Perhaps the greatest historical landmark in Denpasar is the well-manicured park known to locals as Alun Alun Puputan that is located in the every heart of Denpasar.  The square that features a grand monument commemorates the mass ritual suicide (puputan) of Badung’s royalty when the Dutch marched on the city gates on September 20, 1906.  The massive four-faced Catur Mukha statue that represents Lord Brahma marks the geographical center of the city and also serves as a guardian to each of the cardinal points.

Nearly 4,000 Balinese people, including the royal family died standing up against the Dutch. Commemorated by a monument of a man, a woman and two children making a brave but futile stand against the Dutch aggressors, the park is a popular gathering place for locals to enjoy some respite from the chaos of the city.