Puputan Badung Square, alternatively known as I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung Square, holds a profound historical significance as it was the site of the Puputan Badung, a heroic event that occurred on September 20, 1906. Originally a town square, this site witnessed an epic showdown where the King of Badung, I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung, also known as Tjokorda Mantuk ring Rana (the king who fell on the battlefield), led his kinfolk and subjects in a fierce and decisive battle, referred to as 'matelasan' or 'puputan' (meaning 'the end'), against the invading Dutch forces.
The Puputan-Badung War stands as a testament to the unwavering resistance of the king and the people of Badung against Dutch colonial rule. This battle was incited by the Dutch demands for the King of Badung to provide compensation for the supposed seizure of the Sri Komala ship at Sanur Beach. In defiance, King I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung rejected these demands, choosing to fight to the death instead. The palace of I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung, originally named Puri Denpasar, is situated to the north of the former town square, now known as Puputan Badung Square. After its Dutch occupation, the palace was repurposed as the office and residence of the Assistant Resident of Bali and Lombok. Following Indonesia's independence, it became the Governor of Bali's official residence, now known as Jaya Sabha.
Beyond its commemoration in the square's name, I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung is also honored with a statue situated at the Banjar Taensiat intersection in Denpasar, approximately 800 meters north of the Catur Muka statue. This monument depicts King I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung holding a lontar (palm leaf manuscript), embodying his dual legacy as both a king and a renowned Balinese literati. His traditional literary works are acclaimed for their high literary merit and profound philosophical values. Along Veteran Street, which links the Catur Muka statue with the I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung statue, stands Puri Agung Satria, the residence of the descendants of the Badung kings from Puri Denpasar. Also on this route, the Satria Market, famed as Bali's largest bird market, is located.
