Klungkung - Kerta Gosa

Of the old palace of Puri Agung, which stood on the main street leading to the town center, only two structures remain - an entrance gate, now standing by itself, and the Kerta Gosa (Court Hall). They stand opposite one another in an attractive park, roughly of the same extent as the former palace precinct.

The Kerta Gosa, built in the mid 18th century on a small island in an artificial pond, is particularly notable for its magnificent ceiling paintings in the wayang style.

Originally the paintings were on canvas, but in the course of restoration work in 1960 they were transferred to fibrous cement sheets. Paintings in the wayang style (in which some artists in and around Klungkung still paint) relate a whole story in a series of scenes in which the same person always features. Among the scenes depicted are the heaven which will reward those who observe law and order in their lives and the punishments which await sinners. An offender being tried in the Court Hall had only to raise his head to get a rather alarming idea of the penalties to which he might be subjected.

The paintings are in five basic colors - yellow, red, blue, black and white.

In the center of the hall are a rectangular table and six chairs for the three judges, who were priests (pedanda), and the assessors.