. Since
1979 a tradition of a Festival of the Art has been instigated
as an annual fixture. This takes place each June - July, with
a comprehensive programmed of Gamelan and Dance performances,
competitions of traditional Balinese skill, and giant productions
of the Ramayana and Mahabarata ballets, lasting about 4 weeks
in all. Open: Every day except on official holidays (08;00
- 16:00). The performance of "Kecak Dance" to be
held at the Art Centre every evening from (18:30 - 19:30).
Padang Galak Monument
A monument built as a memory of PANAM aero plane crashed in
1972. In this large area you can find many beautiful and monumental
events, such as Padang Galak Monument.
