A Journey to Bali’s Heritage Palaces

It is always interesting to learn about the centuries old Balinese Kingdoms, where spiritual native elements and ancestral reverence combined with Hindu influences, flourished and shaped the Balinese culture.

The trip to Bali’s Royal Palaces starts with a visit to Kerta Gosa – a justice court building which was built in the Klungkung Kingdom. The court is filled with Kamasan (Wayang-style paintings) on its ceilings and the Bale Kambang ‘floating’ hall is surrounded by a moat.

The journey continues to Klungkung Royal Palace set in front of Kerta Gosa. A local guide will present the historic background of the Klungkung kingdom which was considered to be the most developed and powerful of the nine kingdoms of Bali from the late 17th century to early 20th century.

The jeep then brings you to Kamasan Village, well-known for its community of Balinese traditional paintings. There are many places where it is possible to buy painting of this specific style and meet talented artists. The figures in the story of Ramayana and Mahabharata are the main themes of Kamasan paintings depicted in Wayang – shadow puppet characters.

Leaving Klungkung, you will be driven to enjoy a delicious lunch at a restaurant with beautiful rice fields view on the outskirts of Ubud.

The last stop is Puri Agung Peliatan in Ubud where you will be treated as “royal guests” with a Balinese welcome dance. You will be accompanied by members of the royal palace’s extended family and they will give you a short tour to introduce the palace and its history. Coffee, tea, and traditional Balinese cake will be served, prior to starting return journey with WakaLandCruise to your hotel.