It is not known when the springs started to flows at\nthe place now called Tirtagangga, but looking at the banyan tree, which is\nusually planted near holly places, it might be there already as old as 300\nyears ago. Until to date the spring water is used as holly water for many\nceremonies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The religious function of the spring, the cool climate and the scenic beauty of the surrounding hills inspired the late King of Karangasem, Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem to build recreational water gardens for himself and his people, which he started in 1948. Making water gardens of all sorts had always been his hobby. He not only did all the designing himself, but he also used to work together with his labourers, digging in the ground, standing knee deep in the water, dirty with mud. It was always a great surprise for the visitors after some time looking at the work in progress to discover the tiny figure of the Raja among the workers. People liked it and it was one of his many charming traits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It began construction around January 1948 and is estimated to have been completed around September 1948, after which it was officially used by the Royal Family as a resting place and until now it has been used for the welfare of the Royal Family; local residents of Ababi, Temega, Pladung for Tirta Yatra religious activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1963 Mount Agung erupted with\nmany earthquakes which destroyed most of the buildings and ponds in the Park.\nThe entire royal family and community in Karanagsem sought refuge in other,\nsafer areas in Bali. When\nafter about ten months the calamity was over the Raja returned, only to find\nthe beautiful garden in ruins. There was no money for rebuilding the ponds and\nstructures. With the introduction of the Land Reform Bill<\/em> the Rajas,\nlike all the other great land owners, had lost their means for extravagant\nundertakings. The rehabilitation of Tirtagangga could only be done in a very\nfrugal and haphazard manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In\n1966 the Raja died of stroke at the age of 87. After his passing away the Water Gardens\nthen belongs to his 10 sons. To preserve the now family belonging, the gardens\nand the special architecture pioneered by the Raja Karangasem has now become\npart of the family \u201cDruwe Tengah\u201d. Unfortunately the family has no funds to\ncontinue maintenance of the place and it was struggling to maintain, even\nthough it has decided to start charging for guest entering the gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since\n1979, after a long duty abroad, one of the late King\nson, Dr. Anak Agung Made Djelantik supervised the rehabilitation of the garden,\nwith a slight increase of the entrance fees in 1985 and donating his own\nprivate money, a little bit could be accomplished. An arrangement was also made\nwith the local water company (PDAM), to use part of the spring water for the\nKarangasem city consumption, and this has helped to renovate the upper swimming\npool. Little by little the water gardens are coming into a better shape, and\nbegun to be known in the world of tourism<\/p>\n\n\n\n In\n2002, with the help of several foundations, and donors, initiated by Dr. AA\nMade Djelantik and further manage by his son, AA Widoera Djelantik, who was\nindeed an architect, the Gardens could be renovated more intensively, step by step according to a\nmaster plan formed at that time. After several years of hard work, AA Widoera\nassisted by other family members of the Royal family manage to bring back the beauty of the Royal Garden, Taman\nTirtagangga. Visitors will also come to enjoy the beauty of the Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since\nmid 2018 the management of the Gardens has been change and now headed another\nfamily member of the Royal family that is by AA Made Kosalya and his management\nand operational team of about 40 people<\/p>\n\n\n\n