Klungkun

Klungkung means "happiness" or "beauty", it is the smallest kingdom in Bali, located on the southeast coast, it includes the islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan. The great river Unda flows through this district and passes through many beautiful villages. Semarapura is the main town in the area with a bustling shopping center, which houses the largest market in Bali.

Indonesia is one of the main algae producing countries in the world, Bali has 700 hectares of seaweed, and 80% is located in the three Nusas. Planting and harvesting algae is usually done when the tide is low, locals collect the algae and deposit them in bamboo baskets that they carry overhead. "Very interesting activity to watch."

Nusa Penida- It is the largest island of the three and the least touristy, with hardly any hotel offer. It can be accessed by boat from Nusa Lembongan or Ceningan.  Where dominates the wild landscapes with cliffs, beaches taken from a movie and sunsets that leave no one indifferent. It is like traveling back in time and transporting to Bali in the 70s, centered deep-rooted religious traditions, with their maximum activity in the countryside and sea fishing with conservative methods, where you can still see some older women only covered from the waist down , following their culture.

Highlight:

• Crystal Bay- If what you like is being able to see unforgettable sunsets, with exotic palm trees and crystal clear waters, where you can enjoy snorkeling. 

• Diving with manta rays at Manta Point, is just 30 minutes by boat from Cristal bay. Giant manta rays measure up to 9 meters in length, their life expectancy of up to 50 years. The preferred food of the blankets is plankton (microscopic organisms), so they swim with their mouths open and brushing the surface.

• Broken Beach– One of the most impressive landscapes on the island. From the cliff, you can see how the force of the ocean pushes the water and enters through the natural cave to the beach in a rounded shape. It is not a beach to bathe or lie down, but a spectacle with which to stay hypnotized observing the beauty of the views and the power of nature. 

• Angel’s Billabong - Beautiful natural lagoon in the middle of the rocks bathed in crystal clear waters. Looking at the natural pool, it looks very calm, but every minute the ocean waves come in and devastate everything inside, so unless you like danger a lot, you shouldn't bathe. 

• Kelingking Beach -It is the star of Nusa Dua, the vertiginous rocky cliff where you can see at the end a white sand beach and crystal clear water. 

At the highest point of the island (524 meters), from the viewpoint you can see Kelingking Beach and on the left, you can access the beach by going down the side of the mountain. The road has a steep slope and rocks, you need to wear adequate footwear.

• Atuh Beach -You cannot see the sunset, due to the rising tide, but it is still worth visiting. Right in front of the beach there is a rock formation and watching the surf there is impressive. To access it, you reach it by the path to the top of the mountain and from there you have to go down some stairs until you reach the beach. The path is quite rocky and sloping, we recommend wearing suitable footwear. 

Nusa Lembongan- It is an island with a calm spirit, perfect for spending a few days of relaxation and calm, well cared for by its inhabitants, both in cleaning its beaches and in conserving underwater life and species. There is a lot of hotel offer, unlike in the other two neighboring islands.

Its great attractions are:

• The beaches- They are not the most paradisiacal in the world since most are used for the cultivation of algae "the main activity of the island". Highlights:

 Mushroom bay  

 Dream beach 

• Breakwater- Another of the great attractions of the island is to watch the sunset from the breakwater called Tears of the Devil, a cliff area in the south of the island. 

• Snorkeling Tours- Enjoying underwater paradises including swimming with manta rays, an exciting experience. 

There is a small suspension bridge that connects Nusa Lembongan with Nusa Ceningan "The photo is the one that appears at the top of this page" :)

Nusa Ceningan- It is a tiny island connected to Nusa Lembongan by a suspension bridge, with hardly any hotel and restaurant offer due to its size.

Points of interest:   

Le pirate Beach Club- Even if you don't stay there, you can enjoy a beer and take a dip in its small pool overlooking the sea. 

• Secret Beach- A small hidden cove with an incredible landscape, where to bathe calmly and spend a relaxing time.

•  Secret Point- Area known to surfers, ideal for those who practice this sport.

