Tourists Shouldn’t Miss A Visit To Bali’s Most Significant Historical Monument 

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The provincial capital of Bali, Denpasar, is a travel destination overlooked by almost every international visitor to the island.

It’s understandable that Bali is a destination sought after for its tropical beaches and dense green jungles. Yet Denpasar has a lot to offer. 

For most Bali lovers, Denpasar is a purely functional designation, a place to schedule an immigration appointment, maybe for expats to visit the big hardware and homeware stores or book an appointment with a lawyer or doctor to get that life admin ticked off. 

Denpasar is so much more than an administrative capital. Home to some of the most innovative coffee houses on the island, gorgeous boutique hotels, all the big shopping malls, and plenty of modern culture; it would be amiss of tourists to write off Denpasar entirely just by a virtue of it being a city. 

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One of the most impressive cultural landmarks in Denpasar is the Bajra Sandhi Monument. Known as the Bali People’s Struggle Monument, the landmark sits majestically in the heart of the city, surrounded by the greenery of Lapangan Puputan Renon Park.

The expansive scenic park is regularly used by the local community, and residents can be seen running around the pathways every morning and evening; some gather to chat, while others take part in group tai chi and yoga sessions. 

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The Bajra Sandhi Monument and Lapangan Puputan Renon Park sit right in the center of Denpasar, and all life ripples outwards from here.

Speaking to reporters, the Head of the Bali People’s Struggle Monument UPTD, Made Artana Yasa, explained that the Bajra Sandhi Monument is a monument to the struggle of the Balinese people, which was built to honor the region’s heroes and is a symbol of the Balinese spirit in defending the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia.

Yasa told reporters, “In 2001, construction of the Bajra Sandhi Monument was completed and continued with filling in the diorama. It was inaugurated in 2003 by Mrs. President Megawati and only opened to the public in 2004.” 

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The design of the monument was created with the utmost consideration for Balinese culture and architecture.

Yasa explained, “From a physical and architectural perspective, we are unique, different from the other [similar monuments]. Bajra Sandhi resembles a bell used by priests to conduct Hindu religious ceremonies.”

Tourists can actually venture inside the monument itself to discover more about the history of Denpasar and Bali as an island.

The diorama room is located on the second floor of the Bajra Sandhi Monument. The museum is home to 33 dioramas that tell and depict the struggles of the Balinese people throughout history. 

Perhaps the most impressive part of a visit to the monument is the 360-degree view from the Utamaning Utama Mandala room.

Travelers must climb the spiral staircase to reach the very top of the Bajra Sandhi Monument. Once in place, visitors have a chance to reflect and take in the view of Denpasar City and beyond.

For those planning a visit, the Bajra Sandhi Monument is located on Jalan Raya Puputan No. 142, Panjer, Denpasar City. The monument has four entrances.

However, tourists can only enter from the south entrance, which is well-signposted. Entry tickets for foreign tourists cost IDR 100,000 for adults and IDR 50,000 for children. 

The Bajra Sandhi Monument is open every day, except for major holidays or official holidays; the site will be close during the upcoming Nyepi festival. 

Visitors are welcome to explore from Monday-Friday between 08.00 – 17.00 WITA, Saturday from 09.00 – 17.00 WITA, and Sunday from 10.00 – 17.00 WITA. 

A day trip to the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar can be coupled with an afternoon visit to the Wedhi Budaya Art Centre, which sits just a 6-minute drive away.

The gallery and museums showcases some of Bali’s finest artisanal crafts and is often host to cultural events open to tourists.