Buleleng Regency
Buleleng is a regency (kabupaten) of Bali, Indonesia. It has an area of 1,365.88 km2 and population of 577,644 (1999). Its regency seat is Singaraja.
Buleleng was founded as a kingdom by Gusti Panji Sakti, who ruled c. 1660-c. 1700. He is commemorated as a heroic ancestor-figure who expanded the power of Buleleng to Blambangan on East Java. The kingdom was weakened during his successors, and fell under the suzerainty of the neighbouring Karangasem kingdom in the second half of the 18th century. It was headed by an autonomous branch of the Karangasem Dynasty in 1806-1849.
The Dutch attacked Buleleng in 1846, 1848 and 1849, and defeated it on the last occasion. Buleleng was incorporated in the Dutch colonial system and lost its autonomy in 1882. In 1929 a descendant of Gusti Panji Sakti, the renowned scholar Gusti Putu Jelantik, was appointed regent by the Dutch. He died in 1944, during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia. His son, a well-known novelist, Anak Agung Nyoman Panji Tisna. In 1947, Anak Agung Pandji Tisna surrendered the throne to his younger brother, Anak Agung Ngurah Ketut Djelantik, known as Meester Djelantik, until 1950. In 1949-50 Buleleng, like the rest of Bali, was incorporated in the unitary republic of Indonesia.
A Brief Historical and Socioeconomic View of Buleleng, Singaraja and Kampung Bugis
Singaraja is the capital of the regency of Buleleng, which covers the north side of the island of Bali. Buleleng is the largest province of Bali in terms of area. During the colonial period, Singaraja was the capital of Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands; in 1953 the capital was moved to Denpasar in the south. During the colonial period, the harbor in Singaraja was the entry point to the island for visitors and a variety of goods including slaves and opium.
Buleleng was founded on March 30, 1604, by the legendary Gusti Panji Sakti who was descended from the son of Dalem Sagening, king of Gelgel, and who at one time ruled both Buleleng and Blambangan in Java. The story goes that Panji Sakti left Klungkung to found a new kingdom in North Bali. When Panji Sakti reached the top of the mountain range, he was thirsty, but there was no water. So, he drove his magic kris into the ground and a spring formed. This spring still exists today at the site of the Pura Yeh Ketipat temple in the Lake Beratan area. Eventually Panji Sakti built three palaces; the last palace was at the site of Singaraja and this is considered the official birth date (1604) of the city and the kingdom of Buleleng.
Buleleng was the first of the Balinese kingdoms to fall to the Dutch after three battles in 1846, 1848 and 1849. (I’ll have more about this in my posts about the Bugis in Kampung Bugis.) Buleleng has 9 kecamatans (sub-districts); these are Gerokgak, Seririt, Busung Biu, Banjar, Buleleng, Sukasada, Sawan, Kubutambahan and Tejakula. Geographically Buleleng includes mountain ranges in the south, two lakes in the mountains and the relatively narrow coastal plane that skirts the Bali Sea on the north. Agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and crafts are the main areas of the economy. The regency’s land area is 24.25% of the total land area of Bali. Buleleng’s has a varied climate; the mountain ranges to the south regularly receive rainfall, while the coastal area has a dry season and a wet season.
According to the Kabupaten Buleleng’s website, the regency (or district as it is sometimes called) had a population of 786,972 in 2009. While the sub-district of Buleleng has the smallest area of the nine sub-districts, it has the largest population and highest population density. The sub-district of Buleleng had a population of 146,942 with a density of 1,515 people per square kilometer; the city of Singaraja has somewhere between 80,000 to 100,000 residents and this accounts for the high population density of Buleleng. Singaraja is known as a city of education.
Kampung Bugis is located right along the Bali Sea (sometimes also called the Java Sea or the Bali/Java Sea), and is adjacent to the harbor. The total area of Kampung Bugis is 30 hectares. In addition to having the sea as its northern border, it borders Kampung Baru to the east, Kampung Kajanan to the south and Kampung Anyar to the west. The kampung has 3,299 residents, divided almost equally between males and females. Trading is the most common occupation, and there are 21 residents listed as making their livelihood by fishing.
Villages, sites & temples of Buleleng Regency
Buleleng regency; (sites are listed from west to east). Deer Island (Menjangen Island), Teluk Terima, Pulaki Temple, Gondol, Banjar Hotsprings, Banjar Tega's Buddhist Monastery, Temukus War Monument, Sing Sing Waterfalls, Lovina, Banyuning, Beratan, Sangsit, Jagaraja, Sawan, Kubutambahan, Air Sanih, Ponjok Batu, Julah, Sembiran, Gitgit Waterfall, Pancasari, Munduk.
Singaraja - Bali's chief port in Dutch colonial times, this town received many influences from the foreign traders. Singaraja has a number of Chinese Temples and colonial buildings. The Gedong Kertya Library houses a unique collection of Lontar (palm leaf) scriptures written in Balinese covering many issues including traditional literature, medicinal formulas, black magic and many more. There are a number of old books in English, Dutch and Ancient Javanese (Kawi).
