Bali - Ubud

The sights of Ubud

Ubud has a lot of different attractions, for acquaintance with which it is necessary to allocate at least a week. Visitors coming here for just two or three days will not have a complete understanding of what the cultural capital of Bali is. Key historical sites are located outside the city, some up to 20 km away, so it seems advisable to book an excursion to visit them. Attractions such as Goa Gayah, Gunung Kavi, Pura Kehen and Tirta Empul should preferably be visited with a guide. Undoubtedly, you will appreciate the beauty of these places, but their cultural and spiritual significance may not be revealed without an experienced guide.

Goa Gajah (Goa Gajah – Elephant Cave)

Goa Gajah (Goa Gajah – Elephant Cave) is located in the village of Bedulu, just 2 km southeast of Ubud. The central attraction here is a cave dating back to the 11th century, the entrance to which is decorated with an engraved face of a demon. Inside it are the remains of statues of lingam and yoni (phallus and vagina), as well as a statue of Ganesha (god of wisdom and prosperity in Hinduism). Engraved images of guards stand around the pool near the entrance, a path leads to a waterfall, rice fields. A number of relics strongly suggest that the place has features of the Hindu past. Entrance is paid, the complex is open daily from 8.00 am to 16:00. On October 19, 1995, the cave was included in the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list in the Culture category.

Nearby are the much less well-known rock carvings of Yeh Pulu. They date back to the 14th or 15th century and are located in a very beautiful place among rice fields. From Goya Gayah on foot through the rice fields you can go to Yeh Pulu. Since the rock carvings are considered holy, the priest present here will be happy to bless you with spring water. Yeh Pulu is a little visited, but very interesting place, it is highly recommended to see it.

Gunung Kawi (Gunung Kawi - Poet's Mountain)

Gunung Kawi (Gunung Kawi is the Poet's Mountain). Dating from the eleventh century, Gunung Kawi is the alleged burial complex of King Anak Wungsu and his numerous wives. The complex is located in a very picturesque place, the valley is surrounded by rice fields. The smaller complex on the south side of the river is believed to have been built for the king's wives, and the larger one serves as a haven for the king himself, and possibly his concubines. It is necessary to remove shoes before entering the central part of the complex. About 1 km downstream there is another tombstone grave.

Kehen Temple

Kehen Temple is located at a distance of 30 minutes drive northeast of Ubud. This is one of the most attractive temples in the whole territory of Bali. The original and interesting temple is visited by relatively few visitors. It was built in 1206, although the place itself was used for religious rites long before that. The temple is located in a beautiful place against the background of the surrounding hills and trees. The temple is open to the public from 08:00 to 17:00 daily.

Royal Palace Puri Saren Agung (Puri Saren Agung)

The Royal Palace of Puri Saren Agung is a beautiful old palace, thoroughly maintained, with old stone gates and statues dressed in checkered robes. Puri Saren Agung is located in the heart of the city and is known as the Palace of Ubud. From the late 19th century to the mid-1940s, Puri Saren Ubud was the residence of the local ruler, and some royal descendants live there to this day. The palace consists of several elegant and well-preserved halls decorated with colonial-era furniture. Part of the complex is closed to visitors, but the entrance to most of it is free. This place is ideal for traditional dance shows held in the courtyard of the palace every evening.

Tirtha Empul Temple

For over a thousand years, Balinese believers have been making pilgrimages to the Tirta Empul temple, the holy source of which is said to have been created by Indra (the king of the gods in Hinduism) and has healing properties. The thousand-year-old tradition remains almost unchanged in the temple until today.

Legend has it that when Indra's warriors were poisoned by Mayadanava, he pierced the earth to create a source of immortality and revive them. The inscription of the date of foundation of the temple has been preserved - 926, but a lot of what you will see is a modern replica. The people of Bali come to bathe in its sacred waters for healing and spiritual dignity.

The main attraction is a long rectangular pool into which water flows from 12 fountains. Believers first make sacrifices in the temple, and then go to the pool to bathe and pray. Many collect holy water in bottles to take home. Nearby there are two small pools fed by springs.

Tirta Empul Temple is located in Tampak Siring village, it is easily accessible by public transport from the city of Ubud. The temple is open to the public from 08:00 to 16:00.

