Tampaksiring Presidential Palace - Gianyar Bali

Presidential Palace - Picture from  www.presidenri.go.id

Indonesia has 6 buildings for Presidential Palace are Istana Negara, Istana Merdeka, Istana Bogor, Istana Cipanas, Gedung Agung Yogyakarta, and Istana Tampaksiring. Istana Tampaksiring ( Tampaksiring Presidential Palace ) is the only presidential palace which built after Indonesia independence.

Istana Tampaksiring usually used by President to rest, working meeting, and conduct some foreign negotiations. For example at April 27, 2007, Tampaksiring became a witness for extradition treaty between Indonesia-Singapore.

Istana Tampaksiring built by an architect named R.M. Soedarsono on the initiative Ir. Soekarno, our first president. Construction of the presidential palace is divided into two times, 1957 and 1963. 

1957, in this area built Wisma Merdeka and Wisma Yudhistira and 1963 continue other construction for Wisma Negara and Wisma Bima, also Conference Hall. 

Istana Tampaksiring was built in the hilly area with an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. The travelers who visit this place can see the history and function of the historic building that was once used by the president of the Republic Indonesia. At Wisma Merdeka which has an area of ​​1,200 m2, visitors can see Bedroom I and II for President, Family Bedroom, Living Room, and Working Space with such a beautiful arrangement. In this building, visitors can also see the decorations in the form of sculptures and paintings.

While at Wisma Negara, the tourists can see a building with an area of ​​approximately 1,476 m2 which is the building to entertain the guest of honor. Between Wisma Merdeka and Wisma Negara, there is a gap as deep as 15 metres which separates both wisma. Therefore, built a bridge about 40 metres long and 1,5 metres width to connect both wisma. Guests will be escorted through this bridge to get Wisma Negara, so the bridge named "Jembatan Persahabatan" ("Bridge of Friendship"). 

The guest of honor who ever pass this bridge are Caesar Hirihito from Japan, President Tito from Yugoslavia, Queen Juliana from Netherlands, Ho Chi Minh from Vietnam. 

Jembatan Persahabatan

Close to the building, travellers can visit popular destinations "Pura Tirta Empul" where you can purify yourself with holy water. Sacred spring is said to have been used for washing and treatment since a thousand years ago.

Tirta Empul Spring