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Singaraja town

Jalan Veteran, Paket Agung, Bali

Description

Singaraja is the main town in Northern Bali and the second largest on the island after Denpasar. It was the Dutch colonial capital of the region extending from Bali up to Timor between 1849 and 1960 but it is now mostly a port town. Highlights for visitors include: Gedong Kirtya, a library holding the only collection of lontar manuscripts (made of dried palm leaves), Museum Buleleng with some interesting local artefacts, Puri Agung Singaraja (the royal palace of the former kingdom of Buleleng), Ling Gwan Kiong (a Chinese temple serving the Confucianist, Buddhist and Taoist faiths), and Pura Agung Jagatnatha (the city's most important temple).

Access & Transport

The city is 80km straight north of Denpasar with some buses / bemo running frequently. From Ubud it is 70km / 2h drive and from Kuta-Seminyak it is 85kms / 2h30

Instructions & Recommendations

Note that some of the museums are closed on weekends. Other activities in the area include Lovina beach and the Sekumpul waterfalls.

Meta review

Singaraja is definitely not on most tourists' radar and seldom featured in travel blogs, although it is included in most travel guidebooks on account of it being the second largest city on the island and having been its capital for over a century. Based on online reviews for various activities there isn't any standout attraction but the combo of Museum Buleleng and Gedong Kirtya Library, next to each other, adds a nice cultural touch worth about 1h across them with the latter being the more interesting (and unique) and staff often takes the time to provide background info about the lontars.

Environmental & Social

We deem tourism in this town as environmentally and socially neutral

Conclusion

Singaraja isn't a name associated with touristic sights but is worth 2-3h exploration for those on a Bali road trip or simply on their way to/from Northern or Western Bali. Don't expect anything exceptional but there are pockets and venues (temples / museums) that feel like a time machine, a documentary of Bali in the first half of the 20th century, before tourism.

Key positive

Not many tourists

No entrance fee to the 2 museums (donation based)

Key negative

No attraction worth driving a long way for

Suitability

For everybody but unlikely to be of much interest to children

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

June 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:2h 30m

est. visit time:4h

Sunlight based

Sunrise / early morningNo

MorningOk

Lunch timeOk

AfternoonOk

Sunset / eveningOk

Night – bef. midnightNo

Night – aft. midnightNo

Pricing
Free

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