Ujung Water Palace, Royal water palace in Karangasem, Indonesia

Ujung Water Palace is a royal compound in Karangasem with white colonial buildings connected by ornate bridges. The site features several large pools arranged within a garden setting of about 12 hectares near the coastline.

I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, the last king of Karangasem, built the palace from 1909, expanding the Dirah Pool of 1901, with Dutch architect van Den Hentz, Chinese architect Loto Ang and Balinese undagi; it was completed in 1921 and inaugurated in 1937 with a marble stele in Latin and Balinese script. The Mount Agung eruption of 1963 and the 1975 earthquake almost destroyed it, and it was renovated between 1998 and 2001.

The buildings here blend Balinese craftsmanship with colonial design and Chinese artistic details in floating pavilions and carved stonework. This combination shows how different traditions merged in a single place.

The site lies about 5 km south-east of Amlapura, with the Pura Lingga Yoni temple between the palace and the sea. The grounds cover 12 hectares and hold three large pools, so allow time to walk between the Gili Bale pavilion and the Bale Kapal. Paths are largely open to the sun; carry water and wear shoes with grip for the stepped stone edges.

The buildings sit within earshot of the sea and were designed to be surrounded by water during certain seasons. This arrangement creates an unusual relationship between the structures and the surrounding landscape.