Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali. Magic walk. Ubud, Indonesia - all about the city with a photo

Good day and good mood 🙂 We invite everyone for a walk! This will be a walk through the sights of Bali, which are located in the center of the island, around the city of Ubud.

About the wonderful town of Ubud itself, we already wrote here:

And today we will virtual tour around Ubud. Let's start, friends!

What was the Ubud goose thinking about?

First, we will visit the village of Petula, which can already be called the Ubud area, it is so close. This place is famous for herons, which arrive in thousands of evenings and fill the whole space. So let's check. I really want to see this romantic picture of many herons that fill their big wings rice fields and swirling in the rays of the setting sun ...

Well, apparently we arrived quite early, there were no birds yet, the search for birds took us completely to the depths of Petula, where, in the rice fields, we found a cute and touching in its originality picture - a fishing tote “men catch catfish”.

Water is poured into the pool, and catfish is thrown. And, here, with gambling facial expressions, the Balinese hold fishing rods and try to invoke good luck in order to catch catfish. Tension and excitement are in the air. Fans gathered around. Everyone is wondering who Lady Luck will choose? Who has not sinned this week and who will be lucky? When the poor catfish is caught by someone, loud screams are heard around. The leader of fishing announces the winner. And a new fish is launched.

Looking at the Balinese fishing we return to the search for birds "Where are the herons?" and ... Hurray, comrades! We found them. Only, much less than expected. They still exist.

The birds flew in and settled on the branches of 2-3 trees. They looked down with curiosity at the confused tourists who wandered around with huge cameras at the ready and looked around anxiously.

Local residents patiently, already apparently for the thousandth time, to the question: “Where are the thousand herons that fly at sunset?” Wearily pointed at the tree.

Let me remind you a little. Pura Tirta Empul is a "Holy Water" temple built in 926 AD. This is one of the revered Balinese temples, which has on its territory a sacred source of life-giving waters and three pools for cleansing ablutions.

After cleansing the soul and body with holy Balinese springs, we will go to a rather interesting place Gunung Kawi - great caves. They are located very close to the springs, in the village of Tempaksiring, you need to drive a kilometer towards the south. Gunung Kawi is also called the "mountain of the poet", the attraction dates back to the 11th century and is, according to the main version, the burial place of King Anak Wungsu and his many wives.

Before entering the territory of Gunung Kawi, we will not fail to be surrounded by merchants of sarongs. But we know that the ticket price includes a sarong, however, we don’t need it, since we are dressed “according to the rules” - the length is below the knees, the shoulders are closed.

“Buy a sarong, I’ll give it cheap, buy it, huh?”

Gunung Kawi - a monastery built in 1080. Rice terraces stretch all around us. Having paid 15 thousand INR at the entrance, we go down rather steep steps. Rice terraces spread around us, and ahead we see the abyss and the jungle.

Gunung Kawi is the most unusual and most ancient monument in Bali. It consists of 10 niches carved into the rock 7 m high. Five mausoleums are located on east coast and four on the west.

The ensemble is completed by the cells of the monks, which can be reached along a winding path resembling a labyrinth.

Everything looks somehow suspiciously quiet and mysterious, maybe peaceful spirits now live in the cells, go to visit each other and watch TV shows in the form of tourists coming to them.

They quietly, silently giggle, and with a dreamy expression on their faces, they pretend that they are drinking tea from mugs, biting with cookies.

We continue our way and drive to the side Ubud, we arrive in the town of Pejeng. Here we will go to the temple of Penataran Sasih, built in the 13th century, in order to see the famous drum "Moon of Pejeng", according to some opinions, which is the largest drum in the world. Its length is 1.86 m, diameter is 1.6 m.

After the great drum, we will direct our steps to a place with a cheerful name "Yeh Pulu", no, no, this is not the name of the Finnish polka, these are bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the life of young Krishna, sort of - so. This work dates back to the XIV-XV centuries.

The place itself is quite nice, the path goes among the rice terraces, after which you come to small wall bas-reliefs and admire the stories. There is also a small swampy holy spring Yeh Pulu, where you can take a bath or drink healing water.

Yeh Pulu Rice Terraces

We come to the bas-reliefs

Why are you looking at me here?

Yeh Pulu is located near the quiet village of Bedulu, with friendly and smiling locals. Although, in the past, Bedulu was the capital of a large and powerful kingdom.

There is a version that King Bedulu had paranormal abilities. For example, he amused himself by cutting off his head, frightening the people, and then putting it back. And she, of course, safely grew back to the body. There is a version that his abilities were even more advanced than cutting off the head. Eh, Bali, the island of spirits, shamans, white and black magic ...

But despite such talents, the kingdom was conquered by the great and mysterious Majapahit empire.

Friendly residents of Bedulu. All heads are in place.

Although… we found a strange statue near the village temple. Maybe this is him, the same king from the past? Maybe the conqueror Majapahit cast a more powerful spell on him and the head could no longer grow back?

Here, they say correctly, you have the ability - be silent into the tube, do not tell every second person, but use it only for good and on business 🙂 (as we do)

And now let's look at Goa Goja (Goa Gajah), the so-called elephant cave.

Goa Goa (Goa Gajah) - elephant cave. This attraction is located almost near Ubud, so to speak, in Ubud, on the way to Peliotan.