Pura Goa Lawah- Means cave of bats, is a temple with more than 1000 years old famous for being the oldest temple in Bali plays an important role in rituals related to life after death. Legend has it that it is the refuge of the great sacred serpent Naga Basuki, a mythological character who is in charge of ensuring the good harmony between the good and bad gods, who lives inside the cave and is connected with Mount Agung itself and the Mother Temple or Pura Besakih, according to Hindu mythology. It is located in Pesinggahan village.

Tohpati- Pueblo manufacturing center of the typical handmade ikat and batik fabrics that are the brand of identity of Bali, including the entire country of Indonesia. 

Klungkung Palace- Officially Puri Agung, is a complex of historical buildings located in Semarapura, the region's capital, it was built in the late 17th century, but was largely destroyed during the Dutch colonial conquest in 1908. Today, the remains basics of the palace are:

• Taman Gili- Means “Garden of the Moat” is the only part of the Royal Palace of Klungkung that is fully preserved.  
• Bale Kambang -Located in the center of a moat, the Floating Pavilion has valuable ceiling paintings depicting different Balinese myths.
• Kerta Gosa- The old pavilion of the High Royal Court houses 267 painted panels on its ceiling in which different moralistic scenes are shown.
• Daerah Semarajaya Museum- Contains objects and paintings belonging to the Klungkung dynasty.

Although it is not a temple, it is necessary to put on a sarong before entering the compound. 

Kamasan Village- Small community of traditional painters “Kamasan” one of the most famous on the island. Where to visit many painting galleries and family workshops. Artistic skills have been passed down from generation to generation. Presenting visual narratives in the form of Wayang figures (shadow puppets) inspired by episodes of Hindu epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata, they all have religious significance. A place of great importance in the history and culture of the Klungkung kingdom, which dates back to times when painters worked for the royal courts. Much of the older Kamasan-style paintings can be seen adorning the ceilings and walls of the Kerta Gosa "Hall of Justice" in the city center of Semarapura. The art form has persisted to this day, with many of the lines and nuances detailed in natural tints of red and ocher applied to canvas, bark, and more recently canvas. 

Nyoman Gunarsa Museum- Nyoman Gunarsa is a painter who has collected modern and ancient Balinese art since the 1950s building a very nice huge museum. 

Goa Jepang-It is located in the village of Banjarangkan, there are sixteen caves built next to the Tukad Bubuh river. Fourteen of these caves connect with each other and two others are in the extreme north and extreme south. It is a memory of Japanese colonialism in Bali.

Tukad Unda Waterfall- The dam is made on the Tukad Unda river, it is a very popular place among the locals, who come to bathe and wash their clothes. It is a wonderful source of games for children.

Melangit River- It is located in the town of Bakas, it is a very popular place for rafting since it has more than thirty rapids from 1 to 4 meters high. The river's torrent is strong, the currents are fast which makes it an exciting adventure of 8 kilometers. Considering that there are so many challenging rapids and interesting views along the river, you will feel that the adventure is short lived. It takes 5 minutes on foot from the parking area to the starting point while the rafting lasts 90-120 minutes including rest time. From the arrival point to the parking lot it takes 7 minutes to walk on relatively flat terrain.

Semarapura Market- Extensive and vibrant commerce center, meeting place for the people of the region. You can easily spend an hour wandering the maze of stalls on three levels. Where you can find everything from straw baskets, fruits, vegetables, to jewelry, passing the famous authentic ikat fabrics a third cheaper than anywhere else, to local food stalls. On the top floor you can see the minarets of the mosque that fill the sky next to the Balinese temples. Mornings are the best time to visit it. 

Kusamba Beach- It is one of the quiet and exotic black sand beaches of eastern Bali. Remarkable for its traditional salt flats of almost a thousand years. The salt farms are run by local villagers who also make a living by fishing. At sunrise you can see the fishermen carry out their daily routines, preparing their nets to go out to sea in their "jukung" wooden boats. Meanwhile other locals will generally be busy harvesting salt from nearby parcels. 

Tihingan- Town known for its gong kembar factory, it is a mandatory stop for gamelan lovers. There are several gongmakers in this town, where more than 100 people work. They also make smaller instruments like gangsa, tawa-tawa, and cengceng. The profession of making the gamelan instrument is carried out through generations. Gamelan is the typical Balinese orchestra in which a few musicians up to several dozen participate depending on each orchestra.