Kertha Gosa

Welcome to Kerta Gosa at Klungkung Semarapura Bali which is one of the famous tourism destinations in Bali and many visited by tourist everyday. Kertha Gosa is located in the heart of Semarapura town and it's name is taken away from a Sanskrit namely Kertha which is meaning Peaceful and Gosa from the Gosita word mean announcement. Thereby, the word's meaning of Kertha Gosa is a building of a kind Jurisdiction in form of Bale for the king who announces the legislation, jurisdiction, penalization etc. The building of Kertha Gosa is very unique and full of high art value so that this place is a unique place to visit in Bali.

The village of Kamasan, in Klungkung, Bali’s oldest kingdom, as an ancient tradition of painting with its roots in the art of the great Javanese empire of Majapahit. Kamasan is far from the usual tourist tracks, and so many visitors to Bali get the false impression that Ubud is the centre of art. The art of Kamasan is the ‘classic’ style based on the shadow theatre or wayang, and Kamasan village once included many wayang puppeteers, although few remain.

Kerta Gosa is an ancient building designed with Balinese architecture that is an open house as jurisdiction place where the king announce the legislation, jurisdiction, penalization etc. Kerta Gosa building is very beautiful encircled by the fishpond with tropical plantations to add the artistic value that makes this place is good places to be visited. In its building roof, it is covered by full of ancient puppets picture depicting human life in eternity and also reward accepted.

Balinese culture has its own system called adat, meaning traditional law, but for serious offences Kerta Gosa was the end of the line. Kerta Gosa is located right in the center of Klungkung next to the main roundabout. The gardens of Taman Gili, in which Kerta Gosa sits, were built in 1710. For me the impressive thing was to look up at the ceiling and check out the terrifying artwork depicting good vs. evil. No doubt criminals facing trial shivered before the judges realizing the seriousness of their actions.

The style of the paintings is Kamasan (wayang) and has a puppet-like appearance. The humid atmosphere and lack of close attention mean these precious pieces will not be with us for long.