Travel Info Center: Singaraja

Singaraja is a town in northern Bali, Indonesia, which serves as the seat of Buleleng Regency. The name is Indonesian for "Lion King" (from Sanskrit simha and raja). It is on the north coast just east of Lovina. It has an area of 27.98Â kmÂ² and population of 80,500.

Singaraja was the Dutch colonial administrative centre for Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands from 1849 until 1953, and the port of arrival for most visitors until development of the Bukit Peninsula area in the south. Singaraja was also an administrative center for the Japanese during their World War II occupation.

Gedong Kirtya, just south of the town centre, is the only library of lontar manuscripts (ancient and sacred texts on leaves of the rontal palm) in the world.