Denpasar (Indonesian pronunciation:[denˈpasar];Balinese: ᬤᬾᬦ᭄ᬧᬲᬃ,Dénpasar) is thecapital and the largest city of the province ofBali, Indonesia.Denpasar is the largest city in theLesser Sunda Islands and the second largest city inEastern Indonesia afterMakassar. It is bordered byBadung Regency to its west,Gianyar Regency to its east, and theIndian Ocean and theBadung Strait to its south. The growth of thetourism industry on the island of Bali has pushed the city of Denpasar to become a center of business activities, and has positioned the city as an area with high per capita income and growth in Bali.[12] The population of the City at the end of 2024 was 670,210.[4]
Denpasar is the main gateway to the Bali island, the city is also a hub for other cities in theLesser Sunda Islands.
With the rapid growth of the tourism industry in Bali, Denpasar has encouraged and promoted business activities and ventures, contributing to it having the highest growth rate in Bali Province. The population of Denpasar was 725,314 at the 2020 Census,[13] down from 788,445 at the 2010 Census due to pandemic outflow; the official estimate as at end 2024 was 670,210.[4][14] TheDenpasar metropolitan area centred on Denpasar (calledSarbagita) had 2,187,198 residents in end 2024.[15] TheCOVID-19 pandemic and travel related closures has further exacerbated the population loss.
The name Denpasar – from theBalinese words "dén", meaning north, and "pasar", meaning market – indicates the city's origins as a market-town on the site of what is now Kumbasari Market (formerly "Peken Payuk"), in the northern part of the modern city.[16]
The city of Denpasar was founded byI Gusti Ngurah Made Pemecutan who was a descendant of Puri Pemecutan of Badung. The name Denpasar emerged when the area which was previously known as the Badung region was led by two sub-kingdoms inBadung, namely Puri Pemecutan and Puri Jambe Ksatrya. According to the researcher of the history of Denpasar City who is also a professor of history at the Faculty of Letters, Udayana University, AA Bagus Wirawan, at that time there were two palaces which indicated the existence of two governments, namely Puri Alang Badung and Puri Pemecutan.[3]
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Denpasar functioned as the capital of the HinduMajapahit Kingdom of Badung,[17] thus the city's former name being Badung. The royal palace was looted and razed during theDutch intervention in 1906. A statue in Taman Puputan (Denpasar's central square) commemorates the 1906Puputan, in which as many as a thousand Balinese, including the King and his court, committed mass suicide in front of invading Dutch troops, rather than surrender to them.[18]
Tuban Airfield, now part ofDenpasar International Airport, opened in 1931. It was seized by the Imperial Japanese forces in 1942 during World War II.
In 1958, Denpasar became the seat of government for the province of Bali. It remained the administrative centre of bothBadung Regency and the City of Denpasar.[19]
Both Denpasar and Badung Regency have experienced rapid physical, economic, social, and cultural growth.[19] Denpasar has become not only the seat of government, but also the centre of commerce, education, industry, and tourism.[19]
With an average population growth of 4.05% per annum, accompanied by rapid development, came a variety of urban problems. It was later resolved[when?] that meeting the needs and demands of the burgeoning urban community would be best addressed by giving Denpasar administrative independence from Badung Regency.[19]
An agreement was reached to raise the status of Denpasar to that of an autonomous city and on 15 January 1992, Act No. 1 of 1992 officially established the City of Denpasar. It was inaugurated by the Minister of Home Affairs on 27 February 1992.[19]
On 16 November 2009, in a further administrative realignment, Regulation Number 67 shifted the capital of Badung Regency from Denpasar toMangupura.[citation needed]
Denpasar is located at an elevation of 4 m (13 ft)above sea level. While the total area of 125.98 km2 or 2.18% of the total area of Bali Province. From the use of land, 2,768 hectares of land are paddy, 10,001 hectares are dry land, while the remaining land area is 9 hectares.
Badung River divides Denpasar, after which the river empties into the Gulf of Benoa.[20]
Denpasar, located just south of the equator, has atropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification:Aw) and is under the influence of theAustralian monsoon system. Daytime temperatures typically range from 20 °C to 33 °C throughout the year. Between December and March, the West monsoon may bring heavy rain and high humidity, though days are generally sunny, with rain falling mainly at night and clearing quickly. From June to September, humidity is low, and evenings can be mild.
