Karangasem Regency

Karangasem Regency

Location of Karangasem Regency in Bali. Country Indonesia, Province Bali, Capital Amlapura. Area Total 345.00 sq mi (893.54 km2). Karangasem is a regency (kabupaten) of Bali, Indonesia. It covers the east part of Bali, has an area of 839.54 km2 and a population of 369,320 (2002). 

Its regency seat is Amlapura. Karangasem was devastated when Mount Agung erupted in 1963, ultimately killing 1900 people. Karangasem formerly was a kingdom before Bali was conquered by the Dutch.

Interesting places

• Tenganan, a Bali Aga village (the original Bali), with inhabitants who still live according to their ancient traditions.
• Beach town of Amed.
• Candidasa is a good starting point for visiting places along the beautiful east coast of Bali.
• Bugbug village. Its inhabitants celebrate the Perang Dewa (war of the gods) every other year at full moon of the fourth month (October). People of all nearby villages then climb to the top of a hill and sacrifice pigs by hanging them in trees.

Administration

The regency is divided into eight districts (Kecamatan), listed below with their 2010 Census populations: Rendang 36,931 Sidemen 31,617 Manggis 44,041 Karangasem 82,606 Abang 60,965 Bebandem 45,160 Selat 38,114 Kubu 57,053

Saren Jawa

In Budakeling, Karangasem, a model of religious tolerance and acculturation between Hindus and Muslims can be found. Saren Jawa village is home to 100 Muslims families and is surrounded by all populated Balinese Hindus villages following the Siwa-Buda belief system, an amalgamation of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhist. 

The people of Saren Jawa using combine name of using Balinese first names before their Muslim last names, such as Ni Nyoman Maimunah