Kar Discover

Indulging in gourmet while exploring the South East

3. Bali Indonesia Episode Part 5：Ubud

Dining, Sightseeing and Shopping Thursday, 2023/3/23

Ubud

Ubud is a town on the Indonesian island of Bali in Ubud District, located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. Promoted as an arts and culture centre, it has developed a large tourism industry. It forms a northern part of the Greater Denpasar metropolitan area (known as Sarbagita).

The town of Ubud, in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia, is known as a center for traditional crafts and dance. The surrounding Ubud District’s rainforest and terraced rice paddies, dotted with Hindu temples and shrines, are among Bali’s most famous landscapes. Ancient holy sites include the intricately carved Goa Gajah (“Elephant Cave”) and Gunung Kawi, with its rock-cut shrines.

Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)

Jl. Raya Ubud No.8, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud,
Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

The Ubud Palace, officially Puri Saren Agung, is a historical building complex situated in Ubud, Gianyar Regency of Bali, Indonesia.

Located in the heart of downtown Ubud, this modest palace is a home of Ubud’s royal family since the late-19th century and has witnessed the triumph of the Kingdom of Ubud. This palace is now an important historical landmark in Bali and functions as a museum and center of Bali traditional arts.

Gunung Kawi Temple

Banjar Penaka, Tampaksiring,
Gianyar, Bali 80552, Indonesia

Gunung Kawi Temple popularly known as The Valley of The Balinese Kings is an 11th-century temple and funerary complex in Tampaksiring north east of Ubud in Bali, Indonesia., that is spread across either side of the Pakerisan river. It comprises 10 rock-cut candi (shrines) that are carved into some 7-metre-high (23 ft) sheltered niches of the sheer cliff face. These funeral monuments are thought to be dedicated to King Anak Wungsu of the Udayana dynasty and his favourite queens. On the east side there are five temples that are dedicated, according to one theory, to King Udayana, his queen Mahendradatta, and their sons Airlangga, Anak Wungsu, and Marakata. The temples on the west side are dedicated, according to the same theory, to the king's minor queens or concubines.

♦ The gates to the Temple complex

Goa Gajah
Bedulu Village, Jalan Raya Goa Gajah,
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Goa Gajah, or Elephant Cave, is located on the island of Bali near Ubud, in Indonesia. Built-in the 9th century, it served as a sanctuary.

Although the exact origins of the cave are uncertain, it is believed to have been built as a place for spiritual meditation. One folklore relates that it was created by the fingernail of the legendary giant Kebo Iwa. However, examining its style, the sanctuary was probably dated from the 11th century Bali Kingdom. The complex contains both Hindu and Buddhist imagery, as the cave contains lingam and yoni, symbols of Shiva, and the image of Ganesha, while by the river there are carved images of stupas and chattra, imagery of Buddhism.

The temple is characterized by menacing faces that are carved into the stone – whose purpose is assumed to be the warding off of evil spirits. The primary figure was once thought to be an elephant, hence the nickname Elephant Cave. Other sources state that it is named after the stone statue of the Hindu God Ganesh (characterized by having the head of an elephant) located inside of the temple.

Ubud Monkey Forest

Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud,
Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. It is also known as the Ubud Monkey Forest. The Sanctuary is home to over 1260 long-tailed macaques, who are considered sacred by the local Balinese people.

Agung Rai Museum of Art

Jl. Raya Pengosekan Ubud, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud,
Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

The Living Museum was founded for the preservation of art for the purpose of sharing it with the community. The Arma building is a compound including a resort, restaurants, painting classes, a museum and also an open stage for performing arts. The museum showcases a permanent painting exhibition by Balinese, Indonesian and foreign artists, including the collection of the Arma Foundation and work loaned from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Agung Rai, and ranges from traditional to contemporary works by Walter Spies, Willem Gerald Hofker, Rudolf Bonnet, Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres, Raden Saleh Syarif Bustman and Willem Dooijwaard. The facilities provide the opportunity to enjoy theatre, music and traditional Balinese dance every day.

Founder Agung Rai built his fortune selling Balinese artwork to foreigners in the 1970s, and during his time as a dealer he also built one of Indonesia's most impressive private collections of art. This cultural compound opened in 1996 and displays his collection in two purpose-built gallery buildings – highlights include the wonderful 19th-century Portrait of a Javanese Nobleman and his Wife by Javanese artist Raden Saleh (1807–80).

The Living Museum was founded for the preservation of art for the purpose of sharing it with the community. The Arma building is opportunity to enjoy theatre, music and traditional Balinese dance every day.

Neka Art Museum

Jalan Raya Sanggingan Campuhan, Kedewatan,
Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

The Neka Art Museum (also known as NAM) is a museum located in Ubud on Bali, Indonesia, It was established in 1982 by Pande Wayan Suteja Neka, better known as JMK Suteja Neka, a Balinese art dealer who had begun collecting Balinese art with the advice and help of painters Rudolf Bonnet and Arie Smit among others.

Currently, NAM is being managed by JMK Suteja Neka's son, PM Kardi Suteja.