The cultural capital of Bali is Ubud; this city is considered the center of the arts on the island. This is where the majority of museums, art galleries, exhibition complexes and others are located. interesting places. In addition, not far from Ubud, there are artisan villages where Balinese craftsmen exhibit their goods.

Ubud city in Bali

and its surroundings, I will introduce you to the city and its history, as well as explain how to get to it from different resorts. For those who want to visit this place, I will give a few useful tips for organizing the trip.

History of Ubud

In the 8th century, the monk Rsi Markandya came to Bali from the island of Java, accompanied by 400 spiritual followers. Like many other priests (for example, Nir arta), Rsi Markandya spread Hinduism on the island. According to one version, it was he who founded the main Balinese temple - Pura Besakih.

In addition to religious tasks, the monk was also involved in the organization of the economy on the island. In particular, he introduced a system of communities - banjar - among the local residents. These communities still exist in Bali to this day. Their members are engaged in landscaping, maintaining order, organizing ritual ceremonies and much more.

Legend has it that Rsi Markandia often meditated on the shore mountain river Sun. He believed that its waters have a special energy. Over time, the monk founded a temple here - Pura Gunung Lebah (by the way, it is still working). The temple is located at the confluence of two streams of the river. In Balinese, this place is called camp uhan (campuhan), so the sanctuary is often often referred to as Pura Campuhan.

Local residents who visited the temple noticed that the waters of the Vos River have healing properties. Since there were no villages nearby, the pilgrims decided to establish a settlement here. It was named Ub ad, which means "treatment" or "medicine" in Balinese. And later the word "Ubad" turned into "Ubud", and the settlement itself grew, becoming like a full-fledged city.

In the 14th century, during the reign of the Pejeng Dynasty, Ubud became the political center of Bali and played an important role in the administration of the island for another two centuries. And in the 20-30s of the twentieth century, at the invitation of the royal family, artists, musicians and writers from all over the world began to come here. The first to arrive was Walter Spies, a German musician and painter with Russian roots. His name is also often pronounced as Walter Spies. Inspired by the Dutchman Jap Kunst's book about the music of Bali, he decided to visit the island and spent a long time there. The Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet worked here, Miguel and Rosa Covarrubias popularized the unique culture and beauty of Bali, and the famous artist Gusti Nyoman Lempad lived here.

The beginning of the last century turned Ubud from small town to the present Cultural Center. Representatives of the European intelligentsia, creators, musicians and painters gave a powerful impetus to the development of Balinese art. They revealed in local residents talents, spread their work far beyond the island.

And in the 70s, tourism began to develop in Bali. This has turned the quiet and peaceful town of Ubud into a fairly lively center. Today, art lovers from all over the world come here. Even famous artists such as Sting buy houses here. However, the city differs from the lively resorts in the south of the island with its closeness to nature and a more relaxed environment.

In general, Ubud is not very Big City. But there are more than a dozen villages nearby, which have almost merged with it. Because of this, many consider Ubud both the village of Tegalalang, located 7 kilometers from it, and the village of Pejeng, which is located to the east.

In fact, there is the city of Ubud, which has a length of about 3.5 km from north to south and 2.5 km from west to east, and there is a district of the same name, which occupies much large area(about 9 km from north to south and 6 km from west to east). This area includes all the surrounding villages, and since there are no clear boundaries between them and Ubud, they are considered part of the city.

The main directions of fisheries

Now I will tell you about what Ubud is like as the cultural capital of the island. First, let me introduce you to the traditional crafts and arts of this region.

Here's what the locals do:

Painting
Jewelry
Fabrics and batik
Wood and stone carving
Ceramics
Weaving from a vine and beads
Traditional Balinese masks
Ear games, shell products and other souvenirs

As you can see, almost all the traditional crafts of Bali are represented in Ubud. Most souvenirs are sold at the market in the city center. It is divided into two parts. In the western one, the works of masters and paintings are presented, in the eastern one - fruits, vegetables and other foodstuffs. You can also take part in master classes and try to master local crafts.

See the work of local and European artists
Buy traditional souvenirs from Balinese artisans
Take part in master classes

Painting

To get acquainted with the history of the development of this art in Bali, look into the city's museums. Here you can see the works of Balinese and foreign artists (both contemporaries and classics) who lived on the island. Read more about the museums of the island in the article Museums of Bali.

gung Rai Museum of Art, or ARMA)

Here you can see the works of Rudolf Bonnet, Walter Spies, Ariel Smith and other Europeans who worked in Bali. The museum also features paintings by Radan Saleh, a 19th-century Indonesian artist from the island of Java. Seminars are regularly held here, telling about different aspects of Balinese art, you can visit a painting master class.

The museum is open daily, from 9:00 to 17:00
Entrance ticket price - 40,000 rupees
Address: Jalan Raya Peng osekan Ubud, Bali Indonesia

2. Antonio Blanco Museum (The Blanco Renaissance Museum)

This Spanish artist lived and worked in Ubud, the museum is located in his house, surrounded by a garden with exotic birds. Without it, it is impossible to imagine the modern art of Bali. Often he is called the local Salvador Dali or Picasso. His work is a little extravagant, but very interesting.

