Ubud

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 archeological finds in the area are a proof of its rich culture and history since the time of the Bronze Age. One of the most remarkable artifacts from that time is the bronze gong known as 'The Moon of Pejeng', displayed in Pura Panataran Sasih in Pejeng, east of Ubud. Later 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 meet in Campuan, on the edge of Ubud, and declared the place holy. A shrine was established and later expanded by Nirartha, the Javanese priest who is 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 is when the Balinese culture fourished 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 presence in the town.

As opposed to what comes to your mind when you think of 'nighlife' with DJs and club music, 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 form 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. The towns are Batubulan/Singakerta for stone carvings, Celuk for silver jewellery, Batuan for paintings, and Mas for wood carvings. This is the best place to get a glimpse of Balinese craftswork. 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, try to avoid visiting this market between 11:00 - 14:00 because that's when the tour buses visit as well. 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.

ATM machines are readily available throughout most of more tourist visited area so you may or may not carry a lot of cash. If you want the best possible rates, you 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 acceptable here but not everywhere.

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.

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.
View Top Restaurants in Ubud