Semarapura is the capital of the Klungkung Regency, Bali’s smallest former kingdom and regency.
It’s an interesting and attractive place that most tourists never get to see and we think that’s a bit of a shame, here’s why you ought to visit Semarapura, how to get there and what to do while you’re there.
Where Is Semarapura?
Semarapura is located in the Klungkung Regency in East Bali. The Klungkung Regency is the smallest regency on the island and one very much worth exploring on your Bali holiday.
How To Get to Semarapura?
Semarapura is on the way to Candi Dasa one of our favourite destinations in Bali when we’re looking to escape the crowds.
The best way to get there is to take a Grab or Gojek if you intend to stay overnight at one of the nearby hotels or to hire a private car and driver (this isn’t expensive, you’ll spend around 500,000 IDR for the day for the car, driver and gas – that’s about $35 USD or $50 AUD).
The car can then take you on to Candi Dasa, help you visit other sites in the area, or bring you back to your hotel or villa in other parts of the island.
There is no bad time of year to visit Bali and, in fact, we might be tempted to visit Semarapura in the wet season, because there will be even fewer tourists around than normal and Bali still gets around 8 hours of sunshine a day throughout the rainy season.
However, if you want to spend time on the nearby beaches, you might opt for the dry season when there’s even more sun, less humidity and rain and a cool onshore breeze that can be very pleasant when sunbathing or relaxing.
Is There An Entrance Fee To Semarapura?
No, Semarapura is the administrative capital of the Klungkung Regency and a reasonable-sized town for Bali, there’s no entrance fee though if you want to visit any of the town’s attractions you may have to pay a small entry fee to each one.
A Brief History Of The Klungkung Kingdom
After the arrival of the Dutch colonials in Indonesia, the island of Bali fell into separate kingdoms and one of those was Klungkung Kingdom, which is the Klungkung Regency in today’s terms.
These small fiefdoms were all formed in the 17th century and gradually fell to the Dutch over the next 200 years.
During its brief time of rule, the Klungkung Palace was considered to rule the highest kingdom of the land and the Kertha Gosa of Klungkung was Bali’s highest court.
If you were sentenced by the Kertha Gosa, you would be sent to Nusa Penida in the Nusa Islands to serve your sentence offshore, before being allowed to return to the island if you completed the sentence.
However, as with the other kingdoms of Bali, Klungkung Regency, fell to the Dutch in 1908 and the court of the Kertha Gosa committed mass suicide, a tradition known as puputan here in Bali.
6 Things To See In Semarapura
There are a few things of note in this pleasant town and they’re all within walking distance of each other as the town of Semarapura isn’t very big.
Klungkung Palace (Puri Agung Semarapura and Taman Gili)
What we call the Klungkung Palace is actually the Puri Agung Sempara and it’s one of the most historical buildings in Bali.
It was built back in the 17th century but was sadly, mainly destroyed in the fight against the Dutch that culminated in the puputan.
You can still see the remains of the Kertha Gosa court’s pavilion, the main gate (which says Saka 1622, which means 1700 A.D. and represents the founding of the palace) and a floating pavilion known as the Bale Kembang.
The former royal family also reside on the grounds in Puri Agung which is an old residence that was constructed sometime after 1929.
Nyoman Gunarsa Museum
This museum sits just a short way out of the centre of town and tells the legend of the Balinese painter Nyoman Gunarsa.
It also has a wonderful collection of Balinese art including paintings, wood carvings, and wayang kulit shadow puppets.
There is, of course, a full gallery dedicated to Nyoman Gunarsa’s work.
The entrance fee of 75,000 IDR is a touch steep for a small museum, but we felt it was worth paying.
Pasar Endek Klungkung (Klungkung Market)
If you Balinese fabrics, you’re going to love this market in East Bali. It’s not far from the Klungkung Palace and you will find it’s one of the most affordable places to shop on the island.
The interior has just been renovated and there’s AC throughout and so many handicrafts on offer that you’re bound to find something you like.
Next door, there’s a decent food court if you want bargain-priced local eats.
Kertha Gosa Pavillion Park In Kamasan Village
This is the former bale of the court and one of the most beautiful buildings in the area.
It was here that the former Raja (king) of the area would sit with the judges and pass down their wisdom and sentences on miscreants.
Semarajaya Museum
This is a great museum that tells the story of Puri Agung Semarapura and the town itself, it’s right next to the Kertha Gosa Park and entry is free with a ticket to the Kertha Gosa.
The museum houses a wonderful collection of royal relics and best of all, it’s air-conditioned, making it the perfect mid-day stop in Semarapura.
Puputan Monument
As you might expect this sombre monument pays tribute to the members of the court who committed suicide shortly before the city fell to the Dutch.
The Klungkung Regency was the last kingdom in Bali to fall to the colonizers.
10 Things To See Near Semarapura
There are also plenty of places within a short drive of Semarapura that can enhance your trip to the area including:
Pura Goa Lawah
This temple is considered to be one of the most holy sanctuaries in Bali and it’s one of the “six sanctuaries of the world” as well as one of the nine directional temples of the island.
It’s also famous for the bat colony of nectar bats that inhabit the cave next door.
Tirta Gangga Water Palace
This awesome water garden in East Bali has incredible fountains, gardens and stone sculptures that make it a must-see if you’re passing through the area.
