Kertha Gosa at Semarapura, Klungkung represents one of the famous tourist destinations on the Bali island. It is located in the heart of Semampura town and its name is derived from Sanskrit words, namely kertha meaning peaceful and gosa from the word gosita meaning announcement. On that account, the phrase kertha gosa conveys a building of jurisdiction in the form of pavilion used by the kings to announce the legislation, jurisdiction, penalization and so forth. The building ofKertha Gosa is unique and fully embellished with high art value. Therefore, this place is worth visiting.
Here also is Taman Gili, a floating pavilion (it seems to float because it is indeed deliberately founded in the middle of a fish pond). Decorative paintings on the ceiling of Kertha Gosa are painted with narrative motifs, starting from the panel set up at east side with the plot rotating clockwise and ending at the panel at north side. Kertha Gosa was founded in 18th century and its ceiling is dotted with the famous style of Kamasan painting from the year 1930.
During the Dutch administration (1908- 1942), Kertha Gosa was used as a court of justice for alleged criminals and lawbreakers. Along with colonial legislation, the punishment system in Indonesia also changed from the Majapáhit-style into continental punishment system brought by the Dutch. Rather than retaliation the ‘Exile’ system aims to improve the perpetrator so that he becomes acceptable to society. Paintings decorating the ceiling of conference hall aim at awakening the conscience of all trespassers to remind them not to repeat the badness.
At the same complex, there is also a museum called Semarajaya. This museum is set in a building which was formerly the Dutch High School. Its architectural design represents the Dutch style in combination with the Balinese traditional. Here we can see various ancient objects, historical objects including photos of documentation of the royal family of Klungkung Kingdom.
