It is located five kilometers from Karangasem’s capital of Amlapura, overlooking the sea, the island’s highest volcano Mount Agung and Besakih, Bali’s mother temple. Many design and building experts remain eager to explore its distinctive architectural styles.
Built under the commission of I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, the king of Karangasem, in the year 1919, Taman Ujung was designed to be a retreat for Karangasem royalty. Designed in three different architectural styles, Balinese, Chinese and Western, Taman Ujung, also known as the water palace, is a fascinating site for architectural study. The palace, designed by Dutch architect Van den Henz, Chinese architect Lotto Ang and several undagi (Balinese traditional architects), exemplifies architectural elements and unparalleled details in each of its structures. Three large ponds are connected with each other by two long bridges. There is a rest area for the king and a circular gazebo for family members to enjoy their leisure.
The park’s construction was completed in 1921 and officially inaugurated in 1937. The king also built Tirtagangga water palace nearby and Puri Agung Karangasem in Amlapura. However, the disastrous eruption of Mt. Agung destroyed most of the structures in the grand water palace. Meanwhile, a few years ago, major renovations started to return the park to its glory. The patriarch of the present Puri Gede Agung Karangasem family, Anak Agung Bagus Ngurah Agung, is proud of his ancestors art and cultural legacy. His father, Anak Agung Gede Agung, was the eldest grandson of the last king of Karangasem, Anglurah Ketut Karangasem.
