Puri Agung Pemecutan (Pemecutan Royal Palace), Denpasar

Puri Agung Pemecutan, also known as Pemecutan Royal Palace, is one of Bali’s historic royal compounds, with origins linked to the 17th-century Pemecutan Kingdom. Its name is linked to the Balinese word pecut, meaning “whip.” According to legend, the kingdom began after a prince received a magical whip, later understood as a moral symbol reminding the royal family of its duty to the people.

The palace is closely tied to the 1906 Puputan Badung, when much of the compound was destroyed by fire during the conflict with Dutch colonial forces. One structure is especially meaningful: the Bale Kulkul, or slit-log drum tower, which survived as one of the few major parts left standing. It is often regarded as a silent witness to the destruction, especially since the burning of the palace is linked in local memory to the king’s decision to prevent it from falling into colonial hands.

Today, the palace still reflects royal heritage, ritual life, and Balinese arts. Visitors can see carved gateways, courtyards, shrines, statues, and ceremonial spaces shaped by traditional design. It also preserves a rare gamelan ensemble in the Jaba Bale Gong, still used in sacred ceremonies, while part of the compound now serves as traditional-style accommodation managed by royal descendants.