Kerta Gosa

The Kerta Gosa is located in Klungkung and holds a lot of history. One it was the courthouse of Klungkung and part of the Semarapura Palace from the time that Klungkung was still a kingdom, but now it is a museum.

The Kerta Gosa is part of the royal palace “Puri Semarapura” and has two important meeting rooms – the Bale Kerta Gosa, whose ceilings are full of Kamasan or wayang-style paintings and the Bale Kambang or the “floating pavilion”, that lies in a lotus pond.

The complex is beautifully laid out, complete with a moat. Here the three Brahman priests (pedanda) who spoke justice and were only confronted with problems that could not be solved within the families or the village communities. The Kerta Gosa was the highest court of the island – and by far the strictest.

The Kerta Gosa complex dates from 1686 when it was built by order of Dewa Agung Jambe. He was the ruler of the kingdom of Klungkung in Bali. In the Kerta Gosa there are six chairs and a table, used by the Balinese kings.

The other part of the palace is now a museum with many old objects that have historical value, for example a stone throne, an original chair used in Bale Kerta Gosa, old canvases, krissen and old newspaper collections.

The area has suffered heavily during the Dutch occupation and the complex has been severely damaged several times in the past by an earthquake, but has always been restored and is an important monument in the region.

The entrance fee is IDR 50,000 for an adult and IDR 25,000 for children.
Opening Hours : 08.00 AM – 05.00 PM