Karangasem

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Karangasem is a regency (kabupaten) of Bali, Indonesia. It has an area of 839.54 km² and population of 369,320 (2002). Its regency seat is Amlapura.

The Mother Temple of Besakih is located here.

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The kingdom of Karangasem is the second most important among the other kingdoms of Bali. The Royal Court is splited into 3 main locations around Amlapura (or as before Karangasem). There is the main palace, the PURI AGUNG, there are the ROYAL POOLS north of Amlapura and finally the FLOATING PALACE in the south. The kingdom rises at the end of the 17th century, when GELGEL becomes weak, and in the 18th & 19th century it was the most powerful of Bali. At that time the island of LOMBOK belonged to it as well, and people from Lombok (the SASAK) settled around Amlapura to be the servants of the raja. During the wars at the end of the 19th century the Raja of Karangasem declared his loyalty versus the Dutch and could kept his title and remained in his position. Puri Kanginan, where the last of the Raja is born, was built in the 20th century and presents a mixture of Balinese, European and Chinese elements. The entry to the palace with its three-sectional roof presents the strict stylish elements of the Karangasem architecture. The lions on both sides are copied from the dutch ensign, but are integrated in the daily ceremonies. The main house having a big veranda is the “London House” because most of the furniture is decorated with the ensigns of the British royal court. Opposite of it you will find in the middle of an artificial lake a bale connected with a small bridge. This ensemble is obviously from Chinese design. As the latest raja was known to beloved in water places (which are widely spread over Lombok from where are his roots), the consequent next step was to build them in the neighbourhood. In 1921 the Floating Palace was opened with a ceremony near Ujung. In 1947 a spa was constructed in Tirta Gangga. But both are damaged by an earthquake, the eruption of Gunung Agung in 1963 and some political extremists. Pura Luhur Lempuyang is one of the six state temples (Sadkayangan) and unknown to most of the tourist. The temple is very humble for its importance but the situation within the nature is more than impressive on the top of a mountain. As well as the rice fields of Tistha belong to one of the most impressive nature spectacles of Bali and will present their changing colours in the different seasons and time of a day. (on the street from Amlapura to Singaraja). This spectacle ends abruptly after having passed the village of Culik, when only large areas of solidified lava and the dust of the last eruptions of Gunung Agung will flank the road to Singaraja. ^[1]