The city's population was counted as 788,445 in 2010, up from 533,252 in the previous decade. The official estimate as of end-2024 was 670,210.[14]
Denpasar's population grew about 4% per year in the period from 2000 to 2010, Denpasar grew much faster from 2005 to 2010 than in the previous five years. The lingering effects of the2002 Bali bombings had a major depressive effect on tourism, jobs, and immigration from other islands. If current trends had continued, Denpasar had been expected to easily surpass a million residents by the next census in 2020. The 2015 intercensal survey (SUPAS) claimed a population of 879,098 people for the city,[26] but the 2020 Census demonstrated that the population had fallen to 725,314.[13] There were some 7,098 more men than women in Denpasar in mid-2022.[24]
In relation to being a tourist city, then Denpasar is also supported by several areas such asKuta andUbud. This area is often referred to asSarbagi (Denpasar,Badung andGianyar) orSarbagita (DenpasarBadung,Gianyar andTabanan) or simplyDenpasar metropolitan area based on Presidential Regulation No. 45 of 2011.[27] The following are the populations of several of these areas:
Bali Province is home to theBalinese andBali Aga tribes ethnic, as is the case in this city. As the capital city of Bali province, Denpasar is inhabited by people from various ethnic groups and more than other regions in Bali. Based on data fromCentral Bureau of Statistics in2010 Indonesian Population Census, as many as 516,708 people or 65.52% of the 788,589 people of the city of Denpasar are of theBalinese ethnic group.[28] Denpasar residents from other ethnic, many come from theJavanese ethnic, and some others areChinese,Sasak,Madura,Sunda,Flores,Malays,Bugis,Batak, and several other ethnic groups.[28]
The following is the population of Denpasar city based on ethnicity in 2010:[28]
St. Joseph Catholic Church in East DenpasarMelanting Temple at Kumbasari Market in Denpasar CityChinese temple in South DenpasarAl-Furqon Mosque in West Denpasar
Administratively, the city government consists of fourdistricts (kecamatan), subdivided into 43 villages. Denpasar has developed numerous measures to improve public services.[30]
Denpasar City comprises 4 districts (kecamatan), subdivided into 16urban villages (kelurahan) and 27 ruralvillages (desa), for a total amount of 43 villages. In mid 2022, the population was officially estimated at 726,808 (comprising 366,953 males and 359,855 females) with its area being 125.98 km² and its density 5,769 people/km2.[14]
List of districts and villages in Denpasar City as follows:
Greater Denpasar spills out into the tourist regions, includingKuta andUbud. The continuous built-up area includes nearly all of Badung Regency (except Petang District), most of Gianyar Regency (except for Payangan, Tegallalang, and Tampaksiring Districts), and part ofTabanan Regency (Kediri and Tabanan Districts only). It is known asSarbagita, aclipped compound of Denpasar,Badung,Gianyar, andTabanan, made official by Presidential Regulation Number 45 of 2011,[31] despite Tabanan just beginning to succumb tourban sprawl. See alsoList of metropolitan areas in Indonesia.
Administrative division
Area (in km2)
Pop'n 2010 Census
Pop'n 2020 Census
Pop'n mid 2022 Estimate
Pop'n density (per km2)
Denpasar Municipality
125.98
788,445
725,314
726,808
5,769.2
Badung Regency (part(a))
303.52
517,089
517,178
516,400
1,701.4
Gianyar Regency (part(b))
187.69
332,470
367,080
373,700
1,991.0
Tabanan Regency (part(c))
105.00
154,741
166,726
168,900
1,608.6
Denpasar Metropolitan Area (Sarbagita)
722.19
1,792,745
1,776,298
1,785,800
2,472.6
Notes: (a) Kuta Selatan, Kuta, Kuta Utara, Mengwi and Abiansemal Districts. (b) Sukawati, Blahbatuh, Ubud and Gianyar Districts. (c) Kediri and Tabanan Districts.
The development of tourism and structural changes in the economy have had a strong impact on Denpasar. Trade, hotels, and restaurants dominate the city'sgross regional domestic product.[32]
Also boosting the economy of Denpasar is the production of craft items such as souvenir carvings and sculptures. The craft industry, however, is experiencing pressure due to the impact of the global financial crises and competition from other Asian developing countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, India, Malaysia, and China. These competitor countries maximize the scale of production by using industrial technology, while at Denpasar the craft industry remains focused on traditional skills and hand-made goods, limiting the quantity of production.[33]
Bali was once known for its mud walls and thatched gates but gated residential developments and shop houses now characterize urban Bali.[34]
During the late 19th century, the built environment was being constructed based on the political situation of the city. This resulted in the residence of the ruling family becoming the centre of the city.[35]
Market squares played an important role in theBadung kingdom, and it continued to do so when the colonial powers came to exert control over Bali. Over the 20th century, Denpasar faced the challenges of changing urban landscapes brought about by political changes. The developments that were brought about by the colonial powers were regarded as eroding the indigenous culture of Bali. Although Denpasar became known as a 'settler city', there was still a strong attachment to the indigenous culture.[36]
Denpasar has undergone massive unplanned development during the 21st century, due to the expansion of tourism leading to the construction of increasingly more modern facilities in the heart of the city. Nonetheless, the market square still plays an important role, with its façade representing traditional elements of the Balinese culture.[citation needed]
Denpasar City Tourism Branding LogoSanur BeachTrans Studio Bali, a shopping center that just started operating in 2019 in Denpasar
Tourism is a vital industry for Denpasar's economy.[37] The city has become an increasingly popular destination for both domestic and international tourists. In December 2024, Denpasar recorded a total of 551,100 tourist visits,[38] an increase from 481,646 in December 2023.[39] In 2018, Denpasar along withJakarta andBatam are among of 10 cities in the world with fastest growth in tourism, 32.7, 29.2 and 23.3 percent respectively.[40]
As the capital city of Bali Province, Denpasar serves as both the cultural and administrative center of the island. It is known for its beaches, traditional markets, historic temples, local art markets, and street food scene.[41]
Denpasar has various attractions. The white sandy beaches are well-known all over the island. The surfing beach isSerangan Island.Sanur Beach has calmer waters and is excellent for sunbathing andkitesurfing.
