Tabanan, Rainbow over Ricefields

Exploration at Kerambitan Grand Palace
Observing the Structure of an Ancient Palace

Tabanan is, that is given the nickname rice granary of Bali, rich in escapading sites. This region has mountain ranges, lowlands and coastal territory that are no less attractive than other popular beaches. Remarkably right, if some tourism entrepreneurs then select this region as tracking site. Locations that often made into escapading site are such as Marga, Kerambitan and Pupuan.
Apart from the rural atmosphere, we also have an opportunity to enjoy a pleasurable escapading in the royal palace. Palace as the abode of ancient kings, it’s now open to receive tourists’ visit. Just try to make a visit to Kerambitan Grand Palace. This palace founded on 2 hectares of land has building structures that are still original and primeval. It was established in 1650 (17th century) and situated at Tengah Hamlet, Kerambitan or some 7 km west of Tabanan and 28 km from Denpasar.
Location of the palace is immensely strategic as occurs in front of traditional market of Kerambitan and close to Pasut Beach (approximately 5 km) and Kelating Beach (approx. 4 km) and these make it have been visited by many tourists.
As soon as entering the palace, we will arrive at Ancak Saji building with spacious front courtyard. During the kingdom periods, this building was employed to hold various kinds of activities like meeting. However, it’s now used for staging art performance and dinner.
Then, on entering the grand gateway as the second section, we will encounter a Tandeg building. It’s intended for venue to receive guests firstly by the royal family. With some couples of leap, you’ll encounter Bale Kembar or twin pavilions where to locate the corpse of kings or elders before being cremated.
When turning left, you’ll find Tandakan building, a place that always passed by when holding religious ceremony like tooth filing, wedding or funeral. By those reasons, Tandakan has four gateways in Balinese architectural style. On entering the gate in the north, there lays Saren Agung, a place where the kings take a rest. East door leads to Saren, a place where to carry out daily activities of royal family. Nowadays, Saren is often employed to organize dinner for special guests, while west door leads to Batur Temple as the temple for royal ancestral souls.
At Tandakan, there are three main buildings, namely Pesamuan as a place for sitting relaxingly and now used to display clothes and sculptures. Similarly, there is Saren Mas for holding tooth filing ceremony particularly for royal henchmen, while for royal family at Saren Agung locating in the north of it. Another building is Loji that is used for honeymooner of royal generation. Here, the couple usually stay for three nights after the wedding ceremony.
The newest building is Wantilan situating in the southeast. It is specially used for gathering of royal family. Once in a while, it’s also used to receive important guests. “As the royal elder is A.A. Ngurah Anom Mayun. He has five spouses and 25 children—16 sons and 13 daughters, all stay outside the palace and they come assemble at this pavilion every month,” said A.A. Ngurah Cipta Luhur (38) who is the 25th child.

Dinner Venue
Ngurah Mayun said that at dinnertime is staged folk art of Kerambitan, like Okokan (large-size cow’s bell orchestra) and Kendang Mebarung. There is also Tektekan. “Art entertainment presented is in accordance with request of guests,” he affirmed.
Explained, tourists are welcomed by a march of women in Balinese costume, Pendet Dance, Lantern march and Bleganjur or marching band-like orchestra. From the street, visitors will be escorted to enter the location of Ancak Saji. Royal family welcomes visitors then they are served with welcome drink made of nyuh gading or golden hybrid coconut. While enjoying drinking, they can watch the presentation of pendet, mask, okokan, kendang mebarung dance and wedding procession of distinctive style of Kerambitan Grand Palace, Tabanan.
Visitors are then proceeded to look around the location of original royal buildings. Afterwards, continued to Tandakan and Saren to have buffet dinner. Dinner is accompanied with rindik orchestra. Having dined, visitors are invited to join the dance by charming Joged Bungbung dancer.
The agenda is resumed to Ancak Saji to watch the presentation of dramatic Tektekan Calonarang. “Previously, we organized dinner for 15 to 20 times a month, however, after the bomb blast 2002, maximally 4 times a month,” added A.A. Ngurah Cipta Luhur. (BTN/015)