The many religious customs and the omnipresent faith of the locals generally give the island of Bali a certain magic. In Ubud, thanks to numerous sacred sites and Hindu temples, it feels as if this energy is potentiated. The air is thick with the incense of the numerous offerings and one temple follows the next.
In keeping with the spiritual flair of the city, several yoga studios and “healers” have settled here. If you are looking for holistic healing, this is the place to be. The numerous yoga studios offer classes in every style, there are workshops on meditation, chakras, breathwork, reiki and much more. In addition, many stores specialize in yoga clothing, gemstones and esoteric books.
The spiritual heart of Bali
On the path to mental and physical healing, healthy eating naturally plays a crucial role. Fittingly, Ubud is a true paradise for vegans and vegetarians. In addition to typical Indonesian cuisine, you will find numerous restaurants that specialize in plant-based dishes. But of course meat eaters also get their money’s worth and can feast through the multitude of restaurants and cafes.
If you are interested in Balinese culture, yoga and spirituality, you must definitely visit Ubud. But that is by far not all that the town has to offer. Located in the center of Bali, Ubud offers excursions and leisure activities of all kinds. But where exactly is the place actually, what else can you experience there and for whom is a trip worthwhile? We want to clarify this in the following article.
Where is Ubud?
Embedded in the lush green rainforest and surrounded by rice fields, the small town is located in the central highlands of Bali. Due to its higher location in the middle of the jungle, it is somewhat cooler here than in the coastal regions of the island. The beach towns of Sanur and Canggu are nevertheless only a little less than an hour away.
Also to the international airport Ngurah Rai near Denpasar one drives only about 60 minutes. In Ubud itself there is a lot to discover, but there are also numerous excursion destinations in the surrounding area that are worth a visit.
Art and Culture
Often called the cultural Mecca of Bali, Ubud offers a wide range of traditional handicrafts. In Ubud and the surrounding area you will find countless artists and galleries offering their beautiful wood carvings and paintings. You can also participate in various workshops such as cooking, jewelry making, painting or batik classes.
Another art form worth seeing is the traditional dance performances called Kecak and Legong. Kecak is a drama in which 50 to 100 male dancers tell the story of the Indian epic “Ramayana” through song and dance. A Legong performance is characterized by the very elaborate costumes and heavily made-up faces of the dancers. Here the focus is on the nuances in facial expressions and gestures of the performers. The dance skills are accompanied by a traditional gamelan orchestra. Both performances are very authentic and offer a great opportunity to get closer to the Balinese culture, the gods, spirits and demons of the island.
The history of Ubud as an artistic center
The magic of the place must have been felt as early as the 9th century by the Hindu priest Sri Marhandaya and his pilgrims who settled here. The priest called the place Ubad (medicine) because of the extraordinary amount of medicinal plants growing here. An almost impenetrable jungle surrounded the clearing where the Hindus built their village; the jungle protected the settlement from outside influences for a long time.
It was not until the late 18th century that Ubud was annexed to the kingdom of Gianyar, which was based ten kilometers to the east, and 100 years later the prince Cokorde Sukawati settled in the village. The village owes its reputation as an artists’ colony to him. Cokorde -Sukawati and later his son Cokorde Gede Raka Sukawati promoted the fine arts: Sculpture, painting, carving, music and dance.
Developments in the 20th century
One of the most famous artists was the sculptor and painter I Gusti Nyoman Lempad from Bedulu, who found a new home and artistic development opportunities under the protection of the princes in Ubud. In 1978 he died at the age of 116. The Lempad House on the main road exhibits his works, evidence of his stonemasonry are at the head of the lotus pond also the gates and entrance of the palace (Puri) Saraswati, which was converted into a hotel.
Real changes for South Bali, and therefore for Ubud, came in the years after 1908, when, following the suicides of the royal houses of Gianyar, Klungkung and Badung, the Dutch took over political power and developed the island’s infrastructure. Water supply systems and automobile roads were built, and the first tourists arrived in Ubud in the 1920s. In 1927, the Cokorde invited the German painter and musician Walter Spies, who worked as a chapel master in Yogyakarta.
Where the Tjampuan Hotel stands today, the artist built a house on donated land on the Campuan Gorge, laying the foundation for the artists’ colony. The constant presence of the charming, urbane Walter Spies soon attracted other Western artists and intellectuals, including Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet, Mexican cartoonist and ethnographer Miquel Covarrubias and his wife Rose, musician Collin McPhee, and German-American writer Vicky Baum. They all worked on Bali, producing books, paintings, films and music that have made the island known around the world.
The influence of Walter Spies
Spies and Bonnet had a fundamental influence on Balinese painting: until then, traditional Balinese painting depicted strictly two-dimensional and comic-strip-like scenes from the world of the gods; only the two European painters opened up the third dimension to the Balinese, and with it spatial depth as well as light and shadow. Secular motifs now also found their way into traditional painting.
Experts call Walter Spies the greatest tropical painter next to Gaugin. Unlike the Frenchman who worked in Tahiti, however, Spies was no refugee from civilization. In 1936, together with I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, Rudolf Bonnet and Cokorde Gede Agung Sukawati, the German-born artist founded the Pita Moha artists’ association to promote and market Balinese art worldwide.