Ubud Museums

Ubud is known as the center of the arts of the island of Bali. Basically, this was the reason why recently it has turned from a little-known city into a popular tourist center. There are a number of beautiful art galleries and museums here. One of the best places to visit is the Puri Lukisan Museum, known as the "Palace of Art" Ubud. Opened in 1954, it became the first private museum in Bali. The museum displays paintings, sculptures, carvings that reflect the beauty of the island, the culture and manner of the locals. The Neka Museum is another interesting place to visit. This museum contains almost the most valuable collection of works of art in Bali. The museum displays many modern works created by local craftsmen or those who have been on the island for some time. There are a number of other art museums and galleries also containing interesting art objects. Various exhibitions are organized throughout the year, which take place both inside and outside museums and galleries. They demonstrate the beauty and charm of the island so well that it is necessary to see it with your own eyes in order to understand and appreciate.

Performing arts

Ubud is a great place to get acquainted with various types of Balinese dance. It is interesting, of course, to see a few photos or a short video clip. But nothing can compare to seeing firsthand the performing skills of its participants. Incredibly beautiful girls dance in bright colorful costumes, headdresses decorated with flowers. Gestures, plastic, eye movements are what you need to see firsthand in order to really understand and appreciate all this beauty. Balinese dances are very attractive. In the evening, Balinese dances can be seen in the Ubud Palace, other types of dances can be seen in other places.

Shopping and cuisine

What is most attractive about Ubud? It is not easy to answer this question. Ubud is a great place for shopping and to taste the fine cuisine. There is a wide selection of restaurants, second only to the city of Seminyak (near Kuta) in terms of quality and variety of food. Here are some of the most inexpensive and delicious cafes and restaurants in Bali.

Along Monkey Forest and Dewi Sita streets you will find a number of good shops selling souvenirs, paintings, clothes. The Ubud market is located in a two—story building and has a lot of wood carvings, batik shirts (batik is hand-painted on fabric), sarongs (Indonesian national clothing), and all sorts of other souvenirs aimed at tourists. When purchasing a product, it is necessary to bargain, while the cost can be reduced by half from the original price. Most of the traders on the ground floor lose interest if you try to significantly reduce the price. It is better to shop on the second floor, where lower prices are asked for the same goods.

The road from Ubud to Sanur passes through a number of small settlements specializing in the production of arts and crafts: stone carving in Batubulan and Singakerta, silver jewelry in Celuk, painting in Batuan, wood carving in Mas. This entire territory is sometimes called the "artisan villages" of Bali, although it is difficult to call them villages by the number of people living in them.

Other Ubud attractions

• Rafting on the Ayung River. There are several operators in Ubud offering this tour. Taking advantage of the tour, you can look at the very picturesque gorge of the Ayung River. Class II and III rapids (for those who know what a fast stream of foamy water is), and the best rafting is during the rainy season, during the dry season from June to September, the water level in the river drops significantly.
• The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud. It has approximately 340 macaques and is a popular tourist attraction of the city. There are several temples located here, more than 10,000 tourists visit it every month. Monkey Forest is full of hungry monkeys, so it is advisable not to bring any food, so as not to provoke monkeys to steal something from you (see how to behave with monkeys, precautions).
• The Botanical Garden is located just 1 kilometer from the center of Ubud, a great place for tourists and residents of the city to relax. Located on the territory of five hectares of natural hollows and ravines, it includes an Orchid Garden, a huge collection of ferns, palms, bamboo and tropical trees, an Islamic garden and other features.
• Bali Bird Park is located next to Ubud and a 40-minute taxi ride from Kuta. You will need at least half a day to look around and explore the park. It has more than 250 species of birds, many of which are kept in cages. There is a restaurant and a souvenir shop.
• Every evening, 15,000 to 20,000 egrets come to spend the night in the village of Petulu, a ten-minute drive north of Ubud. It is a very beautiful sight when these large, elegant birds arrive in huge groups and fight among themselves for the most suitable places to spend the night. Every morning at dawn, they leave the area en masse in search of food. Some of them give offspring in the area, their nests can be seen in roadside trees.
• The area around Ubud is characterized by hilly terrain with rice fields, and this gives the impression of solid greenery, quite a beautiful sight. This is especially true for the territory to the south and southeast of the city. It is worth making a stop and appreciating the beauty of the local area. The northeastern part is more hilly, a good place to review the classic rice terraces of Bali.
• Fishing in the river or in the streams along the rice fields in which the eel is found
• The botanical garden is located near the village of Petulu near Ubud.