KERTA GOSHA

Photograpy by Nick-localbaliguide

Kerta Gosha is the ancient house of justice located in the center of Klungkung city which also known as floating pavilion. Klungkung was one the capital city of Balinese kingdom after 1550 following the retirement of Balinese famous king Dalem Waturenggong. The city of Klungkung is 47 km from Denpasar, or 62 kms from Kuta, and 76 kms from Nusa Dua area.

Kerta GoshaThe pavilion looks like a floating pavilion on one of the roof is painted with strange pictures. The pictures depict the punishment of wrong doers in the heaven. For example if a man during his life has many women or can not be single loyalty will be punished with heavy burden to hold many women until he is lay waste and become a joke of others. If a woman during her life does not wish to have child also will be punished to feed her milk to a caterpillar, and many other ethical education to the people.
The interest of Kerta Gosha is not only of the traditional low of order but also the architecture and the story behind the existence of the pavilion. The only after the legal heirs of the kingdom getting his adultery Dewa Agung Mayun and Dewa Agung Jambe with the assistance of vassals of Badung, Buleleng, and Tabanan then I Gusti Agung Maruti was forced to withdraw from the throne. And Dewa Agung Jambe as the legal heir of the kingdom moved the capital of the kingdom to Semarapura which is known as Klungkung where he was hiding during the coup d'detat. Semarapura is known also as Smarajaya. Dewa Agung Jambe sit on the throne of Klungkung kingdom from 1710 to 1775 as the first king of Klungkung kingdom with control to all vassals in Bali.
Kerta Gosha is the withness of the justice practice in Bali or 18th century which judges consist of expert in religion, social, nature and various aspects of life. Yet the main expert were from the Siwa and Buddist priests, as the sanction of the wrongdoes at that time mostly based on myth.