Opening hours from 9:00 to 18:00
Entrance ticket price 5,0000 rupees
Address: Jl. Raya Penestanan #8

3. Puri Lukisan Museum (Museum Puri Lukisan)

Opened in 1954, it was the first private museum in Bali. It features traditional artisan art and contemporary paintings. You can see beautiful wood carvings and other creations of old masters. From painting there are paintings by Rudolf Bonnet and Gusti Nyoman Lempad.

Museum opening hours from 8:00 to 18:00
Entrance ticket - 5,000 rupees

4. Museum of Rudana (Museum Rudana & Rudana Fine Art Gallery)

Founded by a local artist, it represents the traditional and local visual arts of Bali.

Opening hours from 9:00 to 17:00, on Sundays from 12:00 to 17:00
Entrance ticket costs 20,000 rupees, children under 12 years old - free of charge
Address: Jl. Cok Rai Pudak #44

5. Neka Art Museum

Biggest Art Museum on Bali. It features over 300 works by Balinese and European artists such as Gusti Nyoman Lempad and Ariel Smith. You can trace the development of local painting over the past century and a half. Recently, the exposition was replenished with a collection of traditional ritual daggers - kris. The museum consists of six pavilions; Unfortunately, there are no tour guides here.

The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to common days and from 12:00 on Sunday, open until 17:00
Entrance ticket price 40,000 rupees
Address: Jalan Raya Sanggingan Campuhan, Kedewatan, Ubud, Kabup aten Gianyar, Bali 80571

6. Women's art Gallery Seniwati Gallery

Here are the works of exclusively Balinese artists.

Open from 9:00 to 17:00
the entrance is free
Address: Jalan Sriwedari 2B, Banj ar Taman, Ubud

crafts

Artisans from Ubud and the surrounding villages can be seen in almost every souvenir shop. There are many works on the large market, among which there are ordinary mass crafts and unique creations. To buy worthwhile thing at a normal price, you need to be patient and not rush, because it is customary to actively bargain here.

Here are a few centers where there are really high-quality works of local craftsmen:

This is the central market of Ubud, where the most various souvenirs, including paintings by local artists, stone, wood, volcanic tuff, buffalo bones, as well as fabrics, batik, jewelry, dishes and much more.

Opening hours - from 06:00 to 18:00
Address: Jalan Raya Ubud №35, Ubud, Kabup aten Gianyar, Bali 80571

A non-profit organization that supports the original art of fabric making in Bali. She tries to preserve traditions, to give work to the inhabitants of remote villages, especially women. In this way, the organization maintains the quality of fabrics and fights poverty. Here you can buy fabrics, clothes, scarves made from natural materials and dyed exclusively with natural dyes.

Opening hours - from 10:00 to 19:00
Address: Jl. Kajeng №24, Ubud, Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

3. Jean-François Fichot Store

There are many souvenirs here, not only from Bali. But the most interesting are the jewelry of local craftsmen. You will find in the store gold and silver bracelets, earrings, beads with precious and semi-precious stones, fancy patterns.

The address of the main salon is Jl.Raya Pengosekan No. 7 Ubud 80571, Bali
The address of the additional salon is Jl. Raya Kedewatan №7, Kedewatan, Ubud, Kabup aten Gianyar, Bali 80571

4 Macan Tidur

An antique shop where you can buy old traditional products, ritual wooden masks. By the way, masks are designed to scare away evil spirits, despite the fact that they themselves have a rather frightening appearance. Often they depict the White Monkey Hanuman. The color is mostly natural. But there are dark masks coated with a special compound for better storage. In addition, there are many traditional fabrics, scarves and other local textiles.

Address: Ubud, Ubud District, Gianyar, Bali 805 71

5. Gay a Ceramic Arts Center

This is not just a store, but a whole gallery where the works of local and foreign masters are exhibited. The exposition of the exhibition is constantly changing; the ceramics that are sold here are expensive and really exclusive. The gallery hosts various seminars and master classes.

Address: Jl. Raya Sayan №105 , Sayan, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

6. Shalimar

Shop of modern accessories made of fabric and leather. You can also buy traditional Balinese weaving, dolls, beadwork and antique masks.

Address: Jl. Raya Ubud №88, Ubud, Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 805 71

7. Studio 22K

You are here if you are interested in batik. This is a very complex technique, the essence of which is that wax is applied to a clean cloth. Then it is dipped into the dye, and the place covered with wax is not painted over. So you can create a pattern of several colors, alternately lowering the fabric into different colors - from light to dark.

All the walls of the shop are hung with products with traditional painting of this region. The owner will not only choose the right thing for you, but also tell you about the meaning of patterns and drawings.

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday - from 09:00 to 20:00, other days - from 09:00 to 21:30
Address: Jalan Raya Ubud. Oka Kartini Bungalow, Ubud, Petulu, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

8 Treasures

A jewelry store featuring well-chosen collections from local artisans. Mostly silver and gold items are sold. Traditional shapes and patterns are used in their production, as well as modern design. Jewelry is inlaid with lapis lazuli, tourmaline, emeralds and other stones.

Address: Jl. Raya Ubud No.14, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 805 71

9. Puspa Style

Here you can buy ancient ceramics, stone carvings, exquisite copper utensils, figurines and shell dishes.

