Ubud Palace
Nineteenth-century royal compound rebuilt after a major earthquake, with dense stone carvings and nightly Balinese dance in its courtyard.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to Ubud Palace in Bali starts with the 1917 earthquake that flattened pavilions inside the royal compound that had housed Bali's kings since the early 1800s, and the choice the family made in its wake: rebuild bigger and stranger, with dense stone carvings covering every surface. You'll hear about the carver whose chisel work made him famous across the rebuilt gateways, and how the reopened palace drew foreign artists like Walter Spies into what had been a quiet farming town. Listen for the gamelan at night, still played in the same courtyard the quake once tore apart.
This audio guide was created using AI.
Similar places
Taman Ujung
Former royal water garden of pools and pavilions built by Bali's last king, blending Balinese, Dutch and Chinese design.
Bali Museum
Colonial-era compound of temple-style courtyards holding Balinese sculpture, textiles and archaeological finds.
Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati (Water Palace)
Lotus-pond water garden fronting a shrine carved by a nonagenarian sculptor, dedicated to the goddess of learning.
Tirta Gangga
Royal water garden of tiered fountains, sacred spring pools and stepping stones over koi ponds.
Taman Ayun Temple
Moated royal ancestor temple with tiered meru shrines that appears to float on water.
Ubud Art Market
Open-air bazaar of carved masks, batik, ikat weavings and silver jewelry beside a royal palace.