Half an hour from Natya River Sidemen, in the town of Semarapura, stands the Kertha Gosa Pavilion — the old hall of justice of the Klungkung royal court, and one of East Bali’s most important cultural sites.
Built in the eighteenth century as part of Klungkung Palace, the pavilion was where kings and priests heard disputes and passed judgement. The name translates roughly as the place where the king meets his ministers to discuss justice and prosperity, which tells you most of what the building was for.
Its ceilings are the reason to come. Painted in the Kamasan style native to Klungkung, they depict scenes from the Bhima Swarga epic — vivid portrayals of heaven and hell laid out above the heads of anyone standing trial, spelling out the consequences of good and bad deeds. They are remarkable paintings and a direct statement of Balinese Hindu philosophy.
The pavilion is surrounded by gardens, water features and a lotus pond, which makes it a calm stop rather than a rushed one. Combine the visit with Goa Lawah, the bat cave temple, or the local market for a full day out.
The drive back to Sidemen runs through rice terraces, and the infinity pool is waiting at the end of it.
