KERTHA GOSA

Kertha Gosa is one of the most popular Bali Places of Interest and part of the Puri Semarapura royal palace and features two main structures, a grand hall or the namesake Bale Kertha Gosa with ceilings filled with Kamasan or wayang style paintings, and the Bale Kambang floating hall. Kertha Gosa complex dates back to 1686 when it was commissioned by Dewa Agung Jambe, then ruler of the Klungkung kingdom. Kertha Gosa has undergone a series of restorations in the past and is one of Bali most important historical sites, the site is open for the public to visit.

How to Get to Kertha Gosa

​Kertha Gosa located at Jalan Kenanga No.11, Semarapura, Klungkung, Bali 80761, it's a beautiful historical site situated in the heart of Semarapura Town, about 40 km east of Denpasar City. The palace is one of the famous tourist destinations in Bali and is visited by tourists everyday.

What to Expect at Kertha Gosa

The Kertha Gosa complex features Bale Kertha Gosa, Bale Kambang, and Taman Gili. Bale Kertha Gosa is the open pavilion or Royal court of Justice, where litigations that could not be settled by village headmen were brought. Trials were conducted in this Royal Court, under the helm of the King, by the 3 brahmin jurors and judgments passed. The ceiling of the Kertha Gosa or Royal Court of Justice is adorned with a series of paintings or murals depicting traditional Kamasan or Wayang style. Each of the six rows of paintings on the ceiling narrates a different story based on the theme adopted from the notable epics like Mahabharata.

The original paintings were done on textile/cloth and parba. The themes portrayed in the paintings include Bhima Swarga, re-incarnation, nirvana, and scenes visualizing portent earthquakes. The paintings not only astound the visitors but also enlighten them about the beliefs, customs, and judicature of the day. The paintings seem to suggest, the themes were selected to educate complaints about the consequences of their wrongdoings in other worlds and thereby prevent recidivism. The Bale Kambang also referred to as "floating pavilion", was used by the Royal family to conduct key ceremonies and exequies.

​The pavilion in the middle of the pond with lotus flowers and garden around provides a visual treat to the visitors. The insides of Bale Kambang depict paintings of Kamasan style. Paintings depicting tales of Prince Sutasoma and folk stories of Pan, Mr and Mrs. Brayut enchants the visitors. A series of historical figurines on either side of the bridge connecting Bale Kambang to mainland mesmerize tourists. Apart from the Royal court hall and Bale Kambang, the visitors can visit the Museum located inside the complex to see and enjoy the historic keepsakes of the Klungkung dynasty that were used in the Royal court.​

Kertha Gosa History

Kertha Gosa was founded in 18 century and it has changed a lot in 20 century. These buildings have been renovated after the earthquake that brought much destruction in 1971. The most unique of this building is the ceiling made from asbestos material fully decorated by the traditional painting with Kamasan style famous in 1930. Thirty years later in 1960, Pan Semaris Putra from Pan Seken was restored and renewed according to the original style. During the Dutch colonization (1908 – 1942), Kertha Gosa was still used as a court to persecute the violators, especially criminals.

In line with the colonial administration, the Indonesian Law has changed from the legal system Majapahit heritage (Traditional) into the continental law system which is brought by the Dutch. The changes of the system are not meant as retaliation, but improve the perpetrator to be accepted back into their society. By this concept, the word Penjara (Jail) has changed into Lembaga Pemasyarakatan (LP). The ceiling of Taman Gili Building is fully decorated by the traditional painting to persuade the violators to not repeat the offense (recidivism) because the Hindu society in Bali have heard the story of Bima Swarga that has been visualized on this building.

Realized and believed, besides the prison sentence they got, it has been waiting for the punishment of the hereafter is more terrible and feared in the form of fire prosecution by Cikabakala. Hopefully, after seeing these visuals, the violators realize that the crime resulted in suffering, hence it can prevent the recidivism. Bima Swarga is an excerpt from the Mahabaratha epic that shares the experience of Bima, one of princes from Panca Pandawa, when searching for the spirit of his father in the afterlife is saying torture. Many events have been seen at one given the answer to all the questions why the soul or spirit were there and tortured.

Another building is Bale Kambang (Floating Bale). It is so called because it looks like it is floating on the water pond where inside of the pond grow the lotus flowers. This Bale Kambang has survived from the damage caused by the Puputan war in 1908, but the current building is the result of the improvement and expansion done in 1942. Its function is as a place to welcome the VIP Guest by Dewa Agung King.

Kertha Gosa Entrance Ticket

Adult : IDR 50,000
Children : IDR 25,000
Opening Hours : 08.00 AM - 05.00 PM