Community Tukad Unda riverside spot in Klungkung falls into disrepair
A community-built riverside spot on the Tukad Unda river in Semarapura Kangin, Klungkung, has fallen into disrepair, with damaged bamboo gazebos and overgrown areas.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 4 min read
Klungkung — — A small riverside tourism spot on the Tukad Unda river in Lingkungan Lebah, Semarapura Kangin, has fallen into disrepair, with damaged bamboo gazebos and overgrown areas observed during a site visit on Thursday, 27 August 2026, according to local media reporting from the location.
The informal attraction, developed along the dam at Tukad Unda, once drew local and foreign visitors for riverside gatherings and photo opportunities. Facilities include simple bamboo structures, gazebos and spots overlooking the river used for photography, but the condition of these structures has deteriorated.
During the August inspection, thatched roofs on several gazebos had come off, leaving weathered wood and bamboo frames exposed. Parts of the seating area were covered in moss, while wild plants and dense brush had spread over sections of the site, further limiting its use as a tourism and social space.
Community-built site without dedicated funding
Head of the Lebah neighbourhood (Kepala Lingkungan), Gede Aryana, said residents originally built and managed the riverside spot through community self-help, using voluntary contributions from visitors to fund construction and improvements rather than a specific government budget.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp drop in visitor numbers, which in turn halted routine maintenance. Aryana noted that as tourism activity declined, the facilities were left to deteriorate and have remained in their current condition since then.
Aryana also said he has not yet submitted any formal request for repair assistance to the Klungkung Regency Tourism Office. At the urban-village level, the Semarapura Kangin administration does not have a specific budget line to manage or restore the community-run riverside spot.
Management and safety uncertainties
The site sits within a broader Tukad Unda dam area that has been identified in academic and tourism literature as a local attraction near Kerta Gosa in Klungkung, particularly known for its tiered water flow and photo opportunities. However, current public reporting focuses mainly on the deteriorated community-built gazebos rather than on formal visitor management.
Recent descriptions of Tukad Unda as a tourism destination continue to highlight river views, basic stalls and parking, with ticketed access and published opening hours for the main dam area. The neighborhood-level riverside spot in Lingkungan Lebah now raises separate questions about the safety and upkeep of its aging bamboo and timber structures.
Available reporting does not specify whether this particular cluster of gazebos has been formally closed, whether access is restricted, or whether warning signs have been installed. For visitors, the condition of the structures suggests that access and safety should be assessed locally before using the facilities.
Tourism office open to proposals
Head of the Klungkung Regency Tourism Office, I Gusti Agung Gede Putra Mahajaya, said attractions at the village level are generally managed by tourism villages or tourism-awareness groups, known as pokdarwis. He stated that the office is prepared to consider proposals from residents for reorganising or improving community-based attractions such as the Tukad Unda riverside spot.
Mahajaya indicated that any support would depend on the available budget and the future potential of the attraction. His comments stop short of promising a specific allocation, rehabilitation project or timetable, and no formal proposal from the Lebah community had been submitted at the time of the August visit.
Responsibility for the future of the site therefore remains shared between the community that built the facilities, the urban-village administration and any tourism-management structures that may be formed or recognised at village level. Until a formal community proposal is lodged and assessed, there is no confirmed rehabilitation plan for the deteriorated riverside structures.
Sources
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