Denpasar is committed to revitalized its traditional market and herritage. One of them is Badung Traditional Market which has been 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 been temporary 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 in March 22nd 2019 with approximately 1600 local sellers will join in.

Badung Traditional market originally is a regular traditional market which operate for 24 hours and has becoming the center of trading and shopping for daily needs since along time ago. This market located next to Kumbasari Market (on the west side), devided by Tukad Badung (Badung River) and connected by a unique bridge between the two markets. History says Tukad Badung is one of the historical river because when the dutch occupied the country, they use this river as a logistic channel from Denpasar towards Puri Pemecutan among 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 took from the word DEN- means the north, and PASAR-means the market

In 1907, the traditional market that located in Jalan Gajah Mada (now is the mayor’s office) has been moved slightly west to the recent Badung Traditional Market now. Back in the 1907, that location was occupied by Javanese and Maduranese people, and because of that relocation, those people are moved to Kampung Wonosari, which is now is called Kampung Java.

Back at that time, the dutch government built a a very proper spaces for the traders inside the market. They also arranged the spaces for the Chinese, Indian, Arabian traders and sellerss to open the stores along the Gajahmada street. They usually sell marijuana, tobaccos, jewellery, clothes and other things.

With these activities, Badung traditional market has been a place that makes the culture exchange occurs. Because instead of only provide daily needs for the people, this market built a social interraction between local people and the visitors. They also exchange their farms products, arts and crafts, and home industry products.

Within 24 hours, Badung Traditional market devided its operating hours into 2 section, night and day. In the day time (occurs during 5am – 5pm), this market will 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 become a tourist destination and one of the “must visit” place for city tour around the heritage area in Gajah Mada Street.

Night market activites started at 3.30pm-6am. 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? Its 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 magicly turns the riverside with beautiful lightings and mural paintings.

Take a further walk along the Heritage Area in Gajah Mada Street, you will feel the memmorable buildings, ancient architecture that worth to save in the pictures.