Ten minutes from theNgurah Rai International Airport lies the town ofKuta (withinBadung Regency not administratively under the city jurisdiction), where most of the hotels, restaurants, malls, cafes, marketplaces, and spas that cater to tourists are located. In the Denpasar area, all kinds of Balinese handicrafts are represented in local shops. These include artwork, pottery, textiles, and silver.Batik cloth is sold all over Denpasar, and batiksarongs and men's shirts are widely available.[citation needed]
The development of tourism and the appeal of the island of Bali have indirectly driven the progress of development in the city of Denpasar. In 2000, the number of foreign tourists who visited reached 1,413,513 people, and placed the largest number of tourists from Japan then followed by Australia, Taiwan, Europe, England, America, Singapore and Malaysia.
The tourism development policy in the city of Denpasar emphasizes environmentally conscious cultural tourism. As one of the centers of tourism development, Denpasar City is a barometer for the progress of tourism in Bali, this can be seen from the emergence of various starred hotels as a means of supporting tourism activities.
Sanur Beach is one of the most visited beach tourism areas. While Puputan Field is a green open space area in Denpasar City and also functions as the "lungs of the city".
Denpasar has several tourist attractions that have historical and recreational elements. In Denpasar City there is a museum calledBali Museum.[42] The Bali Museum building is made to resemble a puri from the kingdoms in Bali.[43]
Denpasar City has good health service facilities in Bali Province, there are 3 government-ownedhospitals including Sanglah General Hospital, Denpasar, Wangaya General Hospital and Udayana Army Hospital as well as 13 private hospitals. The Denpasar City Government has also built 10 Community Health Centers and 26 sub-community health centers, with a ratio of community health centers per 100,000 population of 1.7.[44][45]
To serve the clean water needs of the Denpasar City community, it is served by the Denpasar City PDAM, and until 2003 has been able to serve 64.82% of its population. The raw water sources of the Denpasar City PDAM are surface water and deep wells whose processing uses a Complete Water Treatment Plant (IPAL). Meanwhile, the drainage system uses a gravity and pumping system.[25]
In handling thewaste problem, the Denpasar City government uses Final Disposal Site (TPA) of waste in Sanur Kauh Village, South Denpasar District covering an area of 40 Ha. From 2002 data, the amount of waste generated in Denpasar City was 127,750 m3, most of which was domestic waste reaching 71.14%. However, the volume of waste that has been handled is only 1,904 m3, so the amount of waste that has not been served is 125,846 m3 or 98.5%.[25] To overcome this, the city government and the community implemented a self-management system to overcome the problem of waste accumulation at the TPA.[46][47]
One of the buildings atUdayana University.Junior high school Negeri 7 Denpasar
Many state and private universities in the province of Bali are located in the city of Denpasar. Meanwhile, for the Elementary School level and equivalent toSenior High School level, until the 2021/2022 academic year, the number of schools in Denpasar is 399 schools. Somecolleges in Denpasar include:
Benoa Harbour is the entrance to the Denpasar by sea and is currently managed byPT Pelindo III.[52] The port is located about 10 km from the city center, and has been operating since 1924.
Public transport in Denpasar, especially for urban transportation, is becoming ineffective and inefficient,[53] with only 30% of vehicles still in operation as of 2010. Public transport is not popular and is used by only about 3% of the total population.[54] Meanwhile, the growth of private vehicle ownership is at 11% per year[citation needed] and is not comparable with the construction of new roads. Congestion in the city of Denpasar is unavoidable due to this reason.
