Twin Tower Jembrana (GKBK): 7 Things to Know Before You Stop

There is no ticket to enter the grounds of Gedung Kesenian Bung Karno (GKBK), which people in Jembrana call Twin Tower. The complex in Dauhwaru, right on the Denpasar-Gilimanuk national road, finished a revitalisation at the end of 2024 funded with Rp24.197 billion of financial aid from Badung Regency, according to detikBali (January 2025). It has two matching towers, a large pond ringed by a jogging track, a children's playground and a skate park on the south side.

It feels more like a town square than a tourist attraction. If you are driving to Gilimanuk or just got off the ferry, it is one of the easiest late-afternoon stops in Negara. A few things tend to surprise visitors from outside Jembrana.

What people tend to miss

The pond fence is not complete. In January 2025 detikBali reported railings around the pond broken or missing in several places. A toddler once drowned in this pond. The public works office admitted at the time that the fence budget had not been spent. If you bring small children, hold their hand along the edge.
The playground may still be damaged. Swings and slides were reported broken and rusty in January 2025. The Jembrana environment agency promised repairs but gave no timeline. We found no report that the repairs were finished (checked October 2026). On the night of 23 September 2026, a five-year-old boy was shocked by an iron lamp post in the play area behind the building; the Jembrana environment agency says PLN fixed the faulty lamp fitting (detikBali, 24 September 2026). Keep children away from the lamp posts, especially at night and after rain.
The public toilets were once locked. The same report said they could not be used. Stopping at a petrol station or minimarket first is the safer plan.
Come in the late afternoon, not at midday. The grounds are open with little shade. The jogging track fills with locals before sunset.
Check the events calendar. In March 2026 the best ogoh-ogoh from the Masikian Festival were displayed at GKBK after the parade. In February 2026 the regent launched small-business food trucks here. During big events and on New Year's Eve, police divert traffic from 18.00, so nearby roads can jam.
Jagatnatha Botanic Garden is a few hundred metres away. For somewhere shadier, continue to Kebun Raya Jagatnatha in the same village.
Map names vary. Search "Gedung Kesenian Bung Karno", "Gedung Kesenian Ir. Soekarno" or "Twin Tower Jembrana". All three point to the same place.

Location, hours and cost

Location: Dauhwaru, Jembrana District, about 95 km from Denpasar (2.5-3 hours on the Denpasar-Gilimanuk road). View on Google Maps
Entry: free. We found no official parking rate (checked October 2026).
Hours: it is an open public space with no published hours. Locals have complained about poor lighting in parts of the skate park at night.
Recent visitor photos: search on Instagram

If you also plan to see the Masjid Pantai Bali in Cupel at sunset, staying a night in Negara or Medewi is far easier than driving back to Denpasar the same evening. You can check west Bali stay vouchers on AccessiaPass.