Government and Districts

Bali is one of the 26 provinces of Indonesia. Within Bali there are eight kabupatens or districts, which under the Dutch were known as regencies. These are Badung, Gianyar, Bangli, Klungkung, Karangasem, Buleleng, Jembrana, Tabanan. There are now nine districts since the addition of Kotamadya Denpasar. Each district is headed by a government official known as a bupati. The districts are further subdivided into subdistricts called Kecamatan which is headed by a camat, then come the perbekels, the head of a desa (village) and finally, an enormous number of banjars, the local divisions of a village.

Klungkung Regency

Bali's smallest district Klungkung is located between Gianyar and Karangasem, and includes the island of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan.
Klungkung itself is a bustling town. On reaching the town centre, you come to Kertha Gosa, the Hall of Justice. Surrounded by a moat, this is a superb example of Klungkung architecture, best known for its ceiling paintings in the Klungkung style.
Adjoining Kertha Gosa is the palace, with its beautiful Bale Kambang (or Floating Pavilion). It also has exquisitely painted ceilings telling stories of the sacrifice of the hero Sutasoma and of Pan and Men Brayut- the couple who had too many children..

Kamasan village is a few kilometres outside Klungkung. It has long been the bastion of traditional paintings. The themes are derived from Balinese variations on 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 characteristics from the wayang tradition. To see a good collection of Kamasan classical paintings, visit the Gunarsa Museum at the crossroads to Tihingan, just before Klungkung.

A few kilometres east is Goa Lawah, the Bat Cave. This cave is crammed 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 Besakih but it is unlikely that anyone would be interested in investigating!

Beyond Klungkung is the coastal village of Kusamba. Kusamba is one of the embarkation points to the island of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. The journey from Kusamba or Sanur to these islands takes a couple of hours. Nusa Penida has unfortunately acquired a somewhat eerie reputation, as it was once the place of banishment for criminals and undesirables from the Kingdom of Klungkung. Penida attracts a number of visitors for its seclusion, surf and snorkeling. Few facilities exist for tourists, just a few losmen and a number of small warungs.

However, the island has some interesting temples including the Pura Ped near Toyapakeh and Pura Batukuning near Sewana. There is also a huge limestone cave, Goa Karangsari, about a kilometre from Sewana. The friendly people of Lembongan have welcomed 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 the 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 near-by losmen called Mushroom Cottages, a simple retreat for surfers and travelers. Nusa Ceningan, which is the smallest of the three islands, is rarely visited.

Badung, Denpasar, Gianyar, Bangli, Klungkung, Karangasem, Buleleng, Jembrana, Tabanan