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Bali, Indonesia
Gelgel Village is a historic royal village located in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia. It was the former center of the powerful Gelgel Kingdom, which ruled Bali for centuries and played a major role in shaping Balinese culture, religion, and identity.
Gelgel Village is a historic royal village located in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia, and is widely known as the former center of the powerful Gelgel Kingdom. After the fall of the Majapahit Empire in Java, Gelgel became the political and cultural heart of Bali, marking a golden age of power, religion, and artistic development that shaped Balinese identity for centuries.
The royal lineage of Gelgel traces back to Sri Kresna Kepakisan, a Majapahit noble appointed to rule Bali in the late 14th century. The kingdom reached its peak in the 16th and 17th centuries, ruling most of Bali and extending its influence to Lombok, West Sumbawa, and parts of East Java. One of the most important figures of this era was Dalem Baturenggong, under whose reign Gelgel achieved its greatest political and religious authority.
Gelgel is also closely linked to the sacred legacy of Dang Hyang Nirartha, whose arrival in Bali strengthened Hindu-Dharma teachings across the island. One of Bali’s most important temples, Pura Dasar Buana Gelgel, was established as a royal and spiritual center during this period, reinforcing Gelgel’s status as a key religious hub in Balinese history.
Beyond its royal and religious role, Gelgel Village is known for its long tradition of religious tolerance, including the presence of the oldest Muslim community in Bali. Although the Gelgel Kingdom declined in the late 17th century and political power later shifted to Klungkung, the village remains an important cultural heritage site. Today, Gelgel Village stands as a living testament to Bali’s royal, spiritual, and multicultural past.
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