negara

Negara is a term used in Indonesian and Malay to mean country, nation, or state. In political and legal language, negara refers to an organized political community with defined borders and sovereignty.

Negara is also the name of a town and the administrative center of Jembrana Regency in Bali Province, Indonesia. It is located on Bali’s western coast and lies near the Gilimanuk ferry port, which provides a link to Java. As the regency capital, Negara serves as the regional government hub and a gateway for road and land transport in western Bali.

The local economy combines agriculture, fishing, and small-scale trade. Farmers produce crops such as rice and coconuts, while fishing communities operate along the coast. In recent years, tourism has grown in importance due to coastal scenery and access to nearby natural areas, including parts of West Bali National Park, contributing to services and hospitality enterprises in the area.

The population in and around Negara is predominantly Balinese, with cultural life centered on Hindu temples, traditional markets, and community events. The town and its surrounding villages reflect a rural-urban blend, with markets, schools, and local industries shaping daily life.

In linguistic use, negara remains a general term for a country or state in Indonesian and Malay, underscoring the word’s broader significance beyond the locality described here.