Bali

The name Denpasar – from the Balinese words "dén", meaning north, and "pasar", meaning market – indicates the city's origins as a market-town on the site of what is now Kumbasari Market (formerly "Peken Payuk"), in the northern part of the modern city.

The city of Denpasar was founded by I Gusti Ngurah Made Pemecutan who was a descendant of Puri Pemecutan of Badung. The name Denpasar emerged when the area which was previously known as the Badung region was led by two sub-kingdoms in Badung, namely Puri Pemecutan and Puri Jambe Ksatrya. According to the researcher of the history of Denpasar City who is also a professor of history at the Faculty of Letters, Udayana University, AA Bagus Wirawan, at that time there were two palaces which indicated the existence of two governments, namely Puri Alang Badung and Puri Pemecutan. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Denpasar functioned as the capital of the Hindu Majapahit Kingdom of Badung, thus the city's former name being Badung. The royal palace was looted and razed during the Dutch intervention in 1906. …

Denpasar is a coastal city with island and bays, islets, and peninsulas, located southern part of Bali Island, eastern part of Indian Ocean. The Lombok Strait separates Bali and Lombok. Denpasar is located at an elevation of 4 m (13 ft) above sea level. While the total area of 125.98 km2 or 2.18% of the total area of Bali Province. From the use of land, 2,768 hectares of land are paddy, 10,001 hectares are dry land, while the remaining land area is 9 hectares. Badung River divides Denpasar, after which the river empties into the Gulf of Benoa. Denpasar, located just south of the equator, has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification: Aw) and is under the influence of the Australian monsoon system. Daytime temperatures typically range from 20 °C to 33 °C throughout the year. …

Bali was once known for its mud walls and thatched gates but gated residential developments and shop houses now characterize urban Bali. During the late 19th century, the built environment was being constructed based on the political situation of the city. This resulted in the residence of the ruling family becoming the centre of the city. Market squares played an important role in the Badung kingdom, and it continued to do so when the colonial powers came to exert control over Bali. Over the 20th century, Denpasar faced the challenges of changing urban landscapes brought about by political changes. The developments that were brought about by the colonial powers were regarded as eroding the indigenous culture of Bali. Although Denpasar became known as a 'settler city', there was still a strong attachment to the indigenous culture. …

The development of tourism and structural changes in the economy have had a strong impact on Denpasar. Trade, hotels, and restaurants dominate the city's gross regional domestic product. Also boosting the economy of Denpasar is the production of craft items such as souvenir carvings and sculptures. The craft industry, however, is experiencing pressure due to the impact of the global financial crises and competition from other Asian developing countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, India, Malaysia, and China. These competitor countries maximize the scale of production by using industrial technology, while at Denpasar the craft industry remains focused on traditional skills and hand-made goods, limiting the quantity of production.

Tourism is a vital industry for Denpasar's economy. The city has become an increasingly popular destination for both domestic and international tourists. In December 2024, Denpasar recorded a total of 551,100 tourist visits, an increase from 481,646 in December 2023. In 2018, Denpasar along with Jakarta and Batam are among of 10 cities in the world with fastest growth in tourism, 32.7, 29.2 and 23.3 percent respectively. As the capital city of Bali Province, Denpasar serves as both the cultural and administrative center of the island. It is known for its beaches, traditional markets, historic temples, local art markets, and street food scene. Denpasar has various attractions. The white sandy beaches are well-known all over the island. The surfing beach is Serangan Island. Sanur Beach has calmer waters and is excellent for sunbathing and kitesurfing. …