Interesting cities and villages of Bali - where to go for impressions

Bali is an amazing Indonesian island known as the Island of Gods and the Land of a Thousand Temples. Many people come here in search of meaning, because the local nature and atmosphere give every chance to change life priorities and have a powerful reboot. Traveling around the island can be very bright and diverse. Check out the most attractive villages and towns that will help you get to know Bali better .

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Ubud - the spiritual heart of Bali

Ubud is the main city of Bali, which has always remained the cradle of Balinese culture and art. Artists admire the landscapes and originality of Ubud and musicians sing its praises. After the publication of Elizabeth Gilbert's world bestseller "Eat, Pray, Love" in 2006, this city became a symbol of the search for meaning for many admirers. Therefore, in recent years, the center of Bali has become a lively place where travelers of different nationalities, countries and religions can live for several months. The city is famous for its yoga centers, noisy authentic streets, healthy food cafes, art galleries, spa complexes and boutiques. Despite the adjustments made by modern times, Ubud retains its unique flavor, because outside the center, Balinese village life is in full swing, surrounded by rice cascades and wild jungle.

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What to see in Ubud and its surroundings

• Tirta Empul Water Temple , a Hindu treasure of Bali, built in 962.
• Elephant Cave Goa Gajah , a unique sanctuary of the 9th century.
• Pura Taman Saraswati or Water Palace , located in the center of Ubud, among lotus ponds.
• Agung Rai Museum of Art and Neka Museum of Art .
• Tegalalang , a small village near Ubud, is famous for its photogenic rice terraces.
• Tegenungan, Tukad Cepung and Nungnung Waterfalls . Excursions to the unique waterfalls of Bali are very popular.
• Campuhan Ridge, or the Artists' Trail . The landscapes of this place make Bali famous all over the world.

Shopping: In the center of Ubud, you will find a variety of enticing boutiques, shops and stalls offering colorful clothing, accessories, jewelry, wooden crafts, yoga gear and more. Read more about Bali souvenirs .

Scooter and guided bike tours in Ubud are very popular. Traditional villas surrounded by tropical vegetation are a popular type of accommodation. Book available ones on WIOTTO options!

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Denpasar is the main city and capital          

Denpasar is the economic center, capital, and major transportation hub of Bali. It is from here that many of the island's tourist destinations start. However, the dynamic city has a lot to say about Balinese culture. In Denpasar, you should not miss a visit to the Bali Museum (Museum Negeri Provinsi Bali), which contains many artifacts from all over the island. No less attractive is Taman Verdi Budaya, or the Bali Art Center - a huge exhibition space with art galleries, an art school, a concert hall, and an amphitheater. In addition, Denpasar is decorated with colorful Hindu temples.

Other interesting places in the capital of Bali include :

• Bali Sharks Eco Adventures . A private conservation project where you can observe blacktip and whitetip reef sharks and even swim among them.
• Turtle Conservation and Education Centre . A turtle nursery that houses accidentally caught or caring animals of several species.
• The Bajra Sandhi Monument . A striking example of Balinese architecture. Situated on the main square in the centre of Denpasar.
• Jagatnatha Temple . Temple complex, historical place in the city center.
• Kertalangu Cultural Village . An authentic village in the eastern part of Denpasar. A tourist destination with an active recreation center, spas, restaurants and handicraft shops.
• Maospahit Gerenceng Temple . A cultural heritage site in Denpasar, founded during the Majapahit Empire.
• Tambangan Badung Temple . One of the most historically significant sites in Bali. The temple complex is located near the Pemedilan market.

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Walking Tour of Singaraja

The historic town of Singaraja in the north of the island was a colonial capital a couple of centuries ago. The Dutch architecture of that era preserves Singaraja's unique charm. It is an important Balinese centre of learning and one of the most multicultural areas of Bali, with Arabic and Chinese influences.

Be sure to visit :

• Buleleng Museum and Gedong Kirtya Sacred Texts.
• Lovina is a beach town in the surrounding area, with a good selection of restaurants and beautiful scenery for walking.
• Pemuteran is the main diving center in Bali.

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Jimbaran - a fishing village and port in Bali

Among the resort areas of Bali, such as Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, Canggu, Nusa Dua and others, atmospheric Jimbaran stands out. Once a small fishing village, it has become a modern center of beach recreation in Bali, but at the same time it has retained its originality. It is home to some of the most luxurious resort hotels in Bali, and outside the private areas there is everything that is typical of a port town with fishing boats, an abundance of seafood at the local market and authentic cuisine of beach restaurants.

