• Official name: Puri Saren Palace Ubud

  • Working hours: 6 - 19 hours

  • Recommended duration of visit: 2 - 3 hours

  • Size: palace-water complex with lakes and a large palace

  • Foundation date: begi

ing of the 19th century

  • Altitude: 600 meters

  • Coordinates: --8.5068307,115.2603883

  • Address: Jl. Raya, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia

General informatio

Among the many attractions and architectural structures located on the island of Bali, stands the majestic Puri Saren Palace in the heart of Ubud. The ancient royal palace has become not only a decoration of the city, but also the main landmark for many tourists.

The Imperial Palace was built at the behest of King Pura-Tama-Saraswati to receive high-ranking guests of Indonesia, so it features amazing statues, gilded sculptures and small lakes with lilies surrounded by well-kept gardens. Even at the entrance to the palace, people are greeted by majestic statues in sarongs standing near the huge stone gates. They are designed to protect the territory from evil spirits.

Structural features

Despite the fact that the palace territory is quite large, only part of it is open to tourists, since the rest of the area is the private property of the heirs of the ruler of Ubud. It is this fact that attracts many people here to see with their own eyes, at least from afar, how the descendants of the local king live in such a fascinating imperial palace.

The territory is a palace and water complex and consists of the following elements:

  • large central palace;

  • well-kept gardens with rare plants and palm trees;

  • several lakes with floating lilies and clear water;

  • gazebos for tourists;

  • central square and cozy paths between the lakes.

Currently, some of the buildings have been tu ed into cafes and restaurants so that tourists can fully enjoy the beautiful life of the Balinese, as well as try local cuisine. Thanks to such a lively place, there are performances of local musicians and dancers with traditional music every day. The duration of daily performances is about 2 hours, so to fully explore the palace grounds and enjoy the concert, you will need at least 3 hours.

History of the construction of the palace

The history of the imperial palace begins with the construction of the main temple, namely from the begi

ing of the 19th century. In the 1940s, the palace and its grounds were completely built and became the residence of the local king Saraswati (real name Ida Putu Kandel), who reigned during that period. Despite the fact that part of the structure was destroyed by an earthquake in 1917, it was quickly restored.

The first tourists in the 1930-1940s were sculptors and artists from all over the world who heard about the existence of the majestic palace. Later, the famous Charlie Chaplin visited the temple, who could not contain his delight at the masterpiece he saw. After all, at that time people still knew little about the creations that were the property of the island of Bali and the entire Hindu world.

Legends associated with the creation of the palace

When tourists arrive at the ancient palace, local residents tell them the same legend associated with the construction of the palace. Responsibility for the creation of Puri-Saren lies with Rsi Markaneya, a man who was part of the king’s expedition that explored the environs of Bali. It was during his travels that Rsi Markaneya received a divine revelation, which stated that the king should lay 5 precious stones on the mountain slopes, which would later tu into beautiful temples. They will be revered by different peoples of the world, and will be admired for many centuries. Now famous temples such as:

  • Puri-Saren temple;

  • Besakih temple;

  • Pura Gunung Leba Temple;

  • Saraswati Temple;

  • Temple of the Meeting of the Three.

The jewelry served as an excellent start for the construction of majestic structures that became the main attractions of the island of Bali.

Best way to get there

Once you arrive in the village of Ubud, it is easy to navigate, as it is only a few kilometers in all directions. The Puri Saren Palace Ubud temple is located almost in the city center. Not far from it there is a central market, co

ected to roads from nearby villages. There is also a bus stop here, but the location of the city and all attractions is based in such a way that you can walk.

IMPORTANT: The complex village of Ubud is located 600 meters above sea level, so during the day it is extremely hot, but in the mo ing and evening it is quite cool due to the high humidity. Therefore, it is prudent to take a sun umbrella and a warm jacket with you. In addition, in January-February the rainy season begins in Ubud, which occurs every day.

When going on a trip to the Puri-Saren Palace, you should remember that there are a lot of monkeys here who scurry between tourists and strive to steal away everything that glitters. Despite this, there is an amazing atmosphere of mystery here that will remain in your memory for a lifetime.