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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.
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