Excalibur in Bali
Two Long-Lost Sacred Keris (Swords) Receive a Homecoming Welcome to Bali.

Two priceless keepsakes of Bali’s ancient kingdoms of Klungkung and Gelgel have made a brief and very emotional homecoming to mark the 100th anniversary of the Puputan sacrifice on April 28, 2008.

On a 100 year-long journey from Bali, Holland, Jakarta and now back to Bali - two priceless bejeweled ceremonial swords or keris have been given a memorial tour of their “old home” in Bali. So revered are the two Keris that each bears it own name – Ardawaike for the sword from the Klungkung Palace and Tombake Ki Baru Gudug for the weapon from the Gelgel Palace.

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When you visit Klungkung regency (State East of Denpasar) you have to visit its Museum – Museum Semarajaya — to know a little about the History of Klungkung. Museum Semarajaya is located in Semarapura City – the city of Klungkung — next to the tourist destination Kertha Gosa/Taman Gili (Old Court-Hall/Floating Hall). Whether you want it or not you have to enter Kertha Gosa first before going to the museum due to one entrance only is opened for these two areas. The ticket is very cheap, @Rp 5000,- for adults and @Rp 2000,- for children. Why it is cheap, because it will not be able to help the government to maintain those historic inheritances. But the good point is the local people will not feel difficult to pay for the entrance if they take their family members there. It means they will know and learn more about their ancestor history.

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That area is divided into three parts, the museum on the West, Taman Gili (Floating Hall) on the South, and Kertha Gosa (Old Court-Hall) on the North. There are wayang (consist of Hindu’s figures and stories) pictures at the ceiling of the Old Court-Hall which tell about the life after the death. There is also a big exit called Pamedalan Agung, it is said when a Dutch Soldier climbed and was at the top of Pamedalan Agung he saw a different place below not the ordinary one.

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The historical period of Bali is divided into three sub-periods which includes :

a. The Ancient Period ( 800 - 1343 AD)

The collections from this period that are displayed: stupika, the miniature of a stupa (Buddhist temple) made of clay and there is a stamp or tablet inside. The tablet is written with Pranegari script in Sanskrit language containing Buddhist mantras. A great number of stupikas were found in Pejeng village and Tatiapi, Blahbatuh village (Gianyar) which can be traced back to 800 AD, and it was the first writing ever found indicating the beginning of Bali history. Also displayed findings of this age of stone and bronze statues (arca) such as : Arca Dewi Tara, Arca Manjucri and others as the media for worshipping the divined king’s spirit. Trading system had also been going on in that period, proved by the remains found such as : gold and silver currencies and perforated Chinese coins. Photographs of architectural remains from the period are also displayed such as : Gunung Kawi temple, Gua Gajah/Elephant cave and Yeh Pulu temple.

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