A royal palace
Carved stone gates and golden ornament.
Michael Gunther — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Anandajoti — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Anandajoti — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Anandajoti — CC BY-SA 4.0
The palace of Ubud's old royal family, officially Puri Saren Agung, in the heart of town at its main crossroads. The present palace was built in the early twentieth century and the family still lives in parts of it, while the front courtyards open to visitors with carved stone gateways, statues and red-and-gold ornament. In the evening the palace courtyard hosts traditional Balinese dance, such as the Legong, in golden costume to gamelan music, one of the finest sights in Ubud. Across the street is the Ubud Art Market, full of textiles, baskets and wooden crafts, and nearby the Taman Saraswati temple with its lotus pond. The courtyards are free to enter by day, while the evening dances need tickets sold at the gate or around town. The palace is lived in, so respect closed areas. Bali's tourist levy is separate. Half an hour is enough for the palace by day, then the market for shopping, with bargaining. For the evening dance, arrive before the show to find a good seat.
Carved stone gates and golden ornament.
Balinese dance to gamelan music.
Textiles, baskets and woodcraft.
Corner of Jalan Raya Ubud and Monkey Forest Road, central Ubud
Start around half the asking price or less, negotiate calmly with a smile, and compare stalls before buying. Early morning is best, as some sellers give a better price to the first customer.
