Tirta Gangga

Tirta Gangga is Maze Pond With a Fountain Surrounded by Gardens

Tirta Gangga is located in Ababi Village, Abang District, Karangasem Regency, is the former Karangasem royal palace. Tirta Gangga is a maze pond with a fountain surrounded by gardens and dozens of old statues. This water palace is an ancient building, previous was use for bathing place of noble family King Karangasem, but has a unique architecture that is surrounded by rice fields and hills. Tirta Gangga literally means water from the Ganges which is a tribute to the Balinese Hindu community. This name refers to a water palace built in 1948 by the King of Karangasem, Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem Agung. However, this name is also used to refer to the area which includes the water palace and the surrounding fertile countryside.

The Tirta Gangga Water Palace is a maze of ponds and fountains surrounded by lush gardens and statues. The one hectare complex was built in 1946 by the late King of Karangasem but was almost completely destroyed by the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963. It was later rebuilt and restored. The area around Tirta Gangga is famous for its rice terraces.
The architectural form of Tirta Gangga is a combination of Balinese and Chinese styles. The building stands on a 1.2 hectare site, divided into three complexes. The first complex is at the very bottom, has two lotus ponds and a fountain. The second complex is in the middle, has a swimming pool. And the third complex is the resting place of the king..

This development is carried out in several stages. The construction of Tirta Gangga also stopped because of the eruption of Mount Agung in September 1963. The eruption at that time made the hills in the Tirta Gangga area bare due to lava and volcanic ash. Subsequently, rehabilitation began in 1979. The repair started with the renovation of the park continued to other parts. Having been visited by tourists again in the 1980s, the funds from the entrance ticket also contributed to the development process. In 1988, Tirta Gangga has flowed water again in several towers and statues. This also marks the life of Tirta Gangga as well as the progress of his rehabilitation process. The history of Tirta Gangga is also colored by earthquakes that make some buildings collapse.