To the northwest of the town is
the adjoining village of Bitra. Here, on the southern side of
the main road, is the famous Pura Dalem or death temple, beside
a river and beneath a spreading banyan tree. Also on the western
side of the town are the main centers of silk ikat weaving. A
number of entrepreneurs have turned their traditional expertise
into a thriving industry, and their workshops are open to visitors.
The fine silk ikat produced here is used not only for the traditional
sarung but for interior decoration as well.
Southwest of Gianyar lies the former court center of Keramas,
now known for its dancers, particularly of the operetta arja.
Keramas is one of many centers of theater and music in Gianyar,
lesser known only because it is off the tourist path.
Gianyar town itself is also known for various performing arts,
particularly the ever-popular drama gong, which is full of romantic
plots, slapstick comedy and ribaldry. Kramas was a major power
in the area before Gianyar, and its princes are supposedly descended
from the great rebel Gusti Agung Maruti, who in the 17th century
brought down the kingdom of Gelgel.
Kramas is also near another old mini-kingdom, Blahbatuh. The rulers
of Blahbatuh were descendents of Gusti Ngurah Jelantik, the prime
minister of Gelgel, famous for a military campaign he led against
Java in the early 17th century. One of the souvenirs of that expedition
was a set of masks, which are said to be the prototypes for all
Balinese topeng dance-drama masks. These are still kept in a temple
near the palace of Blahbatuh, the Pura Penataran Topeng. In the
19th and early 20th centuries Blahbatuh was home to some of the
greatest court dancing in Bali. Bona, between Blahbatuh and Gianyar
city, is still famous for its dances, especially the fire dance,
sanghyang jaran, performed regularly for tourists.
On the eastern side of Gianyar lies the village of Sidan, just
north of the Bangli intersection. Sidan has a famous Pura Dalem,
which can be viewed from the road, featuring a series of carvings
on the outer tower showing the semi-divine hero Bima fighting
with the god of death. |
