Bali49 Fascinating Ubud

1. Fascinating Ubud

2. 49 Bali

3. Ubud has been a "royal town" for over a hundred years. Its princes, who bear the title "Tjokorda" or "Agung" still live in traditional palaces, called "Puris". Be aware, however, that every place called "puri" is not a royal palace. The word has been used quite liberally of late. Also be aware that there is not one palace in Ubud, but many, most of them clustered around the main cross-roads near the Bud market. There are several other "royal" towns in the Bud area, too, with their own palaces, most of which have close family ties to the Bud Tjokordas. A web of connections is maintained by incidental and arranged marriages among the respective offspring of princes in Sayan, Pejeng, Singapadu, Peliatan, and Payangan's puris

4. Puri Saren Agung Part of the Ubud royal family's historic palace

6. Puri Saren Agung (Royal Palace) was the palace of the kings of Ubud until the 1940s, and some royal descendants live there to this day. Parts of the complex are off limits to the public, but entry to the rest is free, and this is Ubud's best setting for dance performances Puri Saren Agung Part of the Ubud royal family's historic palace

15. Although the old Balinese feudal system was superseded by the Dutch colonial government more that eighty years ago, the Tjokordas still retain a special role in Ubud society

16. Many leadership roles, both sacred and secular are held by Tjokordas. They also figure prominently in the local business community, professional circles, arts institutions

17. While no formal power is automatically granted to someone because they come from a puri, the Ubud royals still command respect solely on the basis of their heredity Ubud Palace Wall

18. They also command respect from some quarters on the basis of their rather disproportionate wealth

20. In pre-colonial Bali, palaces were the primary patrons of art, music, dance and literature. The Ubud palaces consciously continue this tradition

21. They act as repositories of traditional culture, and develop artistic endeavors throughout the area, much to the benefit of both Ubudians and visitors

22. The Tjokordas are no longer the physical embodiment of The State, they are just private citizens, with the same concerns as other private citizens, plus a few more. Accordingly, the Ubud palaces are essentially just family homes, and none have yet been turned into museums of public tourist attractions. While some of them are fine examples of traditional architecture, none are "historical" in terms of age. In fact, most are pretty new. The oldest Ubud palace was located a little to the east of Pura Dalem Ubud, above the main road. It collapsed in an earthquake early this century, and nothing remains but a flat place with traces of foundation here and there Ubud Jalan Raya The royal palace dates from 1890's

24. In Bali, the Gamelan instruments are all kept together in a balé, a large open space with a roof over the top of it and several open sides

25. Puri Saren Agung is the central palace where the public dance performances are held. The local royal palace of Bali's cultural capital contains several pavilions housing ornate musical instruments. Dance performances are held here most evenings for a fee gamelan instruments

26. gamelan instruments

27. gamelan instruments

28. Puri Saren Agung was the home of the last "king" of Ubud, and now his descendants live there. It is essentially the "father palace" of the other Ubud palaces, which are more or less its "spinoffs," built as the family extended

29. Puri Saren Agung was also Ubud's first hotel, opening its doors to paying visitors in the 1930s. Still operated as a small homestay style hotel. Parts of the gardens and some of the bales are quite grand and formal, with generous lashing of prada (gold leaf) applied to the carved woodwork

30. Balé, a large open space for gamelan instruments The dance performace held in outside courtyard of Ubud Palace with background huge closed gate

35. Ubud Water Palace (Pura Taman Saraswati) with lily pond in foreground

36. Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, arts, music and culture, is patron deity to the artistic town of Ubud, and her beautiful temple, the Pura Taman Saraswati or "Water Palace“ overlooks the serene lotus ponds

37. Ubud Desa Pakraman Divine Mother Temple Ubud Ubud Gunung Kawi Tomb & Temple

38. Pura Samuan Tiga - Bedulu - near Ubud Preparations for a temple fest

40. Pura Samuan Tiga - Bedulu - near Ubud Preparations for a temple fest

41. Bali flags or Umbul Umbuls are ritual flags from Bali that represent welcome and celebration. These flags can be seen in Balinese temples, gardens, houses, restaurants, and along the tropical beaches of Bali. They are becoming increasingly popular as colorful additions to beach weddings, balconies, verandas and gardens all over the world

42. For auspicious occasions and holy Hindu ceremonies, the hindus peoples decorate the temple compounds with colourful umbrellas. In the Balinese dialect these umbrellas are known as ‘tedung’, which literally means ‘to guard’. The umbrellas are used in ceremonial parades and positioned around the compounds in alignment to various shrines that are orientated towards the sacred mountain of Gunung Agung

44. Pura Samuan Tiga temple, preparation before ceremony

45. The colour of the umbrella normally reflects the type of ceremony that is taking place. Pure shades of white and yellow symbolize dedication to the Hindu religion and the different manifestations of God The precise origin of how the Balinese came to use umbrellas is not certain. However, local academics believe that the concept was introduced during the Majapahit era around the 13th Century when a Chinese princess visited Java on a merchant ship

46. She brought with her a traditional umbrella to protect her delicate skin from the tropical sun. The Chinese umbrella was then adapted and used to adorn shrines within the mighty Hindu kingdom. When the noble class eventually settled on the island of Bali, they also brought their art, culture literature as well as religion

48. Ubud is noted as one of the more traditional towns in terms of maintaining the tenets and manifold observances of Agama Hindu Bali

49. Everywhere you look, every single day, you will see ceremony, ritual and sacred offerings. All of this is carried out in Ubud with a level of devout attention and meticulous care that is rarely exceeded elsewhere

50. This applies equally to the young generation as it does to their parents and grandparents