Address: Jl. Raya Pengosekan №2013, MAS, Ubud, Kabup aten Gianyar, Bali 80571

Of course, it is impossible to describe all the shops and workshops in Ubud - there are too many of them. Already at the entrance to the city you will be greeted by bizarre statues carved from volcanic stone. In many shops you can see carved furniture with traditional designs. Furniture and statues are designed mainly for local buyers. All you have to do is take photos of these works of art, because you will not take a huge stone Ganesh or Vishnu on an airplane.

maste p-classes

In Ubud, not only buy souvenirs or look at the work of local craftsmen. Here you can learn how to make ceramics, jewelry or batik on your own. In the city, several workshops and galleries offer courses or one-day workshops for tourists. Next, I will tell you about such institutions.

By topic, they can be divided into the following categories:

Painting
Jewelry Art
Batik
Ceramics

Painting

1. Pondok Pekak Library & Learning Center

Located in the Ubud Library on Dewi Sit Road connecting Jl. Monkey Forest and Jl. Hanoman. Here you can learn to draw on paper or paint on canvas.

The cost of the lesson is 25,000 rupees, or 280,000 along with the price of the canvas
Address: Jl. Monkey Forest, sebelah Timur Lapangan Ubud, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

2. Swasti Eco Cottags

There are different workshops, including traditional Balinese painting.

Address: Jl. Nyuh Bojog, Banjar Nyuh Kuning, Desa Mas, MAS, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

Jewelry Art

1. Studio Perak

You come up with a design for a piece of jewelry, then you make it out of silver. The master class lasts 2-5 hours. In addition, ready-made products can be purchased at the studio.

The cost of the lesson is 350,000 rupees
Address: Jalan Hanoman, Padangtegal, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

2. Chez Moniq ue Silver Smith Class

The master class lasts 3 hours, during which time you can make a simple ring or bracelet. For work, 10 grams of silver are issued. As in the previous center, here you can buy ready-made jewelry.

The cost of the lesson is 45,000 rupees
Classes start at 9:30, 11:30 and 13:30, you need to register in advance
Address: No. 57 Taman Kaja, Jl. Sri Wedari, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

3Wahana Silver's Art Studio

The studio provides workshops on creating ritual wooden masks, jewelry making, batik or watercolor painting, weaving, wood carving and other traditional Bali crafts. Here you will even learn how to carve artwork on fruits.

The cost of a 3-hour lesson is 35,000 rupees
Opening hours - from 11:00 to 18:00
Address: Lodtunduh, Ubud District, Gianyar, Bali 80571

Batik

1. Widya Batik School

All materials (paints, wax, cotton cloth, brushes) are provided. After the master class, the product can be taken home. It also sells ready-made fabrics, clothes, batik paintings. You can order a drawing from the master, put it on a T-shirt, dress or other wardrobe item.

Classes last from 10:00 to 15:00
Address: Jl. Sriwedari #61. Br. Tegallantang

Master classes and five-day courses are held here. different levels(for beginners and for professionals).

The cost of one lesson is 485,000 rupees for 4 hours, a five-day course is 2,360,000 rupees
Address: Jalan Gautama No. 10, Padangtegal Kaja

The lesson here lasts 7 hours. In addition to batik, the museum offers a three-hour master class to paint masks.

The cost of a batik master class is 530,000 rupees
The cost of the master class on masks is 300,000 rupees
Opening hours - from 09:00 to 17:00
Address: Jl. Raya Ubud, Ubud

Ceramics

1. Sari Api Ceramic Studio

Founded by a graduate of the School of Ceramics in Switzerland, Susan Kohlik. Offers master classes for adults and children from 4 to 14 years old.

The cost of the lesson is 55,000 rupees for one or 500,000 rupees for two
Classes are held from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00
Address: Jl. Suweta, Ubud, Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

I have already mentioned this gallery where exhibitions are held and exclusive ceramics are sold. You can also come here for a master class in the manufacture of ceramic products.

Opening hours: from 09:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Saturday
Address: Jl. Raya Sayan №105, Sayan, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 805 71

It is important to know that the process of making ceramics is long. Burning, drying, coloring of the product will take at least two weeks. If you really want to learn, you should plan your lessons at the very beginning of your holiday.

What to see in and around Ubud

Ubud is famous not only for its craftsmen, museums and souvenir shops. This is very ancient city with a rich history.

Here you can visit:

Temples and cultural monuments
Villages of craftsmen
natural objects

Now I will tell you more about them.

Temples and cultural monuments

1. Royal Palace (Puri Saren Agung).

This is the most famous attraction in Ubud. Its construction was completed in 1940 and lasted several decades. Part of the palace is closed to the public - these are the private chambers of the descendants of kings. In addition to the magnificent architecture, inside the palace you can see a collection of antique furniture from the colonial era.

Opening hours - from 08:00 to 19:00
Free admission
Address: Jalan Raya Ubud, Desa Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 805 71
Read more about the palace in the article Royal Palace in Ubud

Located next to the central market and royal palace, is considered the main one in the city. The temple is small and intended more for prayer than for excursions. Nevertheless, here you can often see tourists with cameras - the architecture of the temple buildings is very beautiful.

Address: Jl. Raya Ubud #35

3. Gunung Kawi

Located 16 km from Ubud, in the village of Tampaksiring. The complex consists of 10 royal tombs, which are carved directly into the rocks. By the way, these tombs are more than a thousand years old. They are located in a small courtyard, but they look impressive. There are rice fields all around.

