Bali - The Royal Cities of Asia

The Book

Bali's kingdoms date back to at least AD 914, to the reign of Sri Kesari. Later monarchs shared their lineages with dynastic Java and structured Indianised kingdoms along similar lines until the Gelgel monarchy broke away in the 16th century, under King Waturenggong. From this period forward, Balinese royalty proliferated, producing the kingdoms of Bueleleng, Klungkung, Mengwi, Gianyar, Karangasasem, and Bangli and building exquisite palaces and temples all over the island. Dutch colonialisation ended kingly rule in the 19th century, only to be dislodged by the Japanese invasion of World War II. Numerous impressive, well preserved palaces and royal temples still function in Bali today; few are open to the general public, but the author and photographer have gained special access to many.

The Author

Joe Cummings, a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley in South-East Asia Studies with a concentration in art history, has produced over 30 guidebooks, phrasebooks and atlases for countries in Asia and North America. As a freelance journalist he has written for periodicals such as Ambassador, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Geographical, The Independent on Sunday and the South China Morning Post. Cummings was a recipient of the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Gold Award in 1993 and 1995.