Lapangan Puputan Badung — also called Taman Puputan or I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung Square — is the central park of Denpasar. On 20 September 1906, as Dutch colonial troops advanced on the palace of Badung, the raja, his family and hundreds of followers dressed in white, walked out towards the guns and died in a puputan, a ritual fight to the end, rather than surrender. The square marks the place.
A bronze monument of a family holding spears and krises stands at the northern end. The rest is lawn and big trees, where on any late afternoon you will find children with kites, students, joggers and snack sellers. It is the natural starting point for a walk around the old town.
Top things to do at Puputan Badung Square
Read the monument
The statue shows a man, a woman and children armed and stepping forward together — a reminder that the whole court, not just its soldiers, took part. Each year on 20 September the city holds commemorations here.
Look for Catur Muka
At the crossroads on the square’s north-west corner stands the Catur Muka statue, a four-faced, eight-armed figure of Brahma looking down each of the four roads. It marks the zero point of the city.
Visit the two neighbours
The eastern edge of the square is taken up by Pura Agung Jagatnatha and the Bali Museum, side by side. Allow an hour or two for both.
Come for the ogoh-ogoh parade
On the eve of Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence, the streets around the square and Catur Muka are the focus of Denpasar’s ogoh-ogoh parade, when neighbourhood youth groups carry giant demon effigies through the centre.
How to get to Puputan Badung Square
- Location: the junction of Jalan Gajah Mada, Jalan Surapati, Jalan Udayana and Jalan Veteran, in the very centre of Denpasar.
- From Sanur: about 20–30 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing car.
- From the airport: around 30–45 minutes by car, depending on traffic.
- On foot: Badung Market is about 10 minutes’ walk west along Jalan Gajah Mada.
Insider tips
- Late afternoon is the best time: cooler, with soft light and the square at its liveliest.
- There is little shade in the middle of the lawn at midday; bring a hat and water.
- Street-food carts gather around the edges in the evening — a cheap, easy introduction to local snacks.
- On Nyepi eve the surrounding roads close to traffic from the afternoon; arrive early and on foot.
Best tours & tickets for Puputan Badung Square
These well-reviewed experiences are the easiest way to see Puputan Badung Square:
City tour from €46 Denpasar: Museum, Traditional Market and Food Tasting Tour
A half-day introduction to the old centre: the square where the 1906 puputan is commemorated, the Bali Museum’s palace-style pavilions and the market on the Badung River, with food stops between them. A good choice if you want history and food in one booking.
- Starts at Puputan Square in the city centre
- Visit to the Bali Museum and Kumbasari Market
- Local food tastings along the way
City tour from €26 Bali: Denpasar City & Museum Highlight Tour with Ticket
A full-day sweep of Denpasar’s main sights with entrance tickets included. It is a newer listing with only a handful of reviews so far, but it is the one tour that links the old centre with Bajra Sandhi in a single day.
- Bali Museum, Pura Jagatnatha and Puputan Square
- The Bajra Sandhi monument in Renon
- Entrance tickets included
Food & market walk from €40 Bali Heritage & Street Food Tour in Denpasar Badung Market
The most-reviewed tour that actually takes place inside Denpasar. A local guide leads you through the stalls of Badung Market and the old trading streets next to it, stopping to taste the things the city eats every day and explaining what you are looking at.
- Guided walk through Badung Market, Bali’s biggest traditional market
- Tastings of Balinese dishes such as babi guling and jaje Bali sweets
- Heritage streets around the market with a local guide