Opening hours - from 08:00 to 18:00
Ticket price: Rs 15,000 for adults and Rs 8,000 for children
Address: Banjar Penaka, Tampaksiring, Kabupaten Gianyar
Read more about the complex in the article Gunung Kawi Temple

4. Pura Gunung Lebah

According to legend, it was the first temple built here. It was founded by the same Hindu monk who came to Bali from the island of Java. The shrine is located almost in the center of Ubud.

Free admission
Address: Jl. Raya Ubud #23

5. Yeh Pul u rock carvings

They date back to the XIV-XV centuries. For a long time they were covered with volcanic ash. They were discovered in 1925. The bas-reliefs depict various scenes from the life of the local people, as well as some religious subjects.

Opening hours - from 09:00 to 17:00
Admission is free (you can make a donation)
Address: Jalan Yeh Pulu, Blahbatuh, Bedulu, Kec. Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80581

artisan villages

There are several craft villages around Ubud. Each of them specializes in a particular industry.

The famous place where tourists come to see the monkeys in their natural environment a habitat.

Opening hours - from 08:30 to 18:00
Ticket price: 5,000 rupees for adults, 40,000 rupees for children
Address: Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud

2. Comb Kampuhan

This is a narrow path paved with stone, passing through thickets of grass. It starts near the temple of Pura Gunung Lebah and has a length of about a kilometer. This popular route among amateurs hiking. Not too complex, so suitable for everyone. As a nice bonus, at the end of the path you will find a cozy Karsa cafe overlooking the rice terraces.

You can visit this place at any time, there is no entry fee

Address: Jalan Raya Campuan, Sayan, Ubud, Kelusa, Payang an, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571

Located 10 kilometers north of the center of Ubud. These terraces were created in the 9th century and have hardly changed since then. It uses the traditional Bali irrigation system - Subak, which delivers water to terraces from mountain lakes located tens of kilometers away.

Opening hours - from 07:00 to 17:00
Admission is free, but in some places farmers may ask for donations.
Address: Jalan Tegallalang, Tegallalang , Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561

How to get to Ubud

You can get to Ubud by rented car, taxi or public transport. From the southern resorts to Ubud, the easiest way to go is through Denpasar. But if there are traffic jams in the city, then it is better to choose detours.

Below I have given you a few detailed travel routes:

From Denpasar
From Kuta and Legian
From Seminyak
From Sanur
From Jimbaran
From Nusa Dua

How to get from Denpasar to Ubud

Leave the city to the east, on Jl. Wag e Rudolf Supratman.
Get to the entrance to the Gianyar district (in front of it there is a high gate with the inscription "Kabup aten Gianyar").
After 300 meters there will be a smooth turn to the left, after which you need to go straight without turning anywhere.
After 6.3 km you will come to a sharp turn to the right, after which after 90 meters there will be another turn - to the left. After another 150 meters you will reach a small crossroads. It needs to turn right. If you miss it, the next turn will be only after 5.7 km. But don't worry: the detour will not be very big - you will need to get to the intersection with Jl. Raya Singakerta and turn right on it. There are signs everywhere pointing in the direction of Ubud so you won't get lost.
If you followed the route, continue on the main road. After 5 kilometers you will find yourself in the southern part of Ubud. To get to the city center, drive straight for another 3 kilometers and you will arrive at Jl. Raya Ubud.

The journey will take approximately 1 hour, the distance is 23 km.

How to get from Kuta and Legian to Ubud

You can go through the center of Denpasar. But if you want to avoid traffic jams, it is better to go on a different route.

Check out Jl. By Pass Ng urah Rai and head east towards Sanur.
Once you reach Sanur, continue north to Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai-Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai Tohpati. If you're not in a hurry, you can turn right here and drive along the coast to Jl. Raya Guwang, and then through Sukawati (Sukawati) go to Ubud along Jl. Raya Sakah and Jl. Raya Mas. Along the way, you will come across many souvenir shops. And you can go further along Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai. I will describe exactly this route.
After another 650 meters, turn right onto Jl. Wag e Rudolf Supratman.
Then the route is the same as from Denpasar.

Travel time - 1 hour 10 minutes, distance - 34-38 kilometers (depending on the road you choose).

How to get from Seminyak to Ubud

From this resort it is best to go through the northwestern part of Denpasar.

Drive north from Seminyak towards Jl. Raya Padang Luwih (about 10 km) until you reach Sempidi.
From Sempidi you can go north along Jl. Raya Anggungan and then turn right onto Jl. Raya Puspa Resti and via Banjargede exit onto Jl. A.A. Gede Ray. If you use this route, you can skip directly to point 9). Otherwise, pass Sempidi to the east and follow Jl. Raya Sading without turning anywhere.
After 3 kilometers you will find yourself at the intersection with Jl. Raya Darmasaba. Turn right on it. Before the intersection there is a road sign indicating the direction to Ubud.
After another 1.7 km turn left onto Jl. Raya Sibanggede. There is also a sign here so you won't get lost.
Continue straight ahead for 950 meters until you reach the junction with Jl. Raya Angantaka. You need to turn right on it. In front of it is a sign with the direction to Gianyar (forward), but you need to go towards Angantaki. You can go straight, but there is a very narrow road and a lot of cars. And to Angantaka leads a wide and even highway, passing through the rice fields.
Continue straight for 4.2 km until you reach a T-junction. Turn left on it onto Jl. Raya Singapadu.
Follow this road for 700 meters and then turn right. Be careful - the intersection is very small, so it is easy to pass through.
After turning, drive along the main road and do not turn anywhere. After 4 km you will be at the junction with Jl. Ambarwati (if you were driving through Banjargede, then at this point you need to turn left onto Jl. A.A. Gede Rai and proceed as described below).
Continue straight ahead. After 4 kilometers you will find yourself in the center of Ubud.

