Cultural Attractions

Temples & Palaces - Museums & Galleries - Dance Performances

Balinese Hinduism still permeates life in Bali, but in Ubud it always seems to even more active than anywhere else in Bali. Everywhere you look, every single day, you will see ceremony, ritual and sacred offering. To witness (or participate in) a ceremony, just visit a temple during a ceremony day. Nyos the manager of Villa Kalisha, can normally tell you when and where a ceremony is going on near to the villa, and in my experience the villagers have always been more than happy to have you participate and watch. Alternatively just asking around town is likely to bring a wealth of suggestions.

Remember if you visit a temple you will need a sarong, sash and a modest shirt (with sleeves, not low-cut). If you forgot to bring them, don’t worry as at many temples you will find them on sale or for hire. Many tourist attractions which sound like they're not temples, actually are, and the same dress code applies (e.g. Gunung Kawi, The Elephant Cave, holy springs and sacred bathing places, etc.).

Puri Saren (or Ubud Palace) – This is a beautiful old palace where the grounds are beautifully kept, with old stone gateways and statues wearing the familiar checkered cloth. Puri Saren Agung is in the center of Ubud, across from Ubud Market, at the end of Monkey Forest Road in the north. It was the home of the last king of Ubud, and now his descendants live there. It is essentially the father palace of the other Ubud palaces, which were built as the family extended. Visitors are welcome in the ornate inner courtyards to see the ornate thatched bale furnished with Dutch-era armchairs and to inspect numerous colonial-era photographs of the extended royal clan. Evening dance performances are held in the courtyard, and it is by far the best and most dramatic setting for these in Ubud.

Goa Gajah (or Elephant Cave) – Situated a couple of km south of Ubud, Goa Gajah can seem overrun with tourists, but once you are past the souvenir sellers and coach park, there is actually a nice peaceful temple to be found. Originally a dwelling for Hindu priests, the main highlight is a very dark cave with the massive carved face entrance and huge holy pools. It is worth stepping away from the main temple area as well as there are also a number of pleasant forest walks in and around the temple complex.

Gunung Kawi – Situated just south of Tampaksiring, and less than 15 minutes from Villa Kalisha is Gunung Kawi, the largest and maybe also the most impressive of the old monuments on Bali. Like Goa Gajah this site is around 1.000 years old, and it consists of a total of 10 temples or shrines carved out of the mountain. It's a peaceful place, surrounded by rushing water and local farmers harvesting terraced rice paddies.

Tirta Empul - This important temple one km north of the Tampaksiring village was founded as early as 962 AD. It is not as spectacular as Gunung Kawi a few km's away, but absolutely worth a visit. The crystal clear water surfaces in a pool which, according to old traditions, is the Balinese Fountain of Eternal Youth. The surfacing water originates from the Batur lake via underground rivers.

Monkey Forest Temples - Each village in Bali has their own temple for death which are used during cremation ceremonies, and for Ubud it is located in the Monkey forest at the Southern end of Monkey Forest Road. Common characteristics of such temples are statues of the Rangda, the goddess of the death, with bulging eyes, sharp fangs, long finger nails and her lolling tongue. Despite all the tourists, the temples are interesting and the Monkey Forest itself is a pleasantly cool walk over ancient bridges, past huge banyan trees, and down atmospheric river gorges, all the time watched by a multitude of monkeys.