Bird Village of Petulu, Ubud: Witness the Stunning Spectacle of Herons

Locals relate the herons' emergence to a strange, fascinating, and heartbreaking story. Indonesia saw a horrible episode of mass murder in the mid-1960s. Members of the Indonesian Communist Party were methodically massacred in a catastrophic massacre that killed around 5% of the country's total population. Official reports have been rehashed; they have been lost to time and politics. According to word-of-mouth tales, many remains were never located or given the respect of traditional funeral ceremonies, and thus the lost souls of the dead were left in this world.

A ritual was organized in a tiny village just north of Ubud to purify the village of the negative energy left behind from the tragedy. A week later, the Kokokan birds appeared for the first time in Petulu, where they have stayed ever since. According to mythology, wandering souls used these birds as containers to return to this serene hamlet.

Today, the birds serve as sentinels, protecting Petulu from vermin and evil spirits, and they are recognized and treated as such. With their arrival, the inhabitants think the herons have brought the village a blessing of wealth.

Petulu is a beautiful walk or bicycle ride north of Ubud on any of the numerous routes. It's only 2.8 kilometers from the heart of Ubud. You can rent a bicycle or scooter and travel to Petulu, or if you are traveling from other parts of Bali, hire a cab as it will be the fastest means of transport, saving you time. If you want a leisurely ride that is cost effective, make use of the public bus facilities. Here is the distance from popular destinations of Bali to Petulu Village.

• Petulu is a must-see for birdwatchers, as well as for families and sunset enthusiasts.
• The number of birds arriving varies from evening to evening, ranging from hundreds to thousands.
• The observation platforms are accessed via narrow, curving stairs with no ramps.

Seeing the Kokoan flock return to the nest is a great way to start the evening. Kokoan birds, sometimes known as white storks, leave the nest in the morning and return before dusk. A nice afternoon atmosphere will be sensed when the Kokoan Bird flocks its wings and simultaneously sounds its call. The best time to go to Petulu is from November through March, when tens of thousands of Kokoan birds visit Petulu Village.

Saraswati Temple (Pura Taman Saraswati)

Saraswati Devi Temple The Hindu goddess Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, writing, and art, is honored in the Kingdom of Ubud. This temple is incredibly lovely and artistic, and many tourists come to see its beauty as well as to worship. Being a tourist attraction, Pura Taman Saraswati includes a water garden and lotus pond at its heart. This temple is embellished with many excellent carvings, and within the Padmasana shrine positioned in the northeast, it also had bale barong, enormous masks, and sculptures of Goddess Saraswati and the devil Jero Gede Mecaling as tall as 3 meters in front of the temple.

Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)

Ubud Royal Palace is where Ubud's long tradition of home stays began more than 80 years ago, when Bali first started to draw bohemian artists from all over the globe. Renting one of the five classic stone bungalows in the opulent royal courtyard is still an unforgettable experience, and during the night, Gamelan music fills the palace as Balinese dances are presented adjacent to the gate from Puri Saren Agung.

Museum Puri Lukisan

It was in Ubud that the modern Balinese art movement began, when artists began to forgo solely religious themes and court topics in favor of depictions of ordinary life. The Puri Lukisan Museum is a four-building complex hidden in a gorgeous traditional garden that houses works from all schools and eras of Balinese art, with a focus on famous artists. Every work is labeled in English. This museum of art has several workshops for children, one of the best things to do in Bali. Make a reservation one day in advance.

Petulu Village of Herons in Ubud, Bali, is a unique destination in Bali that showcases the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. The village's mesmerizing spectacle of thousands of herons returning each evening to their nests is a sight to behold. Visitors can witness this natural phenomenon while immersing themselves in the village's tranquil ambiance and exploring its traditional Balinese culture. Petulu Village of Herons offers a serene and unforgettable experience that celebrates the beauty and biodiversity of Bali's natural environment.