The trip will take approximately 1 hour 20 minutes and the distance is about 30-32 kilometers.

How to get from Sanur to Ubud

The road from Sanur is the easiest and fastest.

Check out Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai and go straight to Jl. Wage Rudolf Supratman.
Turn right at the crossroads.
Then take the route from Denpasar.

The trip will take a little less than an hour. Distance - 23 km.

How to get from Jimbaran to Ubud

To do this, it is enough to leave the Bukit Peninsula along Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai through the airport and drive to Kuta. Then you can use the route from Kuta - it is exactly the same.

Travel time is 1 hour 35 minutes. The distance is 42 kilometers.

How to get from Nusa Dua to Ubud

There are two roads from this resort. The first is along the highway Jl. Nusa Dua - Bandara Ng urah Rai - Benoa Toll Road/Mandara Toll Road. This road passes over the bridge, bypassing traffic jams in the airport area. But keep in mind that it is paid. The second option is to go through the airport to Kuta. It will take a little longer (literally 10 minutes), but it will be free.

If you chose the first path, then after passing the bridge, follow the route from Sanur. The journey will take 1 hour 30 minutes and 50 kilometers.
If you chose the second route, use the route from Kuta. Travel time is 1 hour 40 minutes. The distance is 47 kilometers.

Building a route...

A trip to Ubud will be of interest to connoisseurs of art and culture. It is simply a paradise for aesthetes, lovers of painting, folk crafts. If you are vacationing with children, you can sign up for one of the master classes with them, get an unforgettable experience.

Tourists who are looking for original gifts will find anything in Ubud. You can come here at any time of the year - craftsmen and souvenir shops are always open. Another plus is that all the products that are produced in the surrounding villages are brought to Ubud. So you don't have to travel to different areas islands to find one or another souvenir.

But do not rush to buy. It is better to look closely, ask the price, find really original things. Here, as in other cities, there are a lot of stamped souvenirs for picky consumers. In addition, be sure to bargain, sellers often inflate prices by one and a half or two times.

You can contact me and I will organize Ubud shopping tour for you. We will visit best shops where you can pick up souvenirs for every taste. I'll help you bargain and make sure you don't get scammed. In addition, you do not have to carry heavy bags - we will load them into my car, and taxi services will already be included in the total cost of the tour. Read more about this on the Shopping page.

For those who decide to visit the city of Ubud, I would advise you to stay there for at least a few days. If you want to learn a little traditional arts or drawing, it is better to come for 1-2 weeks. Then you can visit not only the city itself, but also the surrounding villages, the monkey forest, numerous temples.

For those who are used to beach holiday or noisy parties, Ubud will seem boring. if you love active entertainment And nightlife, it is worth paying attention to southern resorts, for example Kutu

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In the center of the island of Bali, away from the ocean and noisy parties of surfers, lies the city of Ubud - a place surrounded by incredible landscapes of tropical forests, tiered rice fields and ancient temples, and also a real Mecca for yoga lovers.

We stayed in Ubud for 4 days and here, indeed, a completely different Bali is calmer, unlike coastal, more Asian (Ubud has much fewer European bars and cafes, unlike, for example, Kuta).

In this article we will talk about the main attractions of Ubud and the surrounding area, about the local cuisine, the most beautiful rice fields and, of course, about the main owners of Bali - about the monkeys.

How to get to Ubud

From the areas along the ocean in the south and southwest of Bali, Ubud is located about 1-1.5 hours drive. You can get to it in several ways:

Use the local Blue Bird taxi app to call your car and drive to the meter. We got about 250,000 - 300,000 rupees one way. Pretty cheap.
Order a transfer at the hotel or villa where you are staying. It will be much more expensive: about 450,000 rupees.
Get there by bike. We went to Ubud almost immediately after arriving on the island. The bike had already been rented immediately for a whole month (without it, there is nowhere here), but we decided not to ride it, because we were still not sure that we would overcome this distance without any problems. Eh, at the end of the month, after riding a bike not only all over Bali, but also along the narrow ones, mountain roads Nusa Pennida, we probably would have gone to Ubud on it, because this road did not seem long and difficult.

Where to stay in Ubud. Jungle hotels

In Ubud, you definitely need to shoot something that is located in the thickets of tropical forests, fortunately, there are many similar hotels here. It’s very atmospheric, unusual and honestly I’ll tell you - sleeping with an open balcony that overlooks the jungle and hearing these thousands of sounds from the thicket at night, breathing in the cleanest humid air of a tropical night is great, it will be remembered for a lifetime. And no, it’s not dangerous, you won’t wake up hugging a tiger or a boa constrictor, because, of course, in hotels in the jungle, this moment was thought out and outside they are equipped with ultrasonic sensors that scare away animals, but are not audible to humans.