Since August 2011, the city has operated abus rapid transit system calledTrans Sarbagita. Two main routes and some feeder lines are operated daily from 5 a.m. until 9 pm. There is no dedicated lane for the buses: they run on main streets. In 2012 an average of 2,800 passengers per day used the service.[55]
The central government's Ministry of Transport initiated another system called Trans Metro Dewata on 7 September 2020. The system now serves 5 corridors, all also without separate lane, focusing more on the city.[56][57]
Two major improvements to the road system were completed in 2013. In August, the underpass at the Dewa Ruci intersection was opened. It is slightly beyond the bounds of Denpasar but was co-financed by the town because of the expected positive effects on traffic in Denpasar.[58] Then the four-laneBali Mandara Toll Road was opened on 1 October, connecting Benoa Harbor, Ngurah Rai Airport, andNusa Dua.
Ogoh-ogoh celebration 1 day beforeNyepi holiday at the Catur Muka StatueParticipants of theBaleganjur Festival in Denpasar in 2019.
While arts and culture in Denpasar are largely synonymous with Hindu art and culture, there has also been a high level of interaction with other cultures that accompanied the arrival of visitors from all walks of life. Traditional values inspired by Hindu religious rituals still strongly influence the city.[60]
Traditional Balinese culture is still deeply rooted in Denpasar. It may include values, norms, and behavior in society based on patrilineal kinship systems. However, over time many of the customary laws have been disputed by people, especially regarding matters of gender and inheritance.[61]
Denpasar has various sights to offer:
Pura Jagatnatha is the most important Hindu temple of Denpasar. It was built in 1953.[62]
Puri Pemecutan is the former royal palace of Denpasar, which was destroyed in a fire during theDutch intervention in Bali (1906).[63] The palace was rebuilt in a comparatively modest style and can be visited.
Pura Maospahit is a Hindu temple that was built in the 14th century and was heavily damaged by the1917 Bali earthquake and rebuilt afterward.[64] The temple houses two impressive statues of Garuda and Batara Bayu, a mystic giant.
Pura Pengerebongan[1] is one of the Hindu temples in Denpasar whose existence is very strongly related to the history of the palace in Kesiman. The temple is located on Jalan WR. Supratman, Denpasar, has a unique history and traditional tradition, namelyNgerebong[65] trance bulk which is held every Redite Pon Medangsia.
St. Joseph Church is a Roman Catholic church built in a Hindu style.
Bajra Sandhi Monument[2]is a major landmark in Denpasar, set right in the centre of the Renon Square (otherwise locally referred to simply as, 'Puputan Renon'). The site is adjacent to the Bali Governor's office and is hard to miss with its grand structure that resembles a Balinese Hindu priest's praying bell, or 'bajra'. Inside the base is a museum that displays various historical dioramas of the people's past struggle for independence.
TheBali Museum featuresBalinese art and history. The museum is built in the traditional Balinese style. There are four main buildings inside the museum, each with their unique specialization of exhibits.[66]
^Aris Ananta; Evi Nurvidya Arifin; M. Sairi Hasbullah; Nur Budi Handayani; dan Agus Pramono (2015).Demography of Indonesia's Ethnicity. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies dan BPS – Statistics Indonesia.
^I.B. Kade Sugirawan, Kondisi Ekologi Perairan Muara Sungai Badung di Teluk Benoa Ditinjau dari Parameter Fisika, Kimia, dan Biologi, Skripsi,Institut Pertanian Bogor, 1992.
^Denpasar, Central Statistics Agency of the City."Denpasar City in Figures 2022".denpasarkota.bps.go.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved10 December 2024.
^Djojosoekarto, A., Siahaan, H.M.P., Setiyawati, N.H., (2008),Pelayanan publik dalam persepsi masyarakat: hasil survei persepsi masyarakat dengan metode citizen report card di daerah, Kemitraan Partnership,ISBN979-26-9631-8
^http://www.bi.go.id Diarsipkan 11 December 2020, di Wayback Machine. KER Provinsi Bali Triwulan IV 2009 Diarsipkan 3 January 2011 di Wayback Machine. (Accessed on 6 April 2011)
^Profil daerah kabupaten dan kota, Volume 2, Penerbit Buku Kompas, 2001,ISBN979-709-054-X.
^Mery Wanyi Rihi,Kedudukan Anak Angkat Menurut Hukum Waris Adat Bali (Studi Kasus Di Kelurahan Sesetan, Kecamatan Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar dan Pengadilan Negeri Denpasar), Tesis,Universitas Diponegoro, 2006
^Birgit Borowski.Bali and Lombok, p. 133. Ostfildern 2013
^Birgit Borowski.Bali and Lombok, p. 137. Ostfildern 2013
^Birgit Borowski.Bali and Lombok, p. 134. Ostfildern 2013
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