|
Map
of Klungkung
Klungkung, meaning" happiness" or "beauty"
is Bali's smallest district, lying on the southeastern coast of
Bali, including the islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan.
The great Unda River flows through this district and passes through
many beautiful villages. Klungkung town, now called Semarapura is
a bustling commercial center and its market is the largest in Bali.
However, the main tourist lures are the Kerta Gosha, the hall of
justice, and the Bale Kambang, a floating pavilion. A magnificent
example of Klungkung architecture, the Kertagosa was used as a venue
for the administration of justice by kings and priest during pre-colonial
times. It is surrounded by a most and is decorated with beautiful
paintings on its ceilings, which depict tortures in hell and happiness
in heaven.
The Bale Kambang (or floating pavilion) stands behind the Kerta
Gosha. The painted ceilings depict the legend of the hero Sutasoma
and his sacrifice and of Pan and Men Brayut, known as the couple
who had too many children. Another beautiful royal temple in Klungkung
is the Pura Taman Sri, featuring a moat-surrounded pagoda in a lush
garden.
A few kilometers outside Semarapura is Kamasan village, home of
Balinese traditional paintings. The themes of the paintings derived
from Balinese variations of the ancient Hindu epics, the Ramayana
and the Mahabharata. This style has also been adapted for large
versions of the zodiac and lunar calendars. Kamasan paintings take
their essential characteristic from The Wayang tradition. To see
a good collection of Kamasan classical paintings visit Nyoman Gunarsa
Museum at the crossroad to Tihingan, just before Semarapura.
A few kilometers east is Goa Lawah, the bat cave. This cave is
crowded with thousands of bats which are unseen but certainly not
unheard during the day. The cave is part of a temple that is said
to lead all the way to the underground tunnel to Besakih.
Beyond Semarapura is the coastal village of Kusamba, one of the
embarkation points to the islands of Nusa penida, Nusa lembongan,
and Nusa ceningan. The journey by boat from Kusamba or Sanur to
these islands takes a couple of hours.
Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida has unfortunately acquired a somewhat notorious reputation,
as it was once the place of exile for criminals and undesirables
from the Kingdom of Klungkung. Nusa Penida attracts a number of
visitors for its seclusion, surf and snorkeling. Few facilities
exist for tourist but there are a few losmens and a number of small
warungs.
Nusa Lembongan
The market town of Toyapakeh also has a ferry crossing to Nusa
Lembongan. The friendly people of Nusa Lembongan now welcome tourism.
For those looking for white sandy beaches and a laid back atmosphere,
Nusa Lembongan is paradise. The waters around Lembongan are crystal
clear, the sand is white and shallow coves are brimming with colourful
coral and sea life, making it an ideal location for snorkeling.
The Waka Nusa Resort, run by Wakalouka Cruises, is found in a small
bay along with a small nearby losmen call Mushroom Cottages, a simple
retreat for surfers and travellers.
Nusa Ceningan
Nusa ceningan is the smallest of the three islands and rarely visited.
|