The choice of hotels in Ubud is large, but we, in my opinion, settled on the best of the inexpensive ones (here, by the way, housing is, in principle, much cheaper than in tourist areas by the ocean). Our hotel was called .

Our window view of the pool and jungle. Alam Sembuwuk Hotel

Pros of this hotel: nature (actually located on the edge of the rainforest, lush vegetation surrounds it on three sides), rooms and interior in general, pool and sunbathing area, free yoga classes in the morning are included in the price, good service.

Minus: it is located, as it were, in the suburbs of Ubud and the city (for example, to the Monkey Forest) is about 20 minutes by bike. But this did not bother us at all, because we wanted to live in the jungle - they are the main wealth of Ubud, and in the city itself it is too authentic: bunches of wires overhead, heavy traffic on narrow streets and noisy - real Asia as it is.

If you still want to live in Ubud itself, then I recommend the hotel - it was also initially considered. This place has a very cool rooftop pool, a restaurant terrace overlooking the green part of the city, and it is also located near the Monkey Forest (only 700 meters) and the central streets with a bunch of shops and cafes.

Similar (also with a rooftop pool), central, but quiet and overlooking the rice field - hotel.

We looked at all 3 of these hotels and in the end preferred the jungle, staying in Alam Sembuwuk.

What to see in Ubud and surroundings. The most-most sights

It is in the Ubud area that perhaps the most iconic and popular attractions of Bali are located. During these few days, we went through all the main ones in order.

Monkey forest in Ubud

The famous Monkey Forest or the sacred forest of monkeys is located here. This is a whole complex where, in addition to monkeys that run, jump and want to hang your phone, there are several more temples, a jungle with lush vegetation and a river running over stones.

Important: Before entering, take off everything that glitters, remove everything that does not lie well, check whether your backpack or bag is tightly closed. These are not joke warnings, any monkey can really snatch youriPhoneX and rush along the branches into the thicket.

One of the inhabitants of the Monkey Forest

And also, read the rules that hang in front of the entrance to the territory at the cash desk: do not feed the monkeys, do not stroke, do not show aggression. Baby monkeys are very cute, and you want to pet them, but don’t do it, because his mother is nearby - she is aggressive, like any “yagmat” and can rush to your non-local impudent, in her opinion, face.

There are several temples on the territory and numerous signs lead to them, it is very difficult to get confused.

The main temple, the largest, is located in the southwestern part and is called Dalem Agung.
Beji Temple is smaller, located in the northwestern part of the park. Traditional ceremonies are often held here.
Temple Prajapati. Next to it is a cemetery where cremations sometimes take place.

A lot of locals in elegant traditional clothes, with mountains of utensils on their heads, walk around the park to the temples - a beautiful and unusual sight for our eyes.

Jungle path in the Monkey Forest

Everything in this park is permeated with the love of the Balinese for nature and their unity with it. For example, many of the trees are sacred - they are prayed to, the leaves are used during cremation, they are used to create sacred masks. Moreover, for these masks, the tree is not cut down, but only a small piece is cut off, and it does not die.

The Sacred Monkey Forest, despite the great popularity and influx of tourists, remains an atmospheric and inspiring place, the most Balinese in all of Bali.

Ticket price: 50,000 rupees (adults), 40,000 rupees (children)
Opening hours: from 8:30 to 18:00 (tickets are sold until 17:30)

Artists' Trail Campuhan Ridge Walk

This is a narrow walking road, three kilometers long. The trail goes along the top of the hill, the base of which is covered with thick tropical forests, so it offers picturesque views: the jungle and the thin ribbon of the river below, the villas and hotels opposite, the rice fields and flowering trees.

The road starts from Ubud from the Gunung Lebah temple and the walk is free, although you can take some money with you and buy a small painting by one of the local artists, whose shops you will meet on the way closer to the end of the trail (hence, actually , and its Russian-language name).

View of the Artists' Trail from the opposite hill

Important: the trail is not extreme, of course, but there are still ups and downs, so put on comfortable sports shoes and go for a walk not at noon, when it’s very hot, but early in the morning or closer to sunset, but make time to return back before dark.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces (Tegallalang)

Another popular Balinese attraction, located from Ubud in 20-25 minutes by bike. It is these terraces that are considered the largest and most beautiful, they are most often published in articles about Bali and guides around the island.

The place is really impressive, the photos turned out in the best local traditions even in harsh daylight.

A large number of cafes and restaurants are “stuck” along the edge of the terraces, where you can hide from the heat and drink juice (I can’t say about what kind of food there, because I don’t eat in such tourist and streaming places and I don’t advise you - well it won’t be tasty there, and you need it too - wait 30-40 minutes?).

The rice terraces of Tegallalang. View from the cafe at the entrance. There were a lot of people, but in the photo it seems as if there is almost no one 🙂

It's funny: it is difficult to indicate the cost of visiting the terraces, because the local guys are arrogant, they take money not only for parking the bike and at the entrance, but also while walking along the terraces themselves: you can walk along one of the paths and stumble upon a "barrier" in the form a wooden stick and an aboriginal who, standing in socks on the ground (!?), will ask you to give money for the passage “how much it is not a pity”, while not letting you go further if you refuse to pay and say that you have already paid. We gave one or two of them 2,000 rupees each, and then we just jumped over their "barriers" - we fought, so to speak, their impudence and outright begging J So, the final cost of visiting the rice terraces will depend on your compassion and generosity.

