DENPASAR

Besides having natural attractions such as beaches, Denpasar also has a historical tourist destinations. One of them, Bali Museum. The museum is quite strategic, so many tourists visiting this attraction. Bali Museum is located at Mayor Wisnu street, Denpasar, located at east side of Puputan Badung and south of Pura Agung Jagatnatha. Both these areas have also become a tourist attraction on a city tour package heritage city of Denpasar. The museum is an attraction for foreign tourists and domestic tourists as well as local residents, because there is a wide range of objects from prehistoric times that reflect elements of Balinese culture.

The history of the Museum of Bali can not be separated from the commitment to maintain objects of Balinese culture from extinction. Since Bali opened the door as wide as possible to the citizens of other nations to come, the threat of extinction of cultural objects are more open. Because of the openness in accepting outsiders, increasingly provide opportunities for other foreign nations to come to Bali. Foreign nation consisting of various segments of society such as traders, government officials, tourists and of course have different interests in accordance with the profession. Then when they return to their country they always bring cultural objects as souvenirs, or use it as a private collection. It would result in the impoverishment of the cultural heritage of Bali, causing scientists, cultural and Dutch artists try to prevent it and simultaneously preserving the culture of Bali.

Reflecting on the matter, in 1910, WFJ Kroon, a Resident Assistant for South Bali, after obtaining suggestion from Th.A. Resink about cultural preservation, has an idea to establish a museum of ethnography in order to protect cultural objects from extinction. Furthermore Kroon ordered Kurt Grundler, an architect of Germany, which at that time was in Bali as tourists researcher, to make a plan together with the undagi (expert of traditional Balinese buildings),like, I Gusti Ketut Rai and I Gusti Ketut Gede Kandel from Denpasar.

After going through a pretty mature preparation finally decided to build a museum in the form of a combination between the architectural forms of temples and castle. Established on the land area of 2,600 m2 covering three yards, namely the outer yard (Jaba), a central yard (jaba tengah) and inner yard (jeroan), each yard is restricted by walls and gate (candi bentar and candi kurung) as an entry.

After construction is completed, the museum was officially opened on December 8, 1932 under the name Bali Museum.

Bali Museum consists of several units of the building, has its own function. Inside of the yard there are three buildings called Tabanan Building, Karangasem Building and Buleleng Building used to show off the collection. The names of the building is taken from the names of regions and represents the architectural style of South Bali, East Bali and North Bali.

In Bali Museum guidebook mentioned, the arrangement of Bali Museum’s collection has been carried out in such a way that highlights a particular aspect in each building. In East Building found many collections of history and prehistory, as well as the tops of the Balinese culture. Buleleng building showcase the development of means of exchange before and after ‘kepeng’ (Balinese traditional coins) in Bali. It is seen from the history of Buleleng as an early start of Bali’s economy. Karangasem building showcase of ‘cili’ as a symbol of wealth which is believed to greatly affect the lives of Balinese and is used in several areas such as the religious rituals to the art of building. Tabanan Building in terms of history is used to show off heirlooms or sacred objects and in this exhibition showcase the development of ‘keris’ (Balinese traditional weapon) as a masterpiece of the archipelago, its history, its shape and its use in everyday Balinese life, both in religious ceremonies as well as personal protective equipment.

To be able to watch and understand the collection chronologically, visitors are expected to start from the collection of prehistoric and historical exhibits laid out in the East building on the first floor or the second floor located in areas of the south and finished at Tabanan Building in northern areas.