This important town was once home to Bali's
illustrious line of kings. The remains of this kingdom can be
seen today at the Kertagosa Hall of Justice. Most of Bali's royal
families are descended from the old Klungkung dynasty, for it
was here that the Majapahit Kingdom of Java gathered in exile
in the 16th Century as their kingdom in Java crumbled. It was
the center of the 'Golden Age' of Bali when the Gelgel Dynasty
held power for over 300 years and the arts flourished. In Klungkung
itself, visit the Kertagosa court house with its richly painted
ceiling and the Bale Kambang (floating pavilions). The nearby
village of Kamasan specialize in traditional paintings, the origin
of which can be traced back for 500 years.
Klungkung is the past name of the capital of the Klungkung District,
today known as Semarapura. At the era of the kingdom, it was in
fact the capital of all Bali island. Klungkung has a particular
status in the Bali's history and civilization.
As an artistic center, the palaces of Klungkung's King and aristocrat
family supported and developed the methods of music, drama and
arts that thrive today in Bali. The regency capital was moved
to Klungkung from close Gelgel in 1710 and at this point a new
fortress was built. Today the remains of the old fortress, Puri
Semarapura, demolished in 1908, are within the foundation of Taman
Gili.
Its main magnetism is Kertagosa, a prehistoric
building located in the center of the city, which plays a significant
role of the region's cultural tourism. The tourists can enjoy
the valuable painted ceilings.
