Places of Interest - PALACES

Ubud is arguably the best place to use as a base if you're visiting Bali; if you're looking for culture, comfort, nature and inspiration. Ubud is surrounded by most of the things that bring people to Bali -- scenic rice fields, small villages, art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, rivers, museum and traditional market. Some 25 kilometres from Denpasar and its central location makes it easy to get from Ubud to the mountains, beaches, and major towns.

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 "Puri’s". 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 Ubud market.

There are several other "royal" towns in the Ubud area, too, with their own palaces, most of which have close family ties to the Ubud Tjokorda’s. 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 puri's.

Ubud Palaces:

Puri Saren Agung is the central palace where public dance performances are held. Located at the northeast corner of the central cross-roads, it's pretty hard to miss. It 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 "spin-offs," built as the family extended. It was also Ubud's first hotel, opening its doors to paying visitors in the 1930s. Still operated as a small home stay 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.

Puri Saren Kangin is the eastern portion of Puri Saren (kangin means” east"), and is a private residence for several branches of the Ubud family. In front is Puri's Bar, which was a hip, relaxed hangout for Balinese and wandering bohemians in the early eighties.

Puri Saren Kauh
Kauh means "west," and accordingly, this is the occidental portion of the palace. There are accommodations within this part of the palace, too, but they are accessed via the reception desk for Puri Saren Agung.

Puri Kantor is across Jalan Suweta from Puri Saren, with a forecourt which has become a parking lot for some of the family's vintage autos. There are a couple cafes, and Banyan Tree Bungalows attached to Puri Kantor. An espresso bar affiliated with the palace will be opening soon, just a few paces north of the main gate in Jalan Suweta. Kantor means "office," and according to the heads of the resident family, the name was given in jest, in reference to a "pagoda" which once towered in the middle of a big pond where Puri Kantor Sosrobahu now stands. As Ubud was a rather modest village at the time, this multi-storey edifice reminded locals of nothing so much as an office building.

Puri Kantor Sosrobahu is a sister of Puri Kantor, both of which were established during the last generation's heyday, when two wives of one prince were offered the chance to build their own digs. The "Sosrobahu" part refers to the storey of Arjuna carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. The head of this palace family invented a method of constructing highway overpasses, which was named "Sosrobahu" as an acknowledgement of its superior load-bearing capabilities. The name was transferred to the palace, since much of it was built from the profits earned through overpass construction. Puri Kantor Sos' now boasts an elegant, small hotel called Prada, plus a restaurant and wine bar (not quite ready to open at the time of writing). Have a look at the stuffed tiger in the quest lounge.

Puri Kawan is a private house behind Ary's Warung, which used to offer public accommodation. It is now the quiet residence of the proprietors of Ary's and its various offshoots. Kawan (sometimes spelled kauhan), means "western," reflecting the fact that this palace is west of the centre of town.

Puri Menara is a bit further west, and was until recently a centre for studying Balinese dance and culture, with a library. The books have recently been distributed to other libraries, notably ARMA. There is still a restaurant here, and bungalows. Rumour has it that there may be plans underfoot to redevelop the whole site, which sits smack dab in the commercial centre of town.

Puri Saraswati is across the street from Tino's drugstore in Jalan Raya. It is the home of a branch of the Ubud royal family, where they run a bungalow-style hotel with a swimming pool. In front they also operate Cafe Lotus, Lotus Studios (a high-end shop), and Mumbul's Restaurant. In back they have a huge lotus pond and a temple dedicated to Dewi Saraswati, the divine embodiment of learning, arts and literature. You can't miss the enormous, elaborate stone sign, with its brilliant-white, pseudo-classical statue of Saraswati herself standing proudly on top. Cok Wah, who operates the business, is an avid bird fancier, a ham radio operator, and he collects various extraordinary vehicles.

Puri Anyar is a little way up Jalan Suweta on the east side of the street. Cafe Anyar sits in front, and a few expatriates who are acquainted with the family live inside.

