Things to Do in Ubud, Bali – Retreat, Nature & Culture

If you’ve seen the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, then you may already have an idea of how this place looks like. Ubud in Bali, Indonesia, is best known for its green scenery, steep ravines, and rice paddies. As a tourist destination, there are many activities that one can indulge in such as getting relaxing spa and massage treatments, yoga and meditation, monkey watching, enjoying and experiencing the lush green terraces, fine dining, and more. Here’s a shortlist of things to do in Ubud:

 

#1 Enjoy the Rice Terraces and Their Beauty

The rice paddies in Ubud are the most photographed and visited. The Tegalalang rice terrace is beautifully landscaped. Apart from photography, you can just go exploring these rice paddies and soak in its natural beauty.

#2 Visit Pura Taman Saraswati

The picturesque temple is located in the heart of Ubud. Saraswati is the goddess of art, literature, and knowledge. The temple is set inside a stunning water garden with lotus flowers amounting to thousands. You must bring your camera along to snap some memorable photos.

#3 Take a Walk through the Monkey Forest

The Monkey Forest is home to a group of long-tailed Balinese macaques. They are very curious and aren’t shy so you have to watch your valuable possessions and belongings. Inside the forest, the monkeys aren’t the only attraction. There are three temples one of them being Pura Dalem Agung which means “temple of death” and it is known for its interesting carvings.

#4 Visit the Puri Lukisan Museum

Dubbed “Palace of Paintings” this museum showcases many modern Balinese drawings and paintings. Anyone with a soft spot for art and more so Balinese art must come here. The museum has 3 buildings and walking through one is able to see how the Balinese painting techniques have evolved ever since the 1930’s to date. The contrast in the art assembled here is evident in age but the quality is still the same. In the absence of paintings and drawings, the museum is worth visiting for its tropical garden and lotus flower ponds.

#5 Heron Watching at Petulu Return Home

In the afternoons, at about 5 pm herons pour in in thousands into their Petulu home after spending their day in rice fields. The sight is impressive to catch as herons land on trees preparing for the night. Petulu Village is located 2.5km North of Ubud.

#6 Yoga Lessons

Ubud happens to be Bali’s spiritual capital making it an ideal destination for yoga and meditation. Any yogi has to visit The Yoga Barn to meet like-minded individuals and get their lotus position perfected.

#7 Learn the Balinese Way of Cooking

There are quite a number of places that offer cooking classes in Ubud. Any food enthusiast must make a point of trying these cooking classes which normally begin in markets. An individual is taught more on local ingredients and they end up making a meal out of what they buy later on either lunch or dinner.

#8 Take a Bike Ride in Bali’s Countryside

Biking is a superb way of exploring the Bali countryside. You can either rent or use your own bike. There are several cycling tour operators who plan organized tours. If you opt to use your personal bike, you must stick to cycling on back roads as the main road traffic may be a bit heavy.

CONCLUSION:

There are many other things that you can do in Ubud and its nearby places. Dare to discover and be fascinated by nature and the rich Balinese culture.