Things to do in Ubud

Ubud is blessed with several popular waterfalls. You can go to Kanto Lampo Waterfall, Tibumana Waterfall. All of them are decent waterfall. I chose none of them, I went to Tegenungan Waterfall. The place was organized and touristy. Quite a lot of people were enjoying their time.

There were some designated places to take your photos with banners made of woods. You can get down to the water near the waterfalls to take a bath. There are some smaller sections where you would see a part of the fall. I could see some lizards roaming around, don’t be surprised if you meet some of them.

Indonesia is one of the largest rice producers in the world. But, that’s not the reason behind the huge popularity of the rice terraces in Ubud. Because of a specific type of irrigation technique, the paddies are planted in a pattern. It makes kind of a slope and it looks wonderful.

As long as you can see, it’s only waves of greens. The coconut trees only add beauty to it. You can walk on the terrace to explore it and it will reward you with a view of the irrigation system where water flows from one channel to another through bamboo.

There are several rice terraces in Ubud. Among them, Jatiluwih rice terraces are the most famous. These 600 hectares big rice terraces got recognition as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. That is why it gets crowded. If you do not like a lot of people, an alternate is the rice terraces of Sidemen.

It’s a bit far from the city center but worth visiting because of its emptiness. Go there during sunrise to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The first ray of the sun glittering through the waves of green is something worth sacrificing your morning sleep.

Although Indonesia is an Islamic country, the majority of Bali are Hindus. They practice a special type of Hinduism named Balinese Hinduism. That’s why you can see countless temples in Ubud.

Among them, the most popular ones are Goa Gajah, Gunung Kawi, Pura Tirta Empul, Pura Taman Saraswati, Pura Gunung Lebah, Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan.

Although you won’t understand the language of these dramas as they are staged in the Indonesian language, it’s worth watching one. You should be able to follow it if you watch carefully. I came across such a performance. It took place just beside the Starbucks in Ubud in front of Saraswati Temple.

I thoroughly enjoyed the expressions of the artists, their costumes and overall performance. It was fascinating to watch. You can buy a ticket before the starting of the show from the venue. Even if you don’t buy one, you can see it from far, you won’t get any seat in that case.

The traffic of Ubud can get bad. It’s a relatively large region. Although I mentioned some specific places, it is a lot of fun to get lost in Ubud as every corner offers something pretty.

You can rent a car but it won’t take you to all the places as roads are often not passable. Renting and riding a motorbike will give you the ultimate freedom of exploring Ubud.

Visit here, if you love monkeys! Ubud monkey forest has over 600 monkeys with grey hair and long tail. This is placed in a lush green jungle with three temples (opened only for the worshippers).

Although the monkeys are cute, they can snatch items from you and even bite you. It’s suggested to be cautious and avoid eye contact with them. And, never try to feed any food, it can be dangerous.

My stay in the Amori villa was fascinating. As soon as you will enter through their main gate, you will be astonished by the amount of green soothing your eyes. When you will extend your eyes, you will experience a tranquil background full of trees on small hills,

A bridge connects two part of the villas where you will find several cute little huts. There is a big space for yoga sessions, too. Overall, you will be amongst nature at its best. They have restaurants and bars, too, albeit a little more expensive than outside.