The resort of Ubud is a city of masters and a cultural center in Bali , here you can meet many artists, poets, musicians and other creative people. Calm and measured life, lack of transport and skyscrapers, the proximity of village houses and all the attractions nearby - all this is about Ubud. If you want to relax your soul and body, feel the color of the indigenous people of Indonesia , visit ancient temples and historical monuments, plan your trip to Ubud safely.
Location:
The map of Bali shows that the city of Ubud is in the central part of the island , 40 km from Ngurah Rai International Airport and Kuta , Legian and Sanur beaches. The distance from Kuta to Ubud is 35 km, from Jimbaran - 38 km, from Nusa Dua - 50 km, from Denpasar airport to Ubud - about 60 km.
City `s history
The name of the resort Ubud in translation means "Medicine". In fact, there are a lot of reminders about the health and beauty of the soul and body, there is a peaceful atmosphere and excellent conditions for recreation. In the VIII century in Ubud, Japanese Vishnuite Rsi Markendia meditated, who then founded the temple of Pura Gunung Lebach. In the 11th century, Ubud began to actively spread Hinduism, new cave temples appeared. Europeans first came to these regions only in the XVI century.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Ubud became part of the Dutch East Indies. The Dutch encouraged the development of culture in the city in every way, thanks to which the centuries-old traditions of local residents have been preserved here. The active development of the tourism sector in Ubud began in the mid-20th century and continues to this day. New hotels, cafes, restaurants and bars are being built, another infrastructure is developing. However, at the same time the city retains its unique appearance and national flavor.
Climate of Ubud
The city is characterized by a rather humid and cool climate, very comfortable for living and completely uncharacteristic of Asian resorts . The average monthly daytime air temperature is +27 ... + 30 ° C, at night - about +20 ° C. The temperature fluctuations during the year are insignificant.
Nature and landscape of the city
Ubud is located in a mountainous area and is buried in the green of the hills, covered with dense jungle. There are many rice fields , rivers with steep banks, mountain gorges. Take a look at the photo of Ubud in Bali and you will understand why the local nature is considered the most beautiful in all of Asia.
What to see in Ubud and its surroundings?
From a sleepy little town on the island of Bali in Indonesia, Ubud has turned into a tourist center with many attractions , where people from different countries come to relax. There is a mass of ancient buildings, a very colorful population, but especially striking is the beauty and richness of nature.
Now let's figure out what the sights of Ubud are, look at which come from all over the world. Among the most interesting places in the city are:
- The forest of monkeys . In the south of Ubud there is a wonderful reserve, called the sacred forest of monkeys. On its territory is an ancient temple and inhabited by countless hordes of wild monkeys, which do not confuse visitors. Be vigilant, animals can snatch by the hand when trying to stroke them or if they accidentally step on their tail.
- Elephant cave in Ubud. It is also called the Sanctuary of Goa Gaja. It is one of the oldest temple complexes in Bali, whose age reaches 1000 years. In front of the entrance there is a swimming pool for bathing and ablution, but the most interesting is the entrance itself, which is a huge carved elephant head with an opening of 2 m high. Inside the cave there is a T-shaped corridor with various niches.
- A trail of artists. In Ubud, there is such a romantic place as the Path of Artists or Campuhan Ridge Walk. It is a popular hiking route to the top of the Champuan Hill from the Pura Gunung Lebah temple.
- Rice fields and terraces of Ubud. This is one of the most beautiful places in Asia. Here you will clearly see how generous nature is when people do not try to make their own adjustments to its laws. It's fabulously beautiful here! The mountainous terrain, transformed into terraces, drowning in the greenery of young rice porridge, leaves an indelible impression. Here you can admire the local landscapes from the observation deck or take part in the process of cultivating rice.
- Palace Puri-Saren. The ancient royal palace Puri-Saren in Ubud is still maintained in perfect condition. Passing through the majestic entrance gate, you will see stone statues clothed in checkered clothes. Until the middle of last year here was the residence of the ruler, and the palace itself was closed to the guests of the city. Currently, most of the palace complex is open to tourists. And on the square in front of Puri-Saren, almost every day there are various bright and interesting events.
- Museum of Antonio Blanco in Ubud. Located in a house overlooking the river Campoian. This famous Balinese artist, who was born in Spain, grew up in the Philippines, and studied in the US, during his lifetime he was often compared with Dali.
- Also, the Taman-Sarasvati temple, a bird park , waterfalls , the Gaya Art Space Gallery, the Neki Museum of Art, the Puri Lukisan Museum (the Palace of Paintings) and the Botanical Garden are worthy of attention when visiting Ubud.
Holidays in Ubud in Bali
The city offers its tourists a large selection of interesting places to visit. At the same time noisy discos, bars and nightclubs you will not find here, in a quiet and peaceful life. The nearest beaches to Ubud are within 1-2 hours drive. What you can do in Ubud is rafting along the Ayung River, cycling and hiking. You can join the tour or choose your own travel itineraries from Ubud.
Accommodation and meals in Ubud
In Ubud, several hotels have been built, claiming the title of the best in Bali. If you have a choice where to live in Ubud, you should pay attention to such luxury hotels with wonderful pools and developed infrastructure such as Pita Maha Resort & SPA, Puri Wulandari - A Boutique Resort & Spa, Puri Sebali Resort, Blue Karma Resort and Waka di Ume Resort & Spa. The cost of living in them - an average of $ 100-150 per day. Among unusual hotels in Bali is Ubud Hanging Gardens, which translates as "Hanging Gardens of Ubud."
You can eat in one of the many cafes and restaurants of Ubud. In the city there are about 300 establishments, from economical snack bars to the most prestigious establishments. One of the best restaurants in Ubud is Blanco par Mandif, FairWarungBale, Warungd'Atas and Who'sWho.
Shopping
In Ubud is still working a large number of artists carving wood and bone, artists and sculptors. They pass their skills from generation to generation, preserving the highest quality of work and offering tourists unusual crafts and souvenirs . So in the souvenir shops of the town you can choose for yourself to memorize handicraft items made of wood, glass, bone, paintings, figurines. In addition, visit the market in Ubud, where also locals sell a lot of interesting things.
How to get there?
In order to get to Ubud, it is necessary to fly to Ngurah-Rai airport in Denpasar , and from there already get bus, minibus or taxi. The latter option is more comfortable and faster, but somewhat more expensive (a little more than an hour on the way, the cost of a taxi will be about $ 25). The city can be reached from several cities from the islands of Bali and Java :
- From Jakarta. Tourists often look for information on how to get from Jakarta to Ubud. For this, there are domestic flights and bus routes, there is also an opportunity to get there by car.
- From Kuta. The second most popular question is how to get from Kuta to Ubud? This can be done by bus (from the main street of the kuta - Jl. Sunset road to Batubulan bus station ($ 0.30), then by minibus to Ubud), taxi or car (1.5 hours en route, distance - about 40 km). In addition, there is a bus route to Ubud via Sanur, which also includes the central street of Raya Ubud.