Historically, dokar ‘traditional horse cart’ held a significant place as a mode of public transportation in the city of Denpasar during the colonial times. Dutch records substantiate the presence of as many as 261 dokar units operating in Denpasar during that period. The dokar, driven by a coachman often clad in traditional attire and wielding a whip, was an integral part of the city's cultural tapestry. Its characteristic features included bells on both sides, creating a unique sound that, coupled with the rhythmic clopping of the horse's hooves, added to the city's ambiance. The 1960s marked the golden era of dokar in Denpasar, during which the city even hosted a dokar coachman organization, the Denpasar Dokar Union (Perdoden).
However, with the advent of the New Order era and the subsequent proliferation of motorcycles and cars, the dokar's prominence began a gradual descent, its presence slowly diminishing over time.
In a bid to reclaim its charm, the Denpasar City Government, since the early 2000s, has been striving to breathe new life into this historic mode of transportation. They have incorporated the dokar as a key feature of the city tours, transforming it into a tourist attraction. This led to the revitalization of the dokar, now seen as a heritage symbol, and its reintroduction to tourists eager to explore and appreciate the historic tourist attractions in the heart of Denpasar.