The Kulkul Tower of Banjar Grenceng

The Kulkul Tower of Banjar Grenceng, an enduring historical symbol in Denpasar, is frequently represented in photographs and videos from the 1920s, offering a poignant glimpse into the cultural heritage of Bali. Within Balinese architecture, the kulkul tower, housing a wooden slit drum known as a kulkul, is an integral element of a palace, community, or temple complex. This kulkul serves as a traditional method of communication throughout the Indonesian Archipelago. 

In Bali, each community, or banjar, possesses a main hall, known as the bale banjar or bale gede, which incorporates a pura penyarikan (a temple) and a kulkul tower. The pura penyarikan acts as a sacred communal space, whereas the kulkul tower functions as a location for the drum. This drum is sounded to mark ceremonies, notify villagers of community gatherings, or to communicate the passing of a community member. 

Constructed around 1925 during the colonial era, the Banjar Gerenceng Kulkul Tower resides near Puri Gerenceng, a significant palace in Denpasar, and the Maospahit Temple. Today, Banjar Gerenceng finds its place on Sutomo Street in Denpasar. To conserve the architectural heritage left by the forebears, the Banjar Gerenceng Kulkul Tower underwent a restoration process in 2005. This preservation endeavor was spearheaded by architect Anak Agung Yoka Sara, a fourth-generation progeny of Banjar Gerenceng's founders.