Get to Know More about Taman Ujung Kerajaan Karangasem

There are many beautiful gardens left behind by the Krangasem Kingdom in Bali. Besides Tirta Gangga, there is also Sukasada Park or commonly called Ujung Park. Taman Ujung or Taman Sukasada is a park in banjar Ujung, Tumbu village, Karangasem, Bali. The park is located about 5 km southeast of Amlapura city. Ujung Park Karangasem, Bali was once destroyed by the eruption of Mount Agung. It was abandoned, until finally in 2003 tourists could enjoy the beauty of Ujung Park again.

At the beginning of the development, the Ujung Park area reached 400 hectares, but unfortunately now there has been a reduction in land area so that it is only 10 hectares. Most of the land in Ujung Park was divided to the community during the land reform period. The park is now owned by the Karangasem Castle family. However, tourists are welcome to visit.

Bale Bengong without using walls (Source: Author's Collection)

Taman Ujung Karangasem was built in 1909 by the King of Karangasem I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, whose title was Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem on the initiative of Anak Agung Anglurah. The architects were a Dutchman named Van Den Hentz and a Chinese architect named Loto Ang. These two architects were ordered by the King of Karangasem to develop Dirah Pool into a resting place for the King of Karangasem, the construction of the king's resting place was also assisted by local architects from the Kingdom of Karangasem. Ujung Park is essentially a development project of the Dirah Pool that was built in 1901. Kolam Dirah was built to be the resting place of the King of Karangasem. Kolam Dirah has the meaning of a pool of disposal for people who master black magic.

The construction of Ujung Park was completed in 1921. In 1937, Taman Ujung Karangasem was inaugurated with a marble inscription written in Latin and Balinese script and two languages, namely Malay and Balinese. Taman Ujung Karangasem Bali or tourists more often refer to it as Taman Ujung Water Palace. This park is unique in its architecture which is a combination of European and Balinese styles so that it looks beautiful.

Some other things that become the attraction of Taman Ujung Bali as a tourist spot are the debris of buildings that are not organized but are able to add aesthetic value and become an attraction in itself. There are three fish ponds in this park, each of which is very large. These three ponds are in one place, only the location of the ponds is separated. One pond is located in the south and the other two are located in the north.

View of Taman Ujung Karangasem Bali (Source: Author's Collection)

In the middle of the southern pond, there is a building in the middle of the pond, Bale Bengong, which does not use walls. The pond in the north has a larger area than the pond in the south. In the middle of the pond in the north, there is a bridge that is used to cross the pond. In the center of the pond connected by the bridge is a building that was once used as a resting place for the King of Karangasem. The local people call it the Hanging Palace because the building looks hanging.

In addition, there is a remaining roofless building that has become a favorite photo spot with a beautiful blue sea background. The thing that attracts attention in Taman Ujung itself is that there is a building that looks like a roofless ruin on top of a hill. However, to get to the courtyard of the building, visitors must climb approximately 100 steps first.

Taman Ujung is one of the tourist destinations chosen by tourists, both domestic and foreign, because it has a very affordable ticket price. The entrance ticket price costs 10 thousand rupiah. Taman Ujung is open every day from 07.00 to 19.00 WITA so that visitors have a long enough time to enjoy this tourist area. Some of the activities that can be done in Tamam Ujunhn are taking pictures in the middle of the water park and the beauty of the European - Balinese architecture, local tourists can also play water recreation, relax in the bale and see the history of the Karangasem kingdom.

The architecture of the resting palace of the King of Karangasem Bali is very unique because it is a combination of medieval European architecture and Balinese architecture. Not only that, visitors can see the beautiful scenery offered by the Karangasem Ujung Park tour from the top of the roofless pillar building. In the southeast, visitors can see the blue ocean and Ujung Beach, while in the east, visitors can enjoy the charm and uniqueness of this Ujung Park architecture. In the upper eastern part, visitors can see Bisbis Hill which is a beautiful green hill.