Penglipuran Village, Bali

Penglipuran entrance fee and hours

Entry for foreign visitors is about IDR 50,000, and the village is usually open to visitors daily from around 8:00 to 18:00. There's no official published price list, so treat these as a guide.

Come in the morning, before the tour buses: by late morning the main street fills up with groups. Allow 1–1.5 hours for the street and temples, and closer to two with the bamboo forest.

How the village is laid out

Penglipuran follows the Balinese Tri Mandala principle. The most sacred zone is to the north, towards Mount Agung, where the village temples stand. Homes fill the middle, and in the south, towards the sea, are the Pura Dalem temple and the cemetery.

The wide, paved main street climbs in steps to the temples. On both sides are 76 compounds with identical carved angkul-angkul gates. Each compound is split into three zones too: family shrine, living quarters and a utility corner. Cars aren't allowed on the main street.

Bamboo roofs and the bamboo forest

Bamboo is the village's key material: traditional roofs are made of four or five layers of split bamboo, and woven bamboo forms interior walls. Some buildings now use modern materials, but the old roofs are still visible.

Behind the village grows a bamboo forest that residents protect as a shared resource — it earned Penglipuran the national Kalpataru environmental award. A path runs through it, a cool walk after the street.

About Penglipuran

Penglipuran is a traditional village in Bangli regency, 5 km north of Bangli town and 45 km from Denpasar. At 500–600 metres up, it's noticeably cooler than the coast. Villagers keep a way of life, architecture and customary rules that have faded from most Balinese villages.

Tradition says their ancestors came from the old mountain village of Bayung Gede. The name has two readings: 'place to remember the ancestors' or 'place of consolation' — the raja of Bangli is said to have come here to meditate.

What to see and do

Walk the main street up to the temples and peek into open compounds: many families welcome visitors, show their homes and sell crafts, coffee and a local herbal drink. Look out for the bale banjar, a wall-less pavilion for community meetings.

The village is at its most beautiful during Galungan, when tall decorated bamboo poles (penjor) line the street. Dates follow the Balinese calendar, so check before you go.

How to get to Penglipuran from Ubud

The village is in the hills northeast of Ubud: about 29 km, 45–60 minutes by car. From Sanur it's about 42 km. There's practically no public transport — you'll need a car with driver, a scooter or a tour.

Penglipuran pairs well with Lake Batur (≈ 26 km) and the Tegallalang rice terraces (≈ 22 km) for a day in the hills.

Is Penglipuran worth visiting?

Yes: it's a rare chance to see a whole traditional Balinese village — layout, gates, temples and bamboo forest — and it's close to Ubud.

YesGo's take: the village has become touristy, with many groups by day and souvenir stalls in many compounds. Come early, walk up to the temples and into the bamboo forest for a stronger impression.

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How to do it right

• Come early, before the tour groups.
• Walk up to the temples at the top of the street.
• Take a stroll through the bamboo forest.
• Enter compounds only when invited.
• On the way: Tegallalang rice terraces.

Questions