Taman Ujung Water Palace

Taman Ujung is a royal water palace near the east coast, with broad ponds, stone bridges and pavilions backed by Mount Agung. It is spacious and calm, and usually much quieter than the more famous sites nearby.

History

Taman Ujung was built in the early twentieth century by the King of Karangasem, Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem, as a place to rest, host guests and enjoy the water. Sources give 1909 as the start of construction.

The design blends Balinese, Dutch and Chinese influences. The palace was damaged during the Second World War and again by the 1963 eruption of Mount Agung, then restored in later decades, so what you see today combines original structures with reconstructed ones.

Meaning and culture

Unlike Besakih or Lempuyang, Taman Ujung is not an active place of worship, and there is no strict dress code. It is best understood as a statement of royal power and taste, showing how the Karangasem court looked outward to other cultures while staying rooted in Bali.

Water still plays a symbolic part. The ponds and pavilions were arranged to be viewed from the stairways and raised paths, so the visit becomes a slow walk with changing views, from the central bridge to the hillside viewpoints.

What to see

• The central pavilion and its long stone causeway
• Ponds and bridges in the lower gardens
• Hillside stairways with views of the coast and Mount Agung
• The small museum about the king

Good to know

• Wear comfortable shoes, as there are many steps
• Bring water and sun protection; there is limited shade
• Parking is a small extra charge
• Pair it with Tirta Gangga for an easy East Bali day