UBUD

Sanur is one of those hidden Bali secrets that is beginning to come of age, as its popularity continues to grow with seasonsed Bali travellers. 

Sanur is on the east coast of Bali about 30 minutes drive from the infamous party spots of Kuta and Legian. But this place is far from being a party place. People come here to chill and relax. To soak up the quiet coastal pace and slow pace of life. The crowd is infinitely more laid-back that its west coast counterparts and that is both refreshing and enjoyable for all people, including the locals. 

The beach front comes alive as dusk settles in. Bars and cafes and restaurants fill with a steady crowd that are there to soak up one of the most peaceful views in Bali. The main town is abuzz with great restaurants, spas and bars and taking a bike ride is certainly a great way to see the sights and sounds. 

Today, tourism is the bread winner for Ubud. Evern though the central area of Ubud desa (village) has a population of approximately 12,000 people in an area of 6.76 km², it receives more than three million foreign tourists each year. That's 250 visitors for every person living there!

Other highlights are the Hindu temples, such as Pura Desa Ubud, which is the main temple, Pura Taman Saraswati, and Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, the temple of death. The Gunung Kawi temple is the site of the royal tombs. Goa Gajah, also known as the Elephant Cave, is located in a steep valley just outside Ubud near the town of Bedulu.

The Moon of Pejeng, in nearby Pejeng, is the largest single-cast bronze kettle drum in the world, dating from circa 300BC. It is a popular destination for tourists interested in local culture.

Location

Sanur is due east of Kuta and about 30-40 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport. It is a coastal town from which you can see the distant islands  of Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan Island and Tojapakeh Island.

History

Ubud derives its name from the Balinese word "ubad" (medicine), because it was from here that herbs and plants were once sourced for medicine. However, the history really dates back to the Eighth-century where legend has it that a priest once meditated at the confluence of two rivers (an auspicious site for Hindus) at the Ubud locality of Campuhan. It was here where he later founded the Gunung Lebah Temple, the site of which remains a pilgrim destination to this day.

In the late 19th century, Ubud became the seat of feudal lords who owed their allegiance to the king of Gianyar, at one time the most powerful of Bali's southern states. Yet it was these same lords that belonged to the Balinese Kshatriya caste of Suk and were significant supporters of the village's increasingly renowned arts scene.

Art has remained in the Ubud veins. Antonio Blanco, a Spanish-American artist, lived in Ubud from 1952 until he died in 1999. And then in the 1960s came the Dutch painter Arie Smit and the development of the Young Artists Movement.  After the 2002 Bali bombing, tourism was severely affected.  In response to this, a writer's festival was created, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival to help revive tourism, the island's main economic lifeline.

Top 10 Hottest Bali Holiday Destinations

BlueSun Travel is a Bali holiday expert. In essence, we are professionally qualifited to answe "Why Bali?" and more importantly where? 

• Candi Dasa
• Canggu
• Jimbaran
• Kuta
• Legian
• Nusa Dua
• Sanur
• Seminyak
• Ubud
• Uluwatu

For more information on Ubud or any other Bali holiday destination, call our Bali traevl experts on 1300 799 758 now.

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