Happy TravellerDenpasar, the capital city of Bali province in Indonesia, is rapidly becoming a hub for tourism and business activities. As the main gateway to Bali island, Denpasar is a vibrant city that offers a unique blend of traditional Balinese culture and modern urban development. This city has the highest growth rate in Bali province, contributing to the rapid development of the tourism industry in the region.
Denpasar’s name comes from the Balinese words den (north) and pasar (market), reflecting its origins as a market-town. The city’s history goes back to the 18th and 19th century, when it functioned as the capital of the Hindu Majapahit Kingdom of Badung. The royal palace was looted and razed during the Dutch intervention in 1906, and a statue in Taman Puputan commemorates the 1906 Puputan, in which as many as a thousand Balinese, including the King and his court, committed mass suicide in front of invading Dutch troops, rather than surrender to them.
Denpasar is located at an elevation of 4 m (13 ft) above sea level and covers an area of 127.78 km2. The Badung River divides Denpasar, after which the river empties into the Gulf of Benoa. The city has a tropical monsoon climate, with hot and humid weather year-round. The year is divided into two seasons: wet and dry. The wet season lasts from November to May, while the dry season lasts from June to October.
The city’s population was counted as 725,314 at the 2020 Census, down from 788,445 at the 2010 Census due to pandemic outflow, despite having hit 879,098 in 2015. Approximately 63.3% of the population are Hindus, while Islam is the largest minority religion (28.65%), followed by Christianity (6.45%), Buddhism (1.47%), and Confucianism (0.03%). Denpasar is administratively divided into four districts, subdivided into 43 sub-districts with 209 villages.
Denpasar has developed numerous measures to improve public services. The city government consists of four districts, and the city has several notable universities and institutions. Denpasar is served by Ngurah Rai International Airport, one of the busiest in Indonesia. The city is also accessible by sea and land. However, public transport in Denpasar, especially for urban transportation, is becoming ineffective and inefficient, with only 30% of vehicles still in operation as of 2010. Congestion in the city of Denpasar is unavoidable due to this reason. Since August 2011, the city has operated a bus rapid transit system called Trans Sarbagita. Two main routes and some feeder lines are operated daily from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Denpasar has various attractions, including white sandy beaches that are well-known all over the island. Sanur beach has calmer waters and is excellent for sunbathing and kitesurfing. In the Denpasar area, all kinds of Balinese handicrafts are represented in local shops. These include artwork, pottery, textiles, and silver. Batik cloth is sold all over Denpasar, and batik sarongs and men’s shirts are widely available. The city also has various sights to offer, such as the Pura Jagatnatha, the most important Hindu temple of Denpasar, and the Puri Pemecutan, the former royal palace of Denpasar.
Denpasar is a city that offers visitors a unique and authentic experience of Bali. With its rich history, culture, and natural beauty, Denpasar is an enchanting destination that should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