Jimbaran has a more relaxed and laid-back atmosphere than, say, fast-paced Kuta or Seminyak. The residential streets here are filled with Balinese charm, and the beach with golden sand and ideal conditions for relaxation attracts tourists.

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Batuan Painting Center

Batuan Village is one of the oldest villages in Bali, which has existed for about a thousand years. It is located 10 kilometers from Ubud. It is definitely worth visiting to enrich your knowledge of Balinese culture and religious traditions. This is the center of painting, where a special artistic style was born more than 100 years ago . The paintings mainly depict Hindu-Buddhist epics (wayang). Due to the popularity of the artistic style, new galleries are periodically opened in the village. In the western part of the village there are two temples - Pura Puseh and Pura Dasar, striking examples of Balinese temple architecture.

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Mas Craft Village, Ubud

An amazing place to admire the extraordinary Balinese art of wood carving. The village of Mas is located in the outskirts of Ubud, on the way to Denpasar. Here, shops with products in the extraordinary style of Balinese wood art, which is famous nationally and internationally, are open everywhere. The main themes of the creative carvings are dragons, stylized heroes and religious figures, dancers in rich costumes and masks. The carvings are mostly made of teak, jackfruit or balsa wood.

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Traditional dances in Batubulan

If you haven't seen the Barong dance during your trip to Bali, you might as well not have been there yet. A religious performance accompanied by gamelan folk music played on bamboo instruments, dances, dialogues and monologues. The center of events is the mythical beast Barong, who fights evil.

Visiting a Balinese Barong performance is the main goal for tourists in Batubulan village. The small settlement has five different stages for dance performances. In addition, you can see an exhibition of Javanese art. Batubulan is also famous for its skillful stone carvers. On the way to the village, be sure to visit Gianyar and the Bird Park.

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Celuk - the center of Balinese jewelers

It is difficult to find more exclusive jewelry than those made by the masters of the village of Celuk (Seluk), 13 kilometers from Ubud. This place is called the main center of jewelry and silversmithing in Bali. Here you can buy all kinds of products, as well as attend a master class on hand-made silver jewelry in Celuk Silver Village. The skill of creating unique items from precious metals in Celuk has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries.

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Cultural reflection of Bali in Penglipuran

In the Bangli area you can visit a place that is amazing even for Bali. The village of Penglipuran reflects the unusual rural culture of the highlands of the island. Here, surrounded by bamboo forests, there is a very clean and beautiful settlement with an unusual topography reminiscent of Balinese rice terraces-steps. Here, surrounded by mountain expanses, live the indigenous people of Bali, with unique traditions and rituals. Among tourists, the original Penglipuran arouses serious curiosity. The village is located on the route Kintamani - Bangli, 6 kilometers from the center of Bangli.

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Sidemen Rice Terraces

The settlement of Sidemen, in the eastern part of the island, and its picturesque surroundings, including Selat, fully demonstrate Balinese authenticity. Here you will find gorgeous rice terraces, noisy waterfalls and unusual temples. Unlike most areas of Baja, these places are considered the most untouched by tourism. It is still possible to rent a bamboo villa surrounded by jungle for a couple of days, but you will have to look hard. The local rice fields, due to frequent rains, are the most vibrant and lush on the island. It is the green valleys against the backdrop of the Agung volcano that create the landscapes worth visiting Sidemen for.

Things to do :

• Hiking trails . Preferably with a guide, whose services can be booked in advance.
• Gembleng Waterfall . One of the most stunning places in Bali, which is considered a sacred place.
• Jagasatru Waterfall . A high-mountain cascade with a natural pool is hidden by wild jungle. Not far from the waterfall is a Hindu statue of Brahma.
• Inspection of the village . The small highland settlement has several hotels, restaurants, tour operators and a market.
• Traditional weaving workshops where you can buy handmade textiles.
• Jewelry workshop Sidemen Silver .

The distance from Ubud to Sidemen is about 33 kilometers.

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The Mystical Village of Trunyan

For lovers of exotic traditions, we recommend visiting the village of Trunyan. More remarkable is not the village itself, but its cemetery. Here, the departed are not cremated, as everywhere in Bali, but are left next to a huge banyan tree, which is sacred to the locals. The tree supposedly has the ability to absorb the smell of corpses. Entertainment is not for the impressionable, although very popular. The villagers, representatives of the most ancient tribe on the island of Bali, the Aga, earn income from boat excursions to the creepy cemetery. The village of Trunyan itself, like its cemetery, is located on the shore of Lake Batur. A rather modest settlement in size, not remarkable for anything except its authenticity.

Trunyan is located in the Kintamani district, in the north-eastern part of the island.

There are many interesting and impressive places in Bali. We wish you to see this more than once! Bright travels!

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