Bedulu, also spelt Bedahulu or Bedaulu, is a historical site in
Bali,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
. It is situated about two kilometer to the west of today
Gianyar
Gianyar Regency is a regency (''kabupaten'') in the Indonesian province and island of Bali, Indonesia. It has an area of 368.0 km2 and had a population of 469,777 at the 2010 Census, and 515,344 at the 2020 Census, making it the second most ...
town.
History
According to
Balinese historical tradition, Bedulu was once the royal capital of a great
kingdom of Bedahulu. The
Dalem Bedaulu ruled the Pejeng dynasty from here, and was the last Balinese king to withstand the onslaught of the powerful
Javanese Majapahit, led by
Gajah Mada
Gajah Mada (c. 1290 – c. 1364), also known as JirnnodharaMunandar, 2010: 77 was, according to Old Javanese manuscripts, poems, and inscriptions, a powerful military leader and '' Mahapatih'' (the approximate equivalent of a modern Prime ...
back in 1343.
After Majapahit campaign, the seat of Balinese court under Majapahit was shifted to nearby
Samprangan.
Archaeology
As the ancient royal court, there are numbers of archaeological sites found in and around Bedulu. One of the most important is the cave temples and ritual bathing pool of
Goa Gajah
Goa Gajah, or Elephant Cave, is located on the island of Bali near Ubud, in Indonesia. Built in the 9th century, it served as a sanctuary.
History
Although the exact origins of the cave are uncertain, it is believed to have been built as pla ...
,
Yeh Pulu bas-reliefs carved upon cliffs, and Pura Samuan Tiga Hindu
Balinese temple
A pura is a Balinese Hindu temple, and the place of worship for adherents of Balinese Hinduism in Indonesia. Puras are built in accordance to rules, style, guidance and rituals found in Balinese architecture. Most puras are found on the island o ...
.
The
Purbakala Archaeological Museum is located there.
References
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Populated places in Bali