about ubud town

Ubud Town

Ubud is a town on the Indonesian island of Bali. The town is located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the island's central foothills in the Gianyar regency. One of Bali's major arts and culture centres, it has developed a large tourism industry. Ubud town is considered to be the artistic and cultural center of the island.

Ubud has a population of about 8,000 people, but it is becoming difficult to distinguish the town itself from the villages that surround it. Ubud is built in 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 main street is Jalan Raya Ubud (Jl. 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 Jl. Raya Ubud. Puri Saren Agung is a large palace located at the intersection of Monkey Forest and Raya Ubud roads

The Popular destination for tourist in Ubud are a Monkey Forest, a small nature reserve Monkey Forest Park houses a temple and over 200 monkeys, mostly macaques. Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), 3 km east from Ubud. A popular little excursion from Ubud, the centerpiece here is a cave, whose entrance is an ornately carved demon's mouth. Museum Puri Lukisan (Museum of Fine Arts)Three buildings showcasing traditional and modern Balinese art. The displays are musty and English labeling is a little spotty, but some of the works, particularly the carvings, are quite amazing.

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 Ubud's mountains.

Ubud is the shopper's paradise of Bali . Ubud Market is a Located at the corner of the Main Road and Monkey Forest Road, it is right in the heart of Ubud. The front corner has most of the gift items for the tourist trade , The back, opposite corner is aimed at the local trade with more clothing and a very nice selection of sarong shops, Here also find seamstresses who will gladly make up a temple outfit for you or sew you a nice dress from a favorite sarong.

Other Points of interst in Ubud is The Moon of Pejeng, in nearby Pejeng, is the largest single-cast bronze kettle drum in the world.

Taken from :http:// www.frommers.com/destinations/ubud/0346010031.html#ixzz0VaxrxsME