The nearest attractions around Ubud

Aside from its fame as a cultural hub and holistic retreat, Ubud in Bali is a convenient base for short jaunts into the neighboring countryside. Surrounded by rice fields and evergreen jungle, it can be used for excursions to a variety of temples, historical monuments, waterfalls, and scenic areas. The number of attractions in the vicinity of Ubud is too great to list in one article. Here are a few of the nearest ones.

Goa Gajah

A rock-hewn temple located right next to Ubud, Goa Gajah, has become very popular with tourists, but researchers still fail to determine when exactly it was constructed and by whom. Some sources hint at the 11th century CE, some presume the 9th. Either way, it is ancient enough. The name, literally translated as "elephant cave", is also quite a riddle: carvings on the rock wall depict demons and statues surrounding the cave - gods and holy rivers, but there seem to be no elephants in sight. Overall, Goa Gajah looks pretty occult, like a "Dungeons and Dragons" setting. It can be visited with a local guide, who might have his own version of the temple's origin (completely or partially made up, but again, legendary and contributing to the magical ambiance). Otherwise, it is a long walk or a short ride from the center of Ubud. A couple of paths continue past the cave and follow a tropical river. It makes for a very relaxing stroll, especially since group tourists stick with the cave and never venture this far. Tours mainly arrive around midday - by late afternoon, you will only share the place with a couple of backpackers or no one at all. If you wish to stay in the area, there is a small guesthouse nearby called Mancur.              *   

Tegalalang rice terraces

The terraced rice fields of Tegalalang are by far the most famous such structure in Bali. Being also the steepest, they look very imposing - if you can turn a blind eye to the crowd of tourists. One common solution is to arrive very early or very late in the day. Another is to approach the terraces from behind, where a hidden asphalted path weaves through more fields all the way to Ubud. Above the terraces, a string of cafes and restaurants lines the main road. This is where you sit, sip a coffee, and pilot your drone. If you have money to burn, you can even stay right in the middle of this scenery in a modern villa. Otherwise, it is also a short ride from Ubud. Warning: popularity promotes corruption, and many local farmers nowadays attempt to charge an "entrance fee" for crossing their plots. Each plot is small, a walk around the terraces will take you through tens of them, and if you pay everyone, such a stroll may cost you more than the flight to Indonesia. Talk, smile, or bully your way around the makeshift "ticket counters" - this trick is illegal.         

Petulu village

Located near Tegalalang, right next to Ubud road, so you will probably pass it on your way there, Petulu village is nevertheless almost unknown to travelers. A typical Balinese hamlet mixing simplicity with opulence would be of no interest if not for thousands of herons nesting on its roofs and in the trees. Nobody knows what attracts these cute white birds with yellow plumes, shining like little suns. Locals believe gods sent them as a promise of prosperity after a particularly powerful purification ceremony. However, another legend offers a darker explanation: the herons, it tells, are the souls of the Balinese killed during the political purges of 1965. Most likely, the mud of Tegalalang fields, rich in fat and tasty worms, draws the birds, but why did they choose to settle in one specific village instead of spreading all over the area? Anyway, wildlife photographers will get their close-ups, and everybody else can just enjoy the sight of wild fauna coming en masse to visit humans in their natural habitat.