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Ubud has been a "royal town" for over a hundred years. Its princes, who bear the title "Tjokorda" or "Agung" still live in traditional palaces, called "Puris". Be aware, however, that every place called "puri" is not a royal palace. The word has been used quite liberally of late. Also be aware that there is not one palace in Ubud, but many, most of them clustered around the main cross-roads near the Bud market. There are several other "royal" towns in the Bud area, too, with their own palaces, most of which have close family ties to the Bud Tjokordas. A web of connections is maintained by incidental and arranged marriages among the respective offspring of princes in Sayan, Pejeng, Singapadu, Peliatan, and Payangan's puris

Puri Saren Agung

Part of the Ubud royal

family's historic palace

Puri Saren AgungPart of the Ubud royal family's historic palace

Puri Saren Agung (Royal Palace) was the palace of the kings of Ubud until the 1940s, and some royal descendants live there to this day. Parts of the complex are off limits to the public, but entry to the rest is free, and this is Ubud's best setting for dance performances

Although the old Balinese feudal system was superseded by the Dutch colonial government more that eighty years ago, the Tjokordas still retain a special role in Ubud society

Many leadership roles, both sacred and secular are held by Tjokordas. They also figure prominently in the local business community, professional circles, arts institutions

Ubud Palace Wall

While no formal power is automatically granted to someone because they come from a puri, the Ubud royals still command respect solely on the basis of their heredity

They also command

respect from some quarters on the basis of

their rather disproportionate

wealth

In pre-colonial Bali, palaces

were the primary patrons of art,

music, dance and literature. The Ubud palaces consciously continue this

tradition

They act as repositories of

traditional culture, and develop

artistic endeavors throughout the

area, much to the benefit of both Ubudians and

visitors

The Tjokordas are no longer the physical embodiment of The State, they are just private citizens, with the same concerns as other private citizens, plus a few more. Accordingly, the Ubud palaces are essentially just family homes, and none have yet been turned into museums of public tourist attractions. While some of them are fine examples of traditional architecture, none are "historical" in terms of age. In fact, most are pretty new. The oldest Ubud palace was located a little to the east of Pura Dalem Ubud, above the main road. It collapsed in an earthquake early this century, and nothing remains but a flat place with traces of foundation here and there

Ubud Jalan Raya The royal palace dates from 1890's

In Bali, the Gamelan instruments are all kept together in a balé, a large open space with a roof over the top of it and several open sides

Puri Saren Agung is the central palace where the public dance performances are held. The local royal palace of Bali's cultural capital contains several pavilions housing ornate musical instruments. Dance performances are held here most evenings for a fee

gamelan instruments

gamelan instruments

gamelan instruments

Puri Saren Agung was the home of the last "king" of Ubud, and now his descendants live there. It is essentially the "father palace" of the other Ubud palaces, which are more or less its "spinoffs," built as the family extended

Puri Saren Agung was also Ubud's first hotel, opening its doors to paying visitors in the 1930s. Still operated as a small homestay style hotel. Parts of the gardens and some of the bales are quite grand and formal, with generous lashing of prada (gold leaf) applied to the carved woodwork

The dance performace held in outside courtyard of Ubud Palace with background huge closed gate

Balé, a large open space for gamelan instruments

Ubud Water Palace (Pura Taman Saraswati) with lily pond in foreground

Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, arts, music and culture, is patron deity to the artistic town of Ubud, and her beautiful temple, the Pura Taman Saraswati or "Water Palace“ overlooks the serene lotus ponds

Divine Mother Temple Ubud

Ubud Desa Pakraman

Ubud Gunung Kawi Tomb & Temple

Pura Samuan Tiga - Bedulu - near UbudPreparations for a temple fest

Pura Samuan Tiga - Bedulu - near UbudPreparations for a temple fest

Bali flags or Umbul Umbuls are ritual flags from Bali that represent welcome and celebration. These flags can be seen in Balinese temples, gardens, houses, restaurants, and along the tropical beaches of Bali. They are becoming increasingly popular as colorful additions to beach weddings, balconies, verandas and gardens all over the world

For auspicious occasions and holy Hindu ceremonies, the hindus peoples decorate the temple compounds with colourful umbrellas. In the Balinese dialect these umbrellas are known as ‘tedung’, which literally means ‘to guard’. The umbrellas are used in ceremonial parades and positioned around the compounds in alignment to various shrines that are orientated towards the sacred mountain of Gunung Agung

Pura Samuan

Tiga temple, preparation

before ceremony

The colour of the umbrella normally reflects the type of ceremony that is taking place. Pure shades of white and yellow symbolize dedication to the Hindu religion and the different manifestations of GodThe precise origin of how the Balinese came to use umbrellas is not certain. However, local academics believe that the concept was introduced during the Majapahit era around the 13th Century when a Chinese princess visited Java on a merchant ship

She brought with her a traditional umbrella to protect her delicate skin from the tropical sun. The Chinese umbrella was then adapted and used to adorn shrines within the mighty Hindu kingdom. When the noble class eventually settled on the island of Bali, they also brought their art, culture literature as well as religion

Ubud is noted as one of the

more traditional towns in terms of maintaining the tenets and

manifold observances of Agama Hindu

Bali

Everywhere you look, every single day, you will see ceremony, ritual and sacred offerings. All of this is carried out in Ubud with a level of devout attention and meticulous care that is rarely exceeded elsewhere

This applies equally to the

young generation as it does to their

parents and grandparents

Ubud temple detail

One of the biggest and most

spectacular royal and collective

cremation ceremonies for one

of Ubud's Royal Family members

Goa Gajah, or Elephant Cave, is located on the island of Bali near Ubud. Built in the 9th century, it served as a sanctuary. The site is mentioned in the Javanese poem Desawarnana written in 1365

Goa Gajah, or Elephant Cave.An extensive bathing place on the site was not excavated until the 1950s. These appear to have been built to ward off evil spirits.

Goa Gajah-Bathing Temple-Fountains

Shrines in a temple compound outside of Ubud

Ubud Four Seasons Hotel

Text: InternetPictures: Internet & Nicoleta LeuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Jalan-Jalan - Selamat Tidur Bali