Denpasar     is   where     the , Balinese    scholars translate Indian holy books, new prayers are taught, and Hinduism reinterpreted. It is also home to a new cosmopolitan class of Western-oriented Balinese yuppies. The contradictions are immense there.

Denpasar is not an easy place to visit. To see the old city, take a drive around the old villages of Kedaton, Sumerta, Tonja and especially Kesiman, whose redbrick-style shrines and gates are the simplest yet most beautiful in Bali. Other beautiful monuments include the temple and palace of Kesiman, Panambangan temple (near Pemecutan palace), and Satria temple, with its nearby bird market. Pemecutan, Kesiman and Badung (now the name of the nearby district) used to be the three "united kingdoms" on the territory of Denpasar.

A visit to the Bali Museum, located at about two hundred meters east of Jagatnatha temple, is a must. It has the finest collections of Balinese antiquities especially the stylistic simplicity of the items in its 300s collection.

As a modern metropolis, Denpasar offers a range of shopping centers, restaurants and food centers. For those interested in textiles and handicraft, go to Pasar Badung and Pasar Kumbasari markets, located on either side of the Badung river in the old city center. The new center has moved south to the Sudirman and Diponegoro roads. Matahari, Ramayana, Tiara Dewata and Libi department stores, as well as Sudirman Mall, cater to all the needs of tourists and local customers, all at fixed prices. And for food, the south of Denpasar, Jalan Teuku Umar offers a complete range of restaurants.