History
8th century legend tells of a
Javanese
priest, Rsi Markendya, who meditated at the confluence of two rivers
(an auspicious site for Hindus) at the Ubud locality of Campuan. Here he
founded the Gunung Lebah Temple on the valley floor, the site of which
remains a pilgrim destination.
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The town was originally important as a source of medicinal
herbs and plants; Ubud gets its name from the
Balinese word
ubad (medicine).
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In the late nineteenth century, Ubud became the seat of feudal lords who owed their allegiance to the king of
Gianyar, at one time the most powerful of Bali's southern states. The lords were members of the
satriya family of Sukawati, and were significant supporters of the village's increasingly renowned arts scene.
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Tourism on the island developed after the arrival of
Walter Spies, an ethnic
German born in
Russia who taught painting and music, and dabbled in dance. Spies and foreign painters Willem Hofker and
Rudolf Bonnet entertained celebrities including
Charlie Chaplin,
Noël Coward,
Barbara Hutton,
H.G. Wells and
Vicki Baum.
They brought in some of the greatest artists from all over Bali to
teach and train the Balinese in arts, helping Ubud become the
cultural centre of Bali.
A new burst of creative energy came in 1960s in the wake of Dutch painter
Arie Smit (1916-), and development of the Young Artists Movement. There are many museums in Ubud, including the
Museum Puri Lukisan, Museum Neka and the
Agung Rai Museum of Art.
The Bali tourist boom since the late 1960s has seen much development
in the town; however, it remains a centre of artistic pursuit.
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Town orientation and tourism
The main street is Jalan Raya Ubud (Jalan Raya means
main road),
which runs east-west through the center of town. Two long roads, Jalan
Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman, extend south from Jalan Raya Ubud. Puri
Saren Agung is a large palace located at the intersection of Monkey
Forest and Raya Ubud roads. The home of Tjokorda Gede Agung Sukawati
(1910–1978), the last "king" of Ubud, it is now occupied by his
descendants and dance performances are held in its courtyard. It was
also one of Ubud's first hotels, dating back to the 1930s.
The
Ubud Monkey Forest is a sacred nature reserve located near the southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest. It houses a temple and approximately 340
Crab-eating Macaque (
Macaca fascicularis) monkeys.
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Ubud tourism focuses on culture, yoga and nature. In contrast to the
main tourist area in southern Bali, the Ubud area has forests, rivers,
cooler temperatures and less congestion although traffic has increased
dramatically in the 21st century. A number of smaller "boutique"-style
hotels are located in and around Ubud, which commonly offer spa
treatments or treks up nearby mountains.
The
Moon of Pejeng, in nearby
Pejeng, is the largest single-cast bronze
kettle drum
in the world, dating from circa 300BC. It is a popular destination for
tourists interested in local culture, as is the 11th century
Goa Gajah, or 'Elephant Cave', temple complex.
The
Blanco Renaissance Museum is also located in the town.
The
Tek Tok Dance, is a traditional Balineese dance that is
accompanied by musical sound of mouth 'Tek Tok' altogether with various
combinations of body movement and other sounds. Tek Tok dance tale taken
from the Mahabharata, where Draupadi at stake in a gambling. The war
between righteousness and villainy become part of the philosophy of life
which has never dimmed. The story "Draupadi Parwa" Tek Tok Dance gives a
moral message which when a woman who embodies the values of patience,
sacrifice, compassion, devotion, and a holy sincerity is not respected,
then disasters and calamities will befall a kingdom or state. This story
also gives the message that truth, virtue, devotion and genuine
compassion will always be protected by God. Tek Tok Dance performance
held regularly in Bali Culture Center (BCC) Ubud, Bali four times a
week.
- Campuhan ridge walk
A hill which we can see 2 rivers Tukad Yeh Wos Kiwa and Tukad Yeh Wos
Tengen united into one river. There are one meter wide of paving block
track about 2 kilometers to the top of the hill.
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