Denpasar is committed to revitalizing its traditional market and heritage. One of them is Badung Traditional Market which was totally burnt out on February 26th 2016, right in the middle of the city’s anniversary. After the tragedy, all the activities of this traditional market were temporarily relocated to Tiara Grosir, an abandoned supermarket in Cokroaminoto Street, Denpasar. Today, the traditional market is ready to reoperate and the President will come and attend the reopening ceremony on March 22nd 2019 with approximately 1600 local sellers.
Badung Traditional market originally is a regular traditional market which operates for 24 hours and has become the center of trading and shopping for daily needs since a long time ago. This market is located next to Kumbasari Market (on the west side), divided by Tukad Badung (Badung River) and connected by a unique bridge between the two markets. History says Tukad Badung is one of the historical rivers because when the dutch occupied the country, they used this river as a logistic channel from Denpasar towards Puri Pemecutan during the Puputan Badung Battle, September 20th 1906.
Badung market also marked the history as the center of trading and business back in the Royal Badung periode. The name Denpasar was taken from the word DEN- means the north, and PASAR-means the market.
In 1907, the traditional market that was located in Jalan Gajah Mada (now is the mayor’s office) was moved slightly west to the Badung Traditional Market now. Back in the 1907, that location was occupied by Javanese and Maduranese people, and because of that relocation, those people were moved to Kampung Wonosari, which is now called Kampung Java.Back at that time, the Dutch government built very proper spaces for the traders inside the market. They also arranged the spaces for the Chinese, Indian, Arabian traders and sellers to open the stores along the Gadjah Mada street. They usually sell marijuana, tobacco, jewelry, clothes and other things.
With these activities, Badung traditional market has been a place that makes the culture exchange occur. Because instead of only providing daily needs for the people, this market built a social interaction between local people and the visitors. They also exchange their farm products, arts and crafts, and home industry products.
Within 24 hours, Badung Traditional market divided its operating hours into 2 sections, night and day. In the daytime (occurs during 5am – 5pm), this market will be full with the sellers who sell daily needs, foods, and all the things we need for hindu daily praying. During day time, this place also becomes a tourist destination and one of the “must visit” places for city tours around the heritage area in Gajah Mada Street.
Night market activities started at 3.30pm-6 am. All fresh goods from farms are easily found in high quality and quantity at this hour.
A very unique thing you can find in this traditional market is “tukang suun”. This “Tukang Suun” actually is the person who offers you their service to bring your things after shopping and bring it on top of their heads with a basket, from the market to your vehicle. And amazingly, most of them are women.Imagine how much you have to pay for that extraordinary service? It's only IDR 5k-10k!
Not feels like shopping? Well, you can enjoy your time and take a beautiful selfie on top of the bridge with side riverwalk of Taman Kumbasari as the background. The government has magically turned the riverside with beautiful lighting and mural paintings.
Take a further walk along the Heritage Area in Gajah Mada Street, you will feel the memorable buildings, ancient architecture that are worth saving in the pictures
