Ubud Royal Palace Bali (Puri Saren Agung)

We all have always some point in our lives dreamt of being in a palace or have always wanted to experience the royalty. In Bali, Ubud is the go-to place to get the aristocratic experience as the Ubud Royal Palace holds a special place in the history for the kings. For all tourists visiting Bali, this is a must-visit and you don’t have to worry if you are just looking at a short vacation because the Ubud Palace can be included in a day trip from Seminyak or Kuta.

Looking more into what the palace has got for its visitors, the Ubud Palace is also referred to as Puri Saren Agung and belongs to that of the royal monarch house. It’s one of the foremost visited places in Bali because the building not only stands as a testament to authentic Indonesian architecture but also holds great historical value. Tje Orde Gede Agung Sutawati the ruler of Ubud built several guest houses for the tourists bringing out the best for Ubud’s tourism. After this initiative of the king, the Ubud Royal Palace had numerous tourists visiting every year.

The palace was the residence of the royal families and has a Wantilan/auditorium that is utilised as a meeting room. The palace is bordered by various markets and its existence has made the palace a cultural life centre. Ubud has been known as “royal town” for more than 100 years now. The Ubud royal princes carry the title “Tjokorda” or “Agung” and languish in the royal palaces called “Puris”. However, each place that is referred to as “puri” isn’t a royal palace. Also, there’s not one palace in Ubud, but many, most of them clustered in and around the Ubud market. There are several other “royal” towns within the Ubud area, with palaces, most of them closely related to Ubud Tjokordas. 

History & Architecture of Ubud Royal Palace

The history of Bali’s royal families starts from the 10th century but it wasn’t until the 1300’s that they became historically renowned. In 1343, the Javanese king defeated the Bali King and the Mahajit empire took over Bali. Their rule marked the arrival of Javanese Hindu culture, which remains evident even today in the architecture, literature, dance, and therefore the theatre.

A few Balinese villages inhabited faraway from this alteration. However, with the increase of Islam across Indonesia, the Majapahit Empire finally fell and Bali became independent by the 15th century. Many of the Javanese aristocracy and key members of the creative society took refuge on the island and therefore the period was referred to as Bali’s Golden Age.

The Tjokordas still retain a special role in Ubud society although the old Balinese feudalism was superseded by the Dutch colonial government. The Tjorkordas are both secular and sacred. They also figure prominently within the local businessmen, arts institutions, and professional circles. While no formal power is automatically granted to someone because they are available from a Puri, the Ubud royals still command respect solely to support their heredity. They also command respect from some quarters supporting their rather disproportionate wealth.

The Royal palaces have long been the most important landholders within the area. They wouldn’t manifest this role in a “custodial” way, managing vast tracts of rice-growing land for the advantage of the community and therefore the temples. In recent times, with the arrival of western models of land ownership, many palaces and landholdings are sold to reinforce their wealth. In pre-colonial Bali, palaces were the first patrons of art, music, dance, and literature, and the tradition still continues. They act as repositories of traditional culture and develop artistic endeavours throughout the world, to benefit both the Balinese people and visitors.

The Tjokordas do not govern the State, and are presently private citizens, with equivalent concerns as other private citizens. Most of the Ubud palaces have now become museums of public tourist attractions yet are still family homes. Most of them are fine samples of traditional architecture and are pretty new. The oldest Ubud palace is located east of Pura Dalem Ubud but it collapsed in an earthquake early this century. It is now a flat place with just some traces of foundation here and there.

How to get to Ubud Royal Palace

Ubud Royal Palace is an hour’s drive from the Bali international airports, Kuta or Seminyak. You can rent a car or two-wheeler and take a day trip to Ubud.

Best time to visit Ubud Royal Palace

Bali is a destination that is visited all year round owing to its tropical weather and pristine beaches that don’t miss a tourist’s bucket list.

You can visit the Royal Palace anytime between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. There are also live performances of the traditional Balinese dance a day for all tourists.

Entry ticket for Ubud Palace

There are not any entry fees for Ubud Royal Palace to market tourism in Bali.

Ubud Royal Palace holds a lot of information on the historical journey of Bali and is a must-visit for tourists. The Ubud excursion with Ubud Royal Palace in the list will offer you an extraordinary experience of Bali. You can visit Pickyourtrail and customise your Bali itinerary to include the visit to Ubud Royal Palace. So what are you waiting for? Book your Bali tour packages from India or Bali honeymoon tour package now!