Tabanan's Catur Muka Statue Gets a Larger Replacement on Gadjah Mada Street
One of Tabanan's most recognisable landmarks has come down. On Sunday, 12 July 2026, workers demolished the Catur Muka statue on Jalan Gadjah Mada in Tabanan City, fencing off the site with zinc panels and timing the work to coincide with lower weekend traffic. The demolition is the first step in a revitalisation project that will replace the decades-old sculpture with a significantly larger one.
What is a Catur Muka statue?
Catur Muka statues, found in Tabanan and central Denpasar among other locations in Bali, depict a four-faced figure whose faces point toward each of the cardinal directions. The Tabanan example was first erected in the 1980s and, over the years, received only routine maintenance: periodic repainting and the addition of an identifying plaque.
Why the old statue had to go
According to I Made Suwardika, Head of Tabanan City's Traditional Village organisation, the surrounding streetscape has changed dramatically since the statue was installed. Low-rise buildings once framed it in a way that made it appear commanding; today, taller structures crowd the same corridor, leaving the original sculpture looking undersized. Suwardika, as quoted in reporting first published by NusaBali and picked up by Bali Discovery, described the goal plainly: adapt the icon to its environment so that it remains genuinely prominent rather than visually lost.
The revitalisation has been approved by Tabanan's Regent, I Komang Gede Sanjaya, and the Regency's Public Works and Spatial Planning Department.
What the new statue will look like
The replacement will be a Brahma statue in the Catur Muka form, measuring approximately three metres wide and six metres tall. Respected Tabanan sculptor I Nyoman Sudarwa has been commissioned to create it. Financial budgeting and technical implementation fall under the Tabanan Public Works and Public Housing Agency. The entire project is targeted for completion within four months, timed to coincide with Singasana City's anniversary.
The plan has not been without controversy. Suwardika acknowledged community pushback but expressed confidence that residents will appreciate the finished work. His framing was measured: the intent is not to alter cultural norms but to ensure the city's icon keeps pace with its surroundings.
Temporary disruption on Jalan Gadjah Mada
For anyone planning to visit Tabanan in the coming months, the central stretch of Jalan Gadjah Mada will be a construction zone. The fenced-off site may affect foot traffic and the visual character of the street until the new statue is installed. Once complete, the upgraded landmark is expected to anchor a broader urban renewal of the corridor.
Why it matters for hosts
Independent accommodation and experience operators in Tabanan have an opportunity here. Once the new, larger Brahma statue is unveiled, it will almost certainly draw fresh attention to the town centre, particularly around the Singasana City anniversary celebration. Hosts can prepare by updating their local area guides to reflect the construction period (advising guests that the landmark is temporarily absent), then refreshing that content again at completion to highlight the revitalised site as a walkable attraction. Positioning Tabanan as a destination with a living cultural streetscape, rather than simply a gateway to rice terraces, can help differentiate properties in a competitive market.
Details in this post were first reported by NusaBali and subsequently covered by the Bali Discovery editorial team on 18 July 2026. This post is published by the Qontaktly travel blog.
First reported by Bali Travel.