Buleleng Harbor - this historical but unused harbor is located along the north coast. Old warehouses, an ancient jetty and an arched bridge are all that is left of this one time major seaport. Here a monument has been built in commemoration of Bali's struggle to defeat the Dutch.
Singa Ambara Raja - A famous town landmark is the winged-lion statue located on Jl. Veteran, near the Tourist Office and opposite the office of the Governor of Buleleng, which symbolizes the heroic spirit of the people of Buleleng.
Pura Agung Jagatnatha - One of Bali's biggest & newest temples; an outstanding feature is the Padmasana, a shrine that symbolically represents the three parts of the Balinese Universe.
Deer Island (Pulau Menjangan) - 79 km west of Sinagraja. One of the most famous marine parks in the world, and part of the West Bali National Park. Rare and protected Java Deer inhabit this small island, however visitors usually come for the diving and snorkeling.
Labuhan Lalang - a small port where divers and visitors may catch a boat to Deer Island (Menjangan Island), a small island with peaceful and tranquil atmosphere as no population yet.
Teluk Terima - 76 kms west of Singaraja. Also known as Jayaprana's grave; this site remembers the sad love story between a prince wishing to marry a country girl, however the king also wished to marry the girl and so had the prince killed. On dreaming of the happenings the girl killed herself rather than marry the wicked king. A panoramic view to the north makes this a site well worth visiting.
Banyuwedang - 60 km west of Singaraja. Natural Hot Springs with supposed curative powers near a temple. In need of upkeep.
Pulaki Temple - 53 km west of Singaraja. A large temple on both sides of the road part is perched on craggy rock looking out to sea, the other part climbs into the hills, both parts house monkeys that are keen on eating almost anything in sight! Balinese women sell fruit to tourists and it seems that grapes are their favorite.
Gondol - 50 km west of Singaraja. A Government-run fish breeding project. Turtles, shrimp & prawns are included in the program.
Banjar Tegah Hot springs - 18km west of Singaraja. These slightly sulphuric hot springs are well worth visiting. Set slightly back in the hills, dragon fountains fume hot water into the tiered bathing pools. A number of souvenir shops and a restaurant cater to tourists. A number of local visitors and schools visit at weekends and holidays.
Banjar Tegah Buddhist Monastery - Bali's largest Buddhist monastery set in beautiful valley scenery.
Temukus War Monument - 15 km from Singaraja. Built by the Dutch and destroyed by the Balinese during the Independence struggle. It was rebuilt by the local Government in 1992. The monument affords an extraordinary view of Lovina and the coastline.
Sing Sing Waterfall - 13 km west of Singaraja. Gushing falls in the wet season the water may no run as swiftly in the dry season. The falls are well signposted.
Lovina - 10 km west of Singaraja. Buleleng's main tourist area. Black sand beaches fringed with palm trees open onto a calm sea where travelers can view dolphins, snorkel, dive, sail, fish and swim. A resort area with a full range of accommodation.
Sangsit - 8 km east of Singaraja. Pura Dalem (the temple of the ancestors) is famous for its unique and amusing stone carvings and Pura Beji, a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Rice, is also a recipient for these extraordinary carvings.
Gitgit Waterfall - 11 km south of Singaraja. An impressive waterfall cascades into a small lagoon in a plantation of coffee and clove trees.
Kubutambahan - 12 km east of Singaraja. The Maduwe Karang Temple is renowned for carvings of a very imaginative nature. One such carving is that of a Dutch colonialist riding around on a bicycle whose tires are made entirely of petals!
Jagaraga - 13 km south east of Singaraja. Another northern temple that has amusing carvings, some of the carvings depict the Dutch colonialists getting drunk, an armed robbery and a wartime dogfight between aero planes.
Sawan - 16 km south east of Singaraja - The villagers are traditional makers of gamelan gongs and other gamelan instruments. The Batu Bolong temple is quite distinct looking.
Air Sanih - 18 km east of Singaraja. A cool natural spring-fed pool borders the beach.
Pancasari - 24 km south of Singaraja. A mountain village known for the golf course, Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club and two of Bali's lakes, Buyan and Tamblingan.
Ponjok Batu - 25 km east of Singaraja. The Ponjok Batu Temple (ponjok batu meaning pile of stones) perches on a rocky cliff next to a beach. A fresh water spring bubbles forth right on the beach.
Julah - 29 km east of Singaraja. It is said that this is the oldest village in North Bali.
Sembiran - 30 km south east of Singaraja. Probably a megalithic village, the culture, dialect and rituals are quite different from the rest of Bali.
Munduk - South west of Singaraja - Bali's ecological village. This scenic village, located in the mountains, is an ideal place to stay and escape from the heat. Foggy afternoons, fields of blue hydrangeas and numerous waterfalls make it an ideal place to go hiking.
Dolphin Tour - Leave at about 06.00 am by a traditional boat (at a small charge) from Lovina Beach area, arranged by the local firshermen community. It takes about two and half hours to return. Those who stay in Kuta area have to leave about 3.00 am early morning from Kuta to get Lovina Beach or 04.00 am from Ubud area. Alternatively, stay one night or more at Lovina Beach before taking a dolphin tour may be preferrable, contact us for further information.