It’s pleasantly cool all day long at Tirta Gangga and it provides a welcome break from the heat of the Balinese day.
Taman Nusa Cultural Park
This lovely place is an open-air museum that explores the various ethnicities found across Indonesia.
It’s a fully interactive experience and there are over 60 authentic traditional homes available to visitors here too.
Unfortunately, as we go to press this cultural park is temporarily closed and we recommend contacting them prior to travel to see if they have reopened.
Telaga Waja River (White Water Rafting)
White water rafting is a ton of fun and the wildest place to enjoy this sport in Bali is the Telaga Waja River.
A trip down the river here is a pure adrenaline rush.
Tirai Air Terjun Tukad Unda Waterfall
This “waterfall” is actually a dam, but that’s not a bad thing because it means there are wide ledges in the “fall” that you can go out and play on.
Photographers with a model should be able to get some wild shots here. It’s a great place to go.
Wisata Bukit
Bukit means “hill” in Indonesian and this is Wisata Hill. It’s a great place to grab some snaps of the local countryside or to enjoy the cool air at the end of the day.
Goa Jepang Klungkung
This cave complex was used and built by the Japanese occupiers of Bali during World War 2.
It’s an interesting slice of history and while not the most impressive site on the island, entrance to the caves is completely free.
Pantai Batu Tumpang (Batu Tumpanh Beach)
This absolutely unspoiled black sand beach is a great place for those who love to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean or who enjoy a bit of surfing.
There are no tourists usually, but the beach can get popular with the locals, particularly on weekends.
We’d advise you to rush to this black sand beach before it disappears, the Indian Ocean is eroding the beachfront at a rate of knots and soon there won’t be much left.
It’s a sacred beach to the locals and you can often find ceremonies being conducted here.
There’s a nice warung here for some authentic local food.
Pura Watu Klotok
This lovely temple on the beach is a very important place to the locals and you may not be allowed into all of the site.
However, it’s a great place for some dramatic photos and to find out more about the local culture.
Where To Stay In Semarapura
There isn’t much in the way of great accommodation in the centre of Semarapura (well, except for the Klungkung Palace and sadly, you can’t stay there) but there are some lovely places just a short drive from the centre including:
Wyndham Tamansari Jivva Resort Bali – this luxury resort offers private beach access, a fabulous pool area and some of the most comfortable rooms in Bali.
Kubu Selat Villa & Glamping – this is an attractive villa and small glamping spot with some lovely views over the rice fields of the smallest regency in East Bali.
Keramas Sacred River – this resort hotel is just off the main road leading to the Gianyar Regency and it’s affordable, comfortable and very attractive.
Desa Swan Villas & Spa – a lovely complex with private pool villas and an amazing onsite spa complex. The resort is right on the beach if you want an early morning sunrise stroll too.
Rangkung Hill Villa Gianyar by The Lavana – this is in a lovely spot located in the rice fields and you can get some gorgeous selfies at the onsite photo spots. The restaurant there is pretty good too.
Where To Eat In Semarapura
Semarapura isn’t inundated with fine dining experiences but you can get a great meal in the town all the same. Try one of these places:
Likelike Coffee & Eatery – this is a great cafe with a really cute Instagrammable environment. They do a very interesting pizza tortilla that everyone should try!
Papila’s Coffee House Klungkung – this is a simple coffee shop that offers warm coffee and warm smiles in equal quantities.
Babi Guling Bu Dewa Restaurant – if you want to try some of Bali’s famous roast suckling pig, this is a great place to do it and very good value for money.
Dians Garden – the food here is delicious and they quite often throw in some free ice cream for afters!
MYE Restaurant, Pastry & Bakery – a very pleasant cafe that serves good food and coffee at very reasonable prices.
How To Book A Holiday That Takes In Semarapura?
We always recommend that you book any holiday in Bali through the Bali Res Centre. They can take care of everything you need for your trip including a visit to Semarapura.
They can ensure you get to go scuba diving in the Indian Ocean, find a villa with ocean views and private beach access or in the rice fields, sleep in the best hotels with exceptional service, enjoy stunning trips and much more.
Best of all, the Bali Res Centre is always competitive and that means your flights, accommodation, tours, etc. are always at the best prices around. You can’t go wrong, right?
Is Semarapura Worth It?
Yes! In fact, if you want to take a walk through the centre of a truly authentic town in Indonesia, there’s no better place to do it.
Semarapura is more than the administrative capital of the smallest regency of Bali, it’s the perfect destination to get away from the crowds and see Bali as it was meant to be.
It often reminds us of Ubud before Ubud was surrounded by many villas and began to play host to huge numbers of visitors. It’s great that this island is getting popular, but it’s also nice to get away from it all and in Semarapura, you can.
Final Thoughts On Semarapura
Semarapura is definitely on the road less travelled in Bali, but that’s what makes it great.
It’s an opportunity to explore a new part of the island and learn something more about the people, the culture and the beauty of this corner of paradise.
We thoroughly recommend a visit to Semarapura, perhaps, after you’ve spent a day or two at FINNS, the world’s best beach club, and want to go somewhere far from the crowds to relax and plan your next high-intensity experience in Bali.
