Ubud

• Ubud serves a rather more ambient and relaxing environment at night to its guests.
• The Laughing Buddha Bar is one of the liveliest places in Ubud offering a great selection of drinks, fusion cuisine and live bands.
• Then there is Jazz Cafe which serves as both a music venue and a dining spot.
• Bar Luna is a unique place for having discussions of Literature with talented writers who visit this place apart from offering flowing sets of live music.

• Ubud is a jackpot for people who like to buy art and crafts, and some of the best markets are in the craft villages between Ubud and Sanur.
• Batubulan and Singakerta are known for stone carvings, Celuk for silver jewellery, Batuan for paintings, and Mas for wood carvings.
• Located at the corner of Jl Monkey Forest and Jl Raya is the Ubud Market, where you can find wood carvings, batik shirts, sarongs and all kinds of souvenirs. However, avoid visiting this market between 11:00 - 14:00 because that's when it can get really crowded.
• The road between Ubud and Kintamani is lined with organic farms that have a wide variety of fruits growing on-site, as well as a few caged luwaks to make Luwak coffee.
• Other places to shop are Bali Etrade and Bali Biru for handicraft wholesale, Ganesha Bookstore at JI Raya for secondhand books, Sukawati Art Market and Threads of Life at JI Kajeng.

• While there are no dress codes in particular, it is advisable to carry cool and comfortable clothes with you because of the tropical temperatures.
• Also, if you plan to enter temples, make sure that you are dressed in appropriate clothing.
• Ubud's dress code is more conservative than that of beach resort areas. Some Ubud visitors adopt the Sarong.
• As far as etiquette is concerned, always give and receive things with the right hand, never left.
• Avoid pointing with the index finger, especially at a person: this gesture may be taken as a physical challenge.
• If you must point at something, only use the thumb of your right hand. To be very polite, do so while cupping your right elbow.
• Never point to anyone or anything with your foot.
• In a social situation with Indonesians where refreshments are served, wait until you are invited before you begin to drink or eat.
• Similarly, do not sit down until you are directed to a place.

• ATM machines are readily available throughout most of the more tourist visited areas so you may or may not carry a lot of cash.
• If you want the best possible rates, you may want to use your credit card to withdraw cash. Because when you use your credit card, you will get the exchange rate that Visa or Mastercard gets.
• USD is also accepted in several establishments.

It is advisable to get your currency exchanged at the airport. You can use the ATM in the town for immediate purposes too. There are reliable currency exchanges in Ubud as well, in case you are in need.

For a daily budget which includes travelling, shopping and food in Ubud is very cheap. 325000 IDR/ day is a good deal.

The dominant religion followed is Balinese Hinduism.

Bahasa Indonesia is the national language of Indonesia. Most locals who deal with tourists speak some English and there are guides trained in Japanese and major European languages.

Historically, Ubud is a very rich place. Evidences of numerous archaeological finds in the area are proof of its rich culture and history since the Bronze Age. One of the most remarkable artefacts from that time is the bronze gong known as 'The Moon of Pejeng', displayed in Pura Panataran Sasih in Pejeng, east of Ubud. In the 8th Century, a Buddhist priest called Rsi Marhandya came to Bali from Java on pilgrimage with a group of followers and meditated at the confluence of the East and West Wos Rivers, met in Campuan, on the edge of Ubud, and declared the place holy. As a result, a shrine was established and later expanded by Nirartha, the Javanese priest regarded as the founder of Bali's religious practices and rituals as we know them today.

The Javanese Majapahit kingdom conquered Bali in 1343, and the key final victory was against the Pejeng Dynasty centred at Bedulu. This was when the Balinese culture flourished, and the ancestry of Ubud's current day aristocratic families can be traced back to this period. In 1900, Ubud became a Dutch protectorate at its own request, and the colonialists interfered little, allowing the traditional arts and culture of the area to remain relatively unchanged. The modern era of Ubud perhaps began in the 1930s, when foreign artists were encouraged by the royal family to take up a presence in the town.

There are 7876 in Ubud which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Ubud are Bali Golden Villas, Villa Kakatua, Mary’s Beach Villa, Villa Atas Awan, Villa Bodhi, Villa Saffira. You can see all the hotels in Ubud here

The top places near to Ubud are Bali which is 26 km from Ubud, Lombok which is located 117 km from Ubud, Surabaya which is located 309 km from Ubud, Gili air islands which is located 91 km from Ubud, Gili trawangan which is located 87 km from Ubud

The top things to do in Ubud are Art Class, Petulu, Rafting in Ayung River, Eco Tour, Tegallalang Rice Terraces, Ubud Water Palace, Saraswati Temple. You can see all the places to visit in Ubud here

The packages for Ubud start at INR 12499 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

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The food in Ubud mostly comprises of Balinese cuisine. However, you must try their most expensive coffee - Kopi Luwak, famously known as 'Poo Coffee'. The coffee beans used for Kopi Luwak are eaten, digested and excreted by a cat like animal in the region, known as Luwak. These beans then go through the usual method of roasting, aging and brewing. Besides being distinctive in its taste.
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The best time to visit Ubud is July to September as the weather is dry and relatively cold with lesser crowd. The climate in Ubud remains more or less stable throughout the year; however, there are chances of rainfall during the wet season. The dry season begins from April and lasts till October when the weather is sunny and warm during the day and cool at night. However, accommodation rates are very high and travel plans must be made well in advance.

The humidity starts rising from late November until March (which is also the warmest month of the year- the average temperature of 25.6 ℃.) The rain during the wet season can be daunting, as downpours become heavier. The wettest month of the year is January, with an average precipitation of 325mm.

Travelling in Ubud can be hectic, as traffic jams stall the roads, so one must try and venture out in the early morning or late afternoons and evening. Ubud has a lot to offer to its tourist- from rice terraces to historical monuments and temples, to waterfalls and caves. This forest destination is an excellent getaway from the rush of Bali and should be visited for a spiritual retreat
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