ASIDE from being filled with fabulous culture, sensational sights and array of activities, there are countless reasons to visit the Island of Bali. One of them is the historical building such the Bajra Sandhi Monument.
What is the Bajra Sandhi Monument? This is a Balinese People’s Struggle Monument as a tribute to the great heroes of the Balinese. Thus, the presence of this monument is expected to serve as medium of education for younger generation to remember and preserve the values of their struggle from time to time.
The historical moment of the nation’s struggle culminating in Independence Day (Aug. 17, 1945) is symbolized with 17 steps at the main door, 8 large pillars inside the monument building, as well as a 45-meter high monument.
The monument is located in front of the Bali Governor’s Office and the Building of the Bali House of Representatives, or in the Niti Mandala Renon Civic Center, precisely at Puputan Margarana Square, Renon, Denpasar. It is designed to resemble a bajra or holy bell commonly used by priests when officiating over religious ceremonies and it is then named the Bajra Sandhi.
Built in stages since 1987, the Bajra Sandhi Renon Bali monument was then inaugurated by President Megawati Sukarno Putri on June 14, 2003. Apart from being a vehicle for the preservation of historical and educational values, this monument also functions as a popular tourist attraction among foreign and domestic tourists.
By diving deep into the information contained in the monument, you will get a brief story about the passage of Balinese people from the past to modern times today. On that account, you should not miss this monument in your itinerary because of the following reasons:
- This monument is carefully designed in Balinese architecture with superb ornaments of lava stone. Many people and tourists take advantage of their visit to the monument to take selfie or even make pre-wedding photos.
- A total of 33 historical dioramas are displayed on the second floor to depict the development of civilization from pre-historic to the struggle period against invaders such as the Puputan Klungkung and Puputan Badung (puputan in Balinese means ‘all out struggle’) events and post-independence period.
- Ultimately, at the top there is a pot (kumba) symbolizing the Amertha jar. Then, the gate is decorated with ornaments of Naga Basuki’s head and Bedawang Akupa. These two mythological creatures are taken from the story of the struggle for Tirtha Amertha between the Gods and the Asuras (demons).
More uniquely, the Bajra Sandhi Monument Denpasar is also surrounded by beautiful gardens with various ceremonial plants and tropical fruits. Every day this area is enlivened by local visitors who do light sports activities such as walking, yoga or school sports for students in the morning or afternoon.
Hopefully, you have a nice tour to explore the beauty of the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar Bali and the gardens that surround it while breathing fresh air in the middle of the city. Last but not least, this area is also planted with banyan trees at all four corners so that the atmosphere around it becomes very shady.