Saraswati Temple - a work of art

They say that this is the most beautiful temple on the whole island, and not just in Ubud, and it is definitely worth seeing.

Saraswati Temple

The Saraswati temple is dedicated to the local goddess of wisdom. Around him are dense thickets of the park with flowering trees and ponds with wild water lilies. Very photogenic, especially in the evenings when the lamps are lit.

Where to eat in Ubud. Restaurants with great views

In my opinion, nowhere in Bali there are so many spectacular restaurants and cafes. Here are just a few of them:

Indian- a place not only with gorgeous view to the jungle, but also very good food. Everything is tasty, not spicy (for Ubud this is a rarity) and beautifully served. Especially liked the chicken curry with rice and fish.

View from the terrace of the Indus restaurant

Warung Layana- unrealistic view of the waterfall, unrealistically spicy food. You know, when it's so spicy that it's bitter J And of course, the waiter, not understanding your tender non-local receptors, will sincerely say before ordering that "not spicy". But here you can order a delicious cocktail or something from the West, for example, a club sandwich.

View from the terrace of Warung Layana Restaurant

The restaurant at the Anahata villa hotel - a view of the jungle and a very authentic interior - a stone staircase and lanterns covered with moss. In such a place, only the Jungle Book can be filmed or something about the adventures of European colonialists in Southeast Asia.

And in the end: a place of 100% relaxation - Folk Ubud

We found this place by accident, based on someone's photos on Instagram.

Folk Ubud is a bar with a pool where you can drink cocktails not only sitting at tables or swimming at the bar, but also lying under cozy canopies. There is pleasant music here, dozens of garlands are beautifully lit in the evening. All in all, perfect place in order to take a break from a hot day full of impressions.

Bar Folk Ubud

A place under the canopy can be reserved in advance on the institution's website. For 350,000 rupees you will get towels, access to the pool and a minimum set of snacks, such as canapes and fruit skewers.

Conclusion

Even if you came specifically to the ocean, at least a couple of days should be given to Ubud and its attractions - temples, jungles, rice fields, gardens, yoga centers. Here, time seems to flow more slowly than on the coast, allowing you to enjoy everything that surrounds you, master new asanas and finally put things in order in your thoughts.

Recently, I was surprised to learn that some people think that Bali is some kind of separate country, or they are looking for which country it is in search engines :)

Also, I didn't understand before. Why do people like to travel to Bali?. I thought it was just a resort island like Koh Chang or. When I arrived, I understood why. Firstly, thanks to the Hindu heritage, it is pleasant and beautiful here. Lots of wood and stone carvings, flowers. There are beautiful statues at the big crossroads. Rice fields. In addition, Bali is suitable for recreation for very different people. There is a calm sea in the north, with good diving and snorkelling. And waves for surfers in the south, from beginners to pros. Here you can live in a backpacker hostel and eat in warungs. You can live in the coolest resort with its own river with a waterfall and rice terraces (this is not counting the obligatory pool, spa, etc.) and eat in super-glamorous restaurants where they are allowed by dress code. And then there is rafting, cycling and hiking, coffee plantations, botanical gardens, waterfalls, lakes, temples and several excellent museums. IN tourist places The people know some English. In general, here everyone will find housing, food and entertainment to taste and wallet :)

Bali at first glance is cleaner and greener than Java, the air is fresher. Lots along the way beautiful temples in Balinese style. The airport is also in Balinese style. The airport is cleaner and newer than and, but the air conditioners are very strong.

Immediately upon arrival, we rushed to Denpasar, where Seryoga received, and then went to Oleg from Odessa, who lives in Ubud. We met him in Malaysia on. Oleg gave us his bike so that we could ride and choose a bike for ourselves, and also gave some valuable advice.

In Ubud, the average price for bike rental per day 50,000 rupees, per month 500,000-600,000 (depending on the model). Since we came for 24 days, even though we could leave without a bike for neighboring islands, it was still more profitable to rent on long term, so we found a Yamaha Soul 110 cc for 450,000 ($37.5). As a result, we drove 1400 km on it, spent 180,000 rupees on gasoline (that is, $ 15 for 27.5 liters of gasoline). Refueled at large official gas stations. It's pretty cheap! We could rent a car for such an amount for only 1-2 days. Traveling on a bike was helped a lot by the fact that we left the backpack with Oleg, and took only two small backpacks with us. Thank you, Oleg! :)

Motorcycle travel insurance

Regular policies do not cover riding motorcycles and mopeds. Separate sports insurance is required. The best option- is to buy for active days an insurance policy from - is international insurance, is issued online, even if you are already traveling, and covers motorcycle riding.

Ride on Ubud and surroundings.

Visited two interesting museum dedicated to Balinese art, and the palace:

1. Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA). Entrance 60,000 rupees, open from 9 to 18.

These fruits are inedible. Trees are used for decoration.

2. Museum Rudana. The entrance is already 100,000 rupees for foreigners, we said that we won’t go that expensive, and we were sold tickets for locals for 50,000. Open Mon-Sat 9-17, Sun 12-17.

3. Palace.

We went to Mount Gunung Batur, and on the way visited temple with thermal springs Tirta Empul. The mountain is so-so, we have seen a lot and better (for example, in