Located in Singaraja, the capital of
Buleleng in the northern part of Bali, Gedong Kirtya has had
international acclaim as a manuscripts library for years. The library is
the only one of its kind in the world, containing thousands of
lontars, a sort of palm leaf used as a paper.
The lontar leaves are engraved with a sharp knife locally
called a pengutik. They are rubbed with charcoal to bring out the
engravings. The texts relate to all aspects of life including
medicines, religion and witchcraft. Tourists and locals alike frequent
the library to see these revered manuscripts, many of which are still
used in ceremonies today.
Museum staff member Gede Sadia explained that
foreign students are the most regular visitors to the museum, visiting
for research or study purposes. Most of them come from India, USA,
Japan, and Holland. "Groups of foreign students visit the museum every
six months or so, and locals when the school holidays fall in Bali,"
he said.
Gedong Kirtya is situated in the complex of
Sasana Budaya, the old palace of the Buleleng Kingdom. Realizing the
appeal of the library as a tourist attraction and its historically
interesting location, ex-Bupati of Buleleng Drs. Ketut Wirata Sindhu
last year decided to upgrade the Gedong Kirtya library into a full
museum. The local Government set up a technical unit chaired by Drs.
Wirata Sindhu, with artist/writer Ketut Darnas as Vice Chairman, in
order to oversee the project. When completed, the museum will cover
the entire Sasana Budaya complex, and will become part of the city
tour itinerary.
Although Ketut Wirata Sindhu has subsequently
relinquished his position as Bupati of Buleleng, he still devotes his
life for the prosperity of the regency in which he was born, and the
conversion of the library into a full museum remains his passion.
Covering the largest area of northern Bali, Buleleng is rich
in archeological artifacts. Buddhist relics in the form of clay stupas
have been found at the Hotel Angsoka in the village of Kalibukbuk in
the Lovina Tourist Resort. In addition, a skeleton with a sword was
also found.
