Located on the eastern end of Puputan Square is the renowned Bali Museum that houses the largest collection of Bali ethnological artifacts in the world.   Established in 1910 by the Dutch who sought to preserve Balinese culture after the puputan, the museum buildings combine architectural elements from both traditional palaces and temples from different regions of the island.  These four buildings are situated amongst grassy courtyards and contain a vast range of examples of Balinese art and artifacts dating back to prehistoric times such as: carvings, stone and wood sculptures, tools, musical instruments, ceremonial and ritual objects, costumes and traditional paintings from all schools ranging from Naive to Batuan styles.  This a must-see for anyone interested in Bali’s fascinating and ancient history.

The museum was built in 1931 by architect P.J. Moojen, near the location of the former royal palace of Denpasar, which had been burnt to the ground during the Dutch intervention in Bali (1906), and used it as a model for its outside walls and courtyards.

There are four main buildings inside the museum, Tabanan displaying theatrical masks and musical instruments, Karangasem sculptures and paintings, Buleleng textiles, and Timur with archeological finds.