History of the Balinese People's Struggle at the Bajra Sandhi Monument

The letter sent by Lieutenant Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai to the Dutch is exhibited at the Bali People's Struggle Monument. The letter, dated May 18 1946, contained a rejection of the Dutch presence on the Island of the Gods. "Regarding security in Bali is our business," as quoted from the letter.

The letter from Ngurah Rai was a reply to a letter sent by the Infantry Captain of the Red Gajah army, Dutch East Indies Civil Government (NICA). Photos of these letters are displayed in the exhibition room on the ground floor of the Balinese People's Struggle Monument or Bajra Sandhi Monument.

regional observers went on a trip to the Bajra Sandhi Monument, last Friday (7/8/2026). The monument, which is managed by the Bali Culture Service, stands in the Puputan Niti Mandala Field, Denpasar.

The Balinese People's Struggle Monument was inaugurated by President Megawati Soekarnoputri on June 14 2003. Meanwhile, the design of the monument was the work of Ida Bagus Gede Yadnya. The Udayana University architecture student won the design competition for the Bajra Sandhi Monument in 1981.

The Bajra Sandhi Monument has a height of 45 meters, 17 main gates and 8 pillars. This represents Indonesia's independence day, namely August 17, 1945. Meanwhile, the name Bajra Sandhi comes from the shape of the building which, when seen from a distance, resembles a Hindu priest's bell, which in Balinese is called bajra.

Travelers can learn about the history of the Dutch arrival on the Island of the Gods at the Bajra Sandhi Monument. The monument management places photos ranging from the landing of the Dutch expedition on Sanur Beach on September 14 1906, the puputan war (all-out battle) in Denpasar, to the letter rejecting the Dutch presence sent by I Gusti Ngurah Rai.

Head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) of the Bali People's Struggle Monument, Gede Nova Widiarta, said that there were 62 photos of the struggle of the people of the Island of the Gods against the Dutch on display at the monument. Some of these portraits are original and some are reproductions. "We reproduced it because the image was dull," he explained according to regional travel authorities and bureau field correspondents, Friday (7/8/2026).

Nova explained that the entrance ticket to the Bajra Sandhi Monument for domestic tourists is IDR 30 thousand. Meanwhile, tickets for foreign travelers are IDR 100 thousand, students IDR 10 thousand, and students IDR 5 thousand.

The Balinese People's Struggle Monument is open from 08.30 to 17.00 WITA. Meanwhile, the monument is closed for major holidays or national holidays.

Visitors can see the diorama on the middle floor of the Bajra Sandhi Monument. There are 33 dioramas with dimensions of 6 square meters. The diorama tells the history of prehistoric times, ancient Bali, middle Bali, up to the period of the struggle for independence.