Understand
This is the administrative capital of the regency with the same name. The town is of great historical, cultural, and artistic significance.
Gelgel, just to the south of Klungkung, was the seat of the mighty Majapahit empire in the 15th and 16th century which moved to Klungkung itself in the 17th century. This was a golden age for art and culture in Bali, and Klungkung was the centre of it all.
More recently, Klungkung forever made its mark in modern Balinese history when in 1908, it was the last kingdom holding out against the Dutch invaders. Hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned, the King of Klungkung the Dewa Agung or great god led 200 members of his family and court in a puputan ritual march to death, into the face of the Dutch guns. All of the group were either killed or committed ritual suicide.
Tourism Information Office