Outside the orderly Puri Agung Karangasem there are beautifully sculpted panels and an impressive multi-tiered entry gate . After you pass through the entry courtyard (all entrances point you towards the rising sun in the east), a left turn takes you to the main building, known as the Maskerdam (Amsterdam), because it was built by the Dutch as a reward for the Karangasem kingdom’s acquiescence to Dutch rule. This submission allowed the kingdom to hang on long after the demise of other Balinese kingdoms.
Inside you'll see several rooms, including the royal bedroom and a living room with furniture that was a gift from the Dutch royal family. The Maskerdam faces the ornately decorated Bale Pemandesan, which was used for royal tooth-filing ceremonies. Beyond this, surrounded by a pond, is the Bale Kambang, still used for family meetings and for dance practice.
Borrow one of the handy English-language info sheets and think about what this compound must have been like when the Karangasem dynasty was at its peak in the 19th century, having conquered Lombok. Don't miss the vintage photos.
