Joanna James
Tipped to be Bali's most popular beach holiday hub, Ubud is a cultural and recreational hotspot for the travelling masses. Here are five fascinating facts every visitor should know about this beach haven in Indonesia.
While the beauty of the white, sandy beaches of Ubud are well-documented, few travellers are aware of the rich avifauna heritage in the area. Ubud is a bird-watching enthusiast's dream come true as the region is home to more than 250 types of winged beauties. The Bali Bird Park is located in Ubud for this very reason and the inhabitants of this park not only include endangered bird species endemic to Bali but also migratory birds hailing from South Africa, Borneo, South America, Papua, Sumatra, and Java. Open to visitors from 9 am to 5.30 pm daily, tourists can enjoy thematic bird exhibits or take part in a Bali Bird Walk across the park to spot more than 100 species that call Ubud home.
Ubud is the perfect combination of old and new and the cultural prowess of the area is nowhere more apparent than at the Ubud Art Market. Serving as a souvenir hub for thousands of tourists in search of traditional wares, this expansive thoroughfare is perhaps best known for its extensive mask collection. Traditional Bali puppets, as well as masks, are for sale at the Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets while those with an interest in Ubud's rich cultural legacy can also get a closer look at Balinese art at the Agung Rai Museum of Art.
As perhaps the most popular tourist attraction associated with Ubud, no trip to this beach haven would be complete without a hike across the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal. Open to visitors from 8.30 am onwards, the forest closes its doors to the public at 6 pm. Home to a whopping seven hundred Balinese long-tailed monkeys and countless other species, the long winding trails are best discovered during the morning hours as one can also spot the natural habitats of countless animals dwelling within the forest landscape.
Travellers who are heading for a beach holiday at Anantara Ubud Bali Villas or visiting to explore the many luxury residences for sale signs scattered across the paradise isle should time their visit between July and September. Although the area is sunny and warm for most of the year, the rainy season from December to March makes beach holidays and outdoor activities nearly impossible.
Ubud is also known as the spiritual epicentre of Bali due to the large number of Hindu shrines contained within the area. This includes the 11th-century temples that have been hewn into the rock looking out over Pakerisan River as well as well-known religious edifices such as Goa Gajah, Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi. The Pura Taman Saraswati and Pura Tirta Dawa Gunung Kawi Sebatu are other highlights worthy of exploration.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