Puri Muwa is located on the east side of Monkey Forest Road about 120 metres south of the main cross-roads. This branch of the royal family has two separate bungalow businesses which are very inexpensive, three shops, a cafe, a pharmacy, and a medical practice on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Peliatan Kingdom History (Year of 1775 – 1946 )
The kingdom of Peliatan is part of the kingdom of Sukawati, which history start from rebellion of “ki Balian Batur” the man who have a powerful black magic make the people of “timbul village” ( known as sukawati ) feel very an inconvenience and life in scariness. That is way Ki Bendesa Guniar the Patih Agung from mengwi known and worried about those dieses.
The only weapon could kill ki balian Batur is only the weapon owned by the king of Kelungkung named Ki Larantaka with the bullet named Ki Seliksik.
After ki Balian Batur killed by I Dewa Agung Anom from Kelungkung, he ask mengwi to give the timbul Area as a present to Dewa Agung Anom and make a new kingdom well known as “Sukawati””. Year 1710.
After the “brother war” the war between family of Sukawati kingdom, year 1775 I Dewa Agung Made apoited as new king of new kingdom at Peliatan. Year 1800 Dewa Agung Made Passed away, and replaced by Dewa Agung Batuan as 2nd king. 3rd king Dewa Agung Djelantik, 4th king Dewa Agung Bungbungan, 5th king Dewa Gede Agung, 6th king Dewa Agung Gede Agung,7th king Dewa Agung Gede Raka, 8th king Dewa Agung Gede Ngurah,9th king Cokorda Gde Rai 1924 – 1946.
The last king Dwagung Gede Rai is an artist, he lead the group of Gunung Sari Legong Dance of Peliatan to Europe, than he also the founder of Artist Group well known as “Pitamaha. Within the war of Indonesian freedom, Dwagung Gede Rai joined with I gusti Ngurah Rai military corps, during that war he arrested and killed at Kedewatan cemetery 11 November 1946, after Dwgung Gde Rai killed replaced by his young brother Ida Cokorda Alit Putra.
Those are the short story about the Peliatan Dynasty its about 171 years.

Peliatan kingdom or Puri Peliatan
A 3.5 hectare complex hiding behind its richly decorated Gates, its compound divided into tree section as a human body: A part of a family Temple as a head, a part of living room such as Sumanggen, Puri Rangki, Puri Agung, Puri Anyar, and Puri Semara bawa, as stomach, and Ancak Saji is a foots.
Ancak Saji is the outsider area of Puri Peliatan, there are some building at the area, for Small meeting room, Security, Wantilan, and Open Stage.
Sumanggen is  an area exclusively for human ceremony like Teets failing ceremony or royal cremation.
Puri Rangki is Reception area and a place for conference during the king live, but nowadays it is a royal family house.
Puri Agung is the palace where the king lives, he live at the north of the building named “Gedong Betel” it mean it has a connecting door between the palace and  Puri Anyar  where the queen live.
The other side of the kingdom is Puri Semarabawa, it a palace where the mistress live.
The royal Compound similar with other Balinese House Compound, the deferent is caused by how wide or how rich is the family. But at a Balinese Architecture named asta kosala kosali all buildings are already patterned it cannot to be changed.

Royal Visit and Village visit Itinerary
Starts from Puri Peliatan to see the royal compound than continue to see the Bale rung Stage where exclusively on Sunday morning we can see the children learning a Balinese dance, than continue to walk around the village while see the Balinese houses and see what they do, there are a lot of activities in the village’s path way, there are a lot of painter, wood carver in the village. or try to walk to a short jogging trek througt the rice paddies.
At the end of the tour we will be pick up at the community building at Teges, Peliatan.
[Created by Guest Activity Manager Kamandalu Resort & Spa - Sources Puri Peliatan documentation]


Ubud's Places of Interest: Palaces | Traditional Market | Museums