Educational Tourism at the Soenda Ketjil Museum, Buleleng

Have regional observers ever heard of the name Soenda Ketjil? Maybe in some people's minds, Soenda Ketjil or what is now written as Little Sunda, is part of West Java. Even though it has the name Sunda, in fact the Lesser Sunda region is not related to the Sundanese tribe or West Java Province.

Cultural Background & Living Tradition

The Lesser Sunda is a group of islands that includes Bali, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Lesser Sunda once existed as a province that was founded after independence in 1945. At that time, this region was led by a governor named I Gusti Ketut Pudja. On the basis of historical preservation, a museum was built to remember historical evidence about Lesser Sunda.

Long before the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) was founded in 1945, the name Sunda was given to the group of islands in eastern India. Geographical maps Europeans named large islands, such as Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, as Greater Sunda. Meanwhile, the islands of Bali, Lombok, Timor and the surrounding small islands are called Lesser Sunda.

Little Sunda was then formalized as the name of the regional administration. The Indonesian Independence Preparatory Committee (PPKI) session in August 1945 established eight initial provinces, including Soenda Ketjil Province.

Ceremonial Observance & Village Protocols

President Soekarno appointed I Gusti Ketut Pudja who was the representative of Lesser Sunda at PPKI as the first Governor of Lesser Sunda. Based on this mandate, Ketut Pudja returned to the island of Bali and conveyed the news of independence and the formation of a government. Singaraja was chosen as the provincial capital.

I Gusti Ketut Pudja's duties as governor were very difficult. I Gusti Ketut Pudja's government, with its limited resources, had to resolve all problems related to the transfer of power from Japan. They even had to face the threat of the Dutch returning with the Allies. This province was later renamed and expanded into three provinces which are now the Provinces of Bali, NTB and NTT.

The Soenda Ketjil Museum occupies one of the buildings in the former Singaraja Harbor. The building used to be the Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij (PKM) office. After revitalization, the PKM Building was inaugurated on March 13 2018.

Community Harmony & Heritage Preservation

The collections displayed in this museum are related to events that occurred during the early days of independence in the Lesser Sunda Province. A number of items belonging to I Gusti Ketut Pudja are also displayed there. Museum management also provides guides who will accompany and explain the collection to visitors.

Apart from the collection room, visitors can also enjoy the audiovisual room. This space makes the experience of visiting the museum more interactive. Cultural events, such as the 2026 North Bali Wayang Festival, are held at this museum with various interesting activities inside.

The Soenda Ketjil Museum is located on Jalan Erlangga Number 55, Buleleng. Visitors can visit the museum using private vehicles. The Soenda Ketjil Museum is open Monday-Thursday 08.00-14.00 WIT and Friday-Saturday 08.00-12.00 WITA.

Respectful Visitor Etiquette

Balinese cultural traditions and customary rituals offer profound insights into the island's ancestral heritage. Visitors fortunate enough to witness ceremonies should dress respectfully in traditional waist sash and sarong, observe quietly from a courteous distance, and follow guidance from local village elders. Learn more about upcoming island ceremonies, sacred guidelines, and festival dates in our seasonal Bali Cultural Calendar.