Sights and activities in and around Ubud
Monkey Forest
Probably the most famous excursion destination in Ubud is the so-called Monkey Forest. Located in the middle of the city, the 12.5 hectare garden is home to over 600 Balinese long-tailed macaques living freely. Thanks to the generously laid out and lushly overgrown grounds, the monkeys can let off steam here and get up to mischief. The little cheeky badgers live in the wild and as a visitor you have to be careful that they don’t steal from you. Food of any kind is popular with the monkeys, of course, but jewelry, sunglasses and cell phones are also popular objects of the pilferers. Ideally, you can bribe them with a banana to return the stolen goods.
Baby monkeys are very cute, but mothers with kittens should rather be gazed at with some distance. As the mothers want to protect their children, they can become aggressive if they feel threatened. In general, the monkeys are harmless and very cute. There are also three impressive Hindu temples from the 14th century in the complex.
The monkey forest is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm for visitors and definitely worth a visit.
Ubud Market
The Ubud Market is located in the center of town and thus forms the heart of the small town. Here you can find something of everything: typical Balinese souvenirs, clothing, artwork, flip-flops, sarongs and much more. Food stalls scattered throughout the market provide typical Indonesian snacks for the physical well-being of visitors.
Campuhan Ridge Walk Ubud
Only about a kilometer away from Ubud Market is a walking trail surrounded by nature. The Campuhan Ridge Walk leads up a small hill from where you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the greenery.
Temples
Around Ubud there are numerous sacred sites to visit – some of them are among the most important sights of Bali. For example, the temple complex Tirta Empul or the elaborately carved elephant cave Goa Gajah. A particularly beautiful temple is Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu, located north of Ubud, somewhat hidden. It impresses with sacred springs, ornate stone carvings and a romantic pavilion.
30 minutes north of Ubud you will find one of the state temples, Pura Tirta Empul. The core of the magnificent temple complex is a pool filled with holy spring water. Hindu ceremonies are held here and locals undergo spiritual ablutions. Visitors are also allowed to bathe under the 20 fountains, all of which are said to have different meanings and effects, dressed in a sarong. You can also take part in a shamanic cleansing and healing ceremony.
Tegenungan Waterfall
The famous Tegenungan Waterfall is only about 20 minutes drive from Ubud and is always well visited. Therefore, it is recommended to come here in the early morning when it is not yet so busy. A guide leads visitors on a short hike to the waterfall and its pool, where you can swim. So don’t forget your swimming gear! One can decide in advance if one wants to see only the lower part called Tegenungan or if one wants to go all the way to the top of the waterfall called “Blangsinga”. You can also go directly to the parking lot of the Blangsinga part and end up at a parking lot further up, so you don’t have to walk as far.
Goa Rang Reng Waterfall and Canyon Trekking
Only about 30 minutes away from Ubud, you can find Goa Rang Reng Waterfall, which runs over several, wide rocks, making it a bit different from other waterfalls. Here you can also do an adventurous trekking tour through the canyon.
Tegalalang Rice Terraces
Among the most beautiful places around Ubud are probably the Tegalalang Rice Terraces, also known as Ceking Rice Terraces. Only 20 minutes drive from Ubud you can find this lush green natural spectacle. Here you can take a 30-minute walk through the middle of the rice fields and stop here and there at a café or restaurant.
White water rafting on the Ayung River
If you are in the mood for more action, you can take an exciting white water rafting tour through the Ayung River in Ubud. For this exciting adventure, it is best to book a guided tour. There are numerous providers for this, which do not take much in price and offer and provide material including helmet and life jacket. The river leads through different strong rapids in the middle of the jungle of Ubud.
Volcanoes near Ubud
Bali’s landscape is characterized by two impressive volcanoes, Gunung Agung (3,031 meters) and Gunung Batur (1,717 meters). Both mountains can be climbed. Very popular is a hike at sunrise. In the middle of the night you climb with a guide to the summit and enjoy the view with a strengthening and warming breakfast. Due to the high altitude, temperatures here are frosty, especially at night, so be sure to wear appropriate clothing, preferably in a pair of onions. The active strata volcanoes are both accessible in one to one and a half hours from Ubud and the ascent is only allowed with a guide.
Downhill Biking
Most people get around Bali on a scooter. In Ubud, you can replace it with a mountain bike and try downhill biking. Here the initial view of the volcano Gunung Batur with subsequent tour through lush green rice fields enchants.
Conclusion: For whom is a trip to Ubud worthwhile?
A visit to Ubud is worthwhile for anyone who does not want to miss the numerous excursion and leisure opportunities. In Ubud and around Ubud you can experience so much that it is best to plan a longer stay directly. If you are looking for spiritual enlightenment or are interested in yoga and Balinese culture, you are also in good hands here.
Adventure seekers, active vacationers and nature lovers will find what they are looking for here, as well as culinary fans who can sample the numerous restaurants and cafes. If you are looking for relaxation instead of action, you will also find beautiful spas in Ubud, which offer wonderfully relaxing massages, among other things.
Only for sun-seeking water rats Ubud is not necessarily the ideal destination, because you look for the beach in vain. But there are plenty of other places on Bali directly by the sea.
