Provincial Public Museum Denpasar, Bali

Locally known as the Negeri Propinsi Bali, the Provincial Public Museum Denpasar, or the Bali Provincial Public Museum is one of the oldest museums in Indonesia, and is inlcuded in the itinerary of our best Bali tour package.

It is here where you can not only learn a lot about the island’s history, heritage, traditions and cultures, but also see displays and exhibitions about the lives of the Balinese people. Complete with tropical gardens inside it, the museum also boasts of stone carvings, statues and other attractions.

Home to over 10,000 exhibits, the museum is also the perfect place to study the intricacies of traditional Balinese architecture. Divided into three pavilions, after the different regencies of Bali, the Provincial Public Museum Denpasar offers you a chance to see an extensive collection of art and ethnography, in addition to age-old scriptures, household items, ceramics, porcelain statues, ritual and agricultural tools, shadow puppets, as well as paintings and weapons. These pavilions are called Kahyangan, Pura and Merajan.

The display area is further subdivided into four galleries. While Tabanan displays theatrical masks and musical instruments, you can find a wide array of sculptures and paintings in Karangasem, textiles in Buleleng and the archaeological artefacts and findings at Timur.

What makes the Provincial Public Museum Denpasar even more interesting is the fact that one of its parts is the location of the Badung War, which took place in 1906. While the construction of this museum began in the year 1910, it opened its doors to the public in December of 1932.

Recommended Read: Best Museums in Ubud

• When in Bali, pay a visit to the Provincial Public Museum Denpasar, known as one of the oldest museums and landmarks in the island.
• Spent some time marveling at more than 10,000 exhibits in the museum, ranging from parts of Balinese architecture and paintings, to artworks, ancient inscriptions, ceramics and porcelain statues, as well as shadow puppets, tools used for agriculture and rituals and other things.
• Learn more about the different historical tales, traditions and cultures of the region by exploring the different sections of the museum.
• Don’t forget to head to the inner yard of the museum to catch sights of the magnificent stone coffin, or the galleries consisting of numerous Wayang Kulit or shadow puppet paintings.
• Take a relaxing stroll in the garden area of the museum, which boasts of lush green plants and flowers.

The Provincial Public Museum Denpasar is located in Denpasar Downtown, near other popular landmarks of the city. The best way to reach the Provincial Public Museum Denpasar is by taking a flight to the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, which is located around 15 kilometres from the museum.

Upon arrival at the airport, you can avail a taxi or car rental or hire a scooter to reach the museum. This will take around 60 to 90 minutes to reach.

Alternatively, if you are getting to the museum from other places in Bali, you can avail a taxi or rent a private vehicle to reach here. From Badung or Gianyar, the distance to the museum is around 32 kilometres, and it typically takes an hour to two hours to complete the journey.

Suggested Read: Best Things to Do in Denpasar for an Ultimate Experience

The Provincial Public Museum Denpasar remains open from 08:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m. on most days of the week. Therefore, to avoid a lot of tourist crowds and visit the different galleries and exhibition halls in the museum comfortably, it is best to reach in the early hours of the morning, as soon as the museum opens. This will also help you to avoid the extreme heat outside as well.

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