Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali

The Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali was originally established in 1910 by a Dutch Resident who was concerned by the export of culturally significant artefacts from the island. Destroyed in a 1917 earthquake, it was rebuilt in the 1920s.

From the time it was rebuilt until 1932, the museum was used mainly for storage until German artist Walter Spies and some Dutch officials revived the idea of collecting and preserving Balinese antiquities and cultural objects in order to create an ethnographic museum. Now it's quite well set up, and most displays are labelled in English. You can climb one of the towers inside the grounds for a better view of the whole complex.

The museum comprises several buildings and pavilions, including examples of the architecture of both the palace (puri) and temple (pura), with features like a split gateway (candi bentar) and a warning drum (kulkul) tower. The main building, to the back as you enter, has a collection of prehistoric pieces downstairs, including stone sarcophagi, and stone and bronze implements. Upstairs are examples of traditional artefacts, including types still in everyday use. Look for the fine wood and cane carrying cases for transporting fighting cocks, and tiny carrying cases for fighting crickets.