During the 37 years he ruled as the Raja of Karangasem, at the time one of the nine Balinese Kingdoms under Dutch control, Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem built, as well as improved upon, a number of important Balinese water palaces. The Raja loved the water gardens, and visitors were often surprised and fascinated to find him working knee-deep in mud among his laborers. Tirta Gangga was built in 1946, but the one- hectare complex was nearly destroyed by the eruption of nearby Mount Agung in 1963. The gardens, large pools, statues, and flowing water features have been painstakingly restored to their former magnificence, including a centerpiece eleven-tiered fountain. The water of Tirta Gangga, whose name means Sacred Water of the Ganges, has always been regarded as holy and is regularly used for religious temple ceremonies.


Inside the walls of Tirta Gangga lies a garden comprised mainly of fresh-water pools fed by a flow of 500,000 gallons per day. The sacred water moves through three immense pools dedicated to fish and flowering water plants, and two swimming pools. There are walking paths throughout the garden for viewing the pools, fish, flowering plants and tropical greenery that have been meticulously planted over the years. Over time and with the continual plantings, the garden has become more and more lush; the once-bare stone walls that contain the water palace have been slowly covered by a blanket of vibrant green foliage and radiant blossoms.


As part of the ongoing effort to improve Tirta Gangga, a cluster of superb statues created by a master sculptor in Karangasem was placed in the area where the Raja would spend much of his day composing poetry and meditating. The circle of statues represents the virtuous Balinese man and woman and the dualistic array of positive and negative influences, spiritual supporters, and demonic tempters. Photography by Kyer Wiltshire


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164