The beautiful eastern regency of Karangasem is truly something special- distinguishing itself in so many ways from the rest of the island. Physically it is dominated by the towering presence of Mt. Agung (3,142 m) the island’s most sacred and highest volcano, whose dramatic foothills and lava flows provide some of the most spectacular landscapes found anywhere in Bali.
High up on Mt. Agung’s southern flanks perches the great “Mother Temple” of Besakih, while to the sought and east lie a number of more or less isolated villages that have played a key role in Balinese history.
Culturally, Karangasem is in fact a very conservative area. Here, for example, the use of the various Balinese speech levels is more strictly adhered to and a number of archaic rituals, dances, and musical forms have been maintained right up until the present day. The eastern and northern parts of the regency are quite arid, and overall this is a less densely-populated area than southern Bali. In fact, it has many affinities with the drier and more rugged islands of eastern Indonesia- more so than any other part of the island.
For several centuries after the decline of the great Javanese empire of Majapahit, the king of Klungkung just to the west of here was, at least in name, the paramount ruler of Bali. The other Balinese rulers became more and more independent over time, and by the 17th century, Karangasem could successfully oppose Klungkung. it subsequently emerged, during the 18th and 19th centuries as the most powerful kingdom in Bali. During the 17th century, Karangasem forces already occupied much of the neighboring island of Lombok, fighting there against Macassarese from Sumbawa and eventually colonizing the island’s western rice-growing areas.
Altogether Karangasem encompasses an area of 861 sq km, Most of the populace, however, lives in central and southern Karangasem, especially around the capital of Amlapura.
SIDEMEN
Karangasem has 8 districts; and Sidemen is part of the district in Karangasem, located 25 km (Outside the danger zone) away from Mt. Agung peak in Southwest off the road between Duda and Selat, The area of Sidemen is 35,15 sq km. The scenery is gorgeous, and traditional varieties of Balinese rice are grown. Close by is a weaving factory where high-quality traditional textiles (endek) are produced. In Sidemen there are also several places where the costly kain songket is woven from silk, with gold and silver threads added to create the patterns.
Sidemen village is home to about more than 7,000 people, most of them supported by
farming. The whole Sidemen village is spread out over three separate river valleys which encompass a population of about 27,000. All castes of traditional Balinese Hindu society are represented here: Brahmana live in Geria, Ksatria in Palace, Waisya in jero, and Sudra in their own house, and there is also a small Muslim population that the descent of former soldier of Karangasem palace from Lombok Island when the Karangasem Palace subjugate it, which has long coexisted harmoniously with their Hindu neighbors.