"Singaraja" Statue the symbolic of
Buleleng spirit.
Buleleng today
The modern administrative unit
of Buleleng consists of nine kecamatan (sub-districts). It covers
almost a third of Bali's total surface area, is more than half
again as large as any other kabupaten, and has the largest population
with some 546,000 inhabitants.
In former times, Buleleng was the site of Bali's major port, and
was therefore the island's traditional point of contact with the
outside world. Even today, there are many Muslims and Chinese
here (though there are now many more in Denpasar), and the main
city of Singaraja has a feeling that is quite different from any
other town in Bali.
Since the main harbor was relocated to Benoa in south Bali and
especially since the removal of many government offices from Buleleng
to the south in recent years, there has been quite an exodus of
government employees and skilled workers, and, as a result, a
corresponding diminution of the region's influence within Bali.
But do not let this situation mislead you - Buleleng was never
a sleeping giant, as its vibrant history and rich cultural legacy
attest.
