The cultural capital of Bali boasts not only a thriving arts scene but is home to historic Hindu temples and emerald green forests..
Long considered to be the islands cultural capital, this traditional Balinese village plays host to a whole range of cultural and spiritual activities. Visitors can enjoy traditional Balinese paintings, watch dance performances, learn about traditional cooking methods or simply sit back and relax with a pampering, luxury health treatment.The town, which is actually a series of small villages, is small enough to explore on foot or on two wheels. For shopping, head to either Jalan Raya or Dewi Sita which are two of the main shopping streets. Jalan Raya is also where you’ll find the beautiful Puri Saren Palace, home to the town’s king until the 1940s. Today, it is used as a venue for dance performances which change on a nightly basis.Ubud, in keeping with its artistic heritage, has several impressive galleries and museums. They are all highly individual so each is well worth a visit. Main galleries include the Neka Art Museum and the Museum Puri Lukisan. The wonderfully eccentric Don Antonio Blanco Museum is quite unlike any other place on the island and the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) is something of a cultural institution. It offers a huge range of interactive workshops, performances and exhibits all reflecting traditional Balinese culture and art.If you need some time to simply recharge your batteries or indulge in a little pampering, there are several health retreats dedicated to alternative healing and all round rejuvenation. They offer body treatments, raw and vegan cooking and yoga sessions.Other highlights include the Ubud Monkey Forest with its ancient temples, dense forest of banyan trees and a large community of delightful macaque monkeys. Also worth visiting is the historically significant and wonderfully eerie Elephant Cave, which you enter through the mouth of a demon’s head carved from stone. Venture down the steps and you will find ancient ponds filled with sacred water and lined with statues. All of this is set against a stunning backdrop of lush vegetation and the Agung River that flows through it. Situated in central Bali, the village offers accommodation to suit most budgets. Densapar airport is approximately 1 hour’s drive away. Taxis with fixed rates are available.Ubud offers a truly wonderful taste of traditional Balinese life in a rural oasis of tranquillity.
