The Gianyar Regency was home to one of Bali’s oldest kingdoms, the Buddhist. Warmadewa dynasty of Bedulu-Pejeng and Batuan which reigned until the fourteenth century. The conquering Javanese established a court in Samprangan, which later moved east to Gelgel and Klungkung.

This area’s prominence faded until the eighteenth century when the Klungkung ruling family founded Sukawati, a short-lived dynasty that fell with the emergence of the Gianyar kingdom. Rivals from Sukawati set up courts in Ketewel, Singapadu, Negara, Peliatan, Ubud and Teggallalang which fomented decades of warfare. The powerful Gelgel family of Blahbatuh rose during the nineteenth century.

Dutch assistance restored Gianyar, but not without gaining concessions from the king which spared it the fate of other South Balinese courts in the early ninetten hundreds. Gianyar is the district to which many a sun-struck tourist flee the heat of the coast, for it is in this district that the cool highland village of Ubud is located. Increasingly popular, Ubud-an artists enclave set among terraced rice fields, is an ideal base from which to explore the many attractions of the surrounding countryside.

Shopping

For visitors who enjoy hunting for tradisional handicrafts and art, Gianyar is a ‘must see’ on any visit to the island. This area boasts everything from stone carvings in Batubulan; silver works in Celuk; a huge souvenir market at Sukawati; Batuan’s fine paintings and masks; the carved wooden handicrafts of Mas, Kemenunh, Tengkulak and Pujung; the woven cloth of capital city Gianyar; Bona’s palm-leaf crafts and bamboo furniture; and Blahbatuh traditional musical instrument foundry.

Temple going

The Bedulu-Pejeng area, south-east of Ubud, is where some of Bali’s oldest temples can be found. These include the Goa Gajah ‘elephant cave’ temple; the carved relief at Yeh Pulu; the huge Samuan Tiga complex; the fantastic statues at Kebo Edan and Pusering Jagat; and the famous bronze moon-gong at Panataran Sasih. The carved temples at Gunung Kawi and the sacred springs of Tirtha/Empul are both located in Tampaksiring, just below the expansive gardens of the palace designed and much loved by the Republic’s former Presiden, Sukarno.

Eco - Tourism

In recent year, Gianyar has become increasingly renowned as a center for ecotourism. Numerous walking trails have been mapped out around Ubud, the most spectacular of which leads to Petulu where, if arriving at dusk, walkers can witness thousands of herons returning to their wetlands. There are also several rafting companies based in the Kedewataan area. They offer exciting trips down the Ayung River by rubber dinghy. And a drive north of Ubud towards Kintamani leads through Tegallalang, and sights of dramatic valleys that are patch worked with rice fields.

Ubud

The cultural image of Ubud is paramount to people as home to the best art museums in tte country, like Puri Lukisan, Neka Museum, ARMA (Agung Rai Museum & Art), etc. Ubud is an ideal place to see Balinese dance, Legong, Ramayana, Baris, Kecak and Sanghyang (the fire dance) are performed nightly in or aroud the Ubud area.

Ubud gives you opportunity to see real Bali. It is a place for leisurely strolls through rice terraces, lush forests, breath-taking gorges and deserted swimming holes, all within walking distance from the center of Ubud. You must visit Monkey Forest - walk along Monkey Forest Road from Ubud, down into a dense forest where you will find a bunch of happy monkeys waiting for passing tourists.

Goa Gajah Temple

The Elephant cave is carved in to rock face and reached by a flight of steps. It probably dates back to the 9-12th centuries and shows elements of both Hindu and Buddhist. You can enter the cave through the huge mouth of a demon. In front of the cave are two bathing pools with spring water gushing from spouts help by female figures.

A kilometer from Goa Gajah is Yeh Pulu. After a short walk through rice terraces, you will arrive at an ancient rock carving dating from the 14th century. The carving depicts various scenes of everyday life and the figures of elephant-headed Ganesha indicating a close relationship between the two sites