# Saraswati Temple, Ubud, Bali

> Saraswati Temple, also called the Ubud Water Palace, honours the goddess of learning and the arts, a short walk from Ubud's main street. Built in 1951–1952, it's reached by a path across a lotus pond to carved red gates. The pond area is free to visit, and in the evening there are Balinese dance shows (around IDR 100,000). Half an hour is enough.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/pura-taman-saraswati

- City: [Bali](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali), Indonesia
- YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 30 min
- Entry: free; dance ≈ IDR 100,000
- Opening hours: Daily in daytime; dance shows in the evening
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entrance: Pond area free (unofficial)
- Dance shows: Most evenings, ≈ IDR 80,000–100,000
- Inside: The inner courtyard is for worshippers; visitors see the pond and gates
- Lotuses: Open in the morning, close by early afternoon
- Location: Central Ubud, behind the cafés on Jl. Raya Ubud; ≈ 200 m from the palace
- Coordinates: -8.50595, 115.26149
- Facts checked: 10.11.2026

## Key facts

- **1951–1952** — when the temple was built (source: English Wikipedia)
- **Saraswati** — the goddess of learning, literature and the arts (source: English Wikipedia)
- **Lempad** — I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, sculptor and architect, designed it and carved many statues (source: English Wikipedia)
- **3 gates** — of red brick (kori agung) lead to the inner courtyard (source: English Wikipedia)
- **3 m** — the height of the rakshasa statue of Jero Gede Mecaling behind the gate (source: English Wikipedia)
- **Padmasana** — a lotus throne on the temple's sacred north-east side (source: English Wikipedia)
- **≈ 200 m** — to Ubud Palace (source: OSRM route)

## Saraswati Temple entrance and hours

Walking in to the **lotus pond is free** according to unofficial sources; the inner courtyard is for worshippers. The temple is accessible through the day, and in the evening it becomes a stage for dance performances. There's no official timetable online, so check at the entrance.

## What is Pura Taman Saraswati?

**Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati** is dedicated to **Saraswati**, Hindu goddess of learning, literature and the arts. It was built in **1951–1952** for the prince of Ubud and designed by **I Gusti Nyoman Lempad**, the celebrated Balinese sculptor and architect behind many of Ubud's palaces and temples.

Visitors call it the **Ubud Water Palace** because of the **lotus pond** filling the front courtyard. A straight walkway crosses the water to the temple, lined with frangipani trees and volcanic-tuff statues, many carved by Lempad himself.

## What you'll see

The classic view is from the start of the walkway: pond, lotuses and, at the far end, **three red-brick kori agung gates** dripping with carving. The central gate, the largest, is framed by two tall frangipanis. Right behind it an unusual wall blocks the way — it's actually the back of a **three-metre rakshasa statue**, placed, in Balinese tradition, to confuse evil spirits.

The inner courtyard with its shrines is for worshippers. It holds a **padmasana**, a stone lotus throne topped with an empty golden seat for the supreme deity, its base carved with the cosmic turtle and naga serpents. Visitors see in through the gates.

> **When to come** Lotus flowers open in the morning and close by early afternoon, so 8–10 am is best for photos and quiet. In the evening the temple is lit up for the dance shows. Midday is busy — a popular café looks straight onto the pond.

## Evening dance performances

Most evenings, **Balinese dance** is performed by the pond — legong, Ramayana scenes or barong, depending on the day. Unofficially, tickets are **IDR 80,000–100,000** and shows start around 7:30 pm. The lit-up gates reflected in the water make it one of the loveliest stages in Ubud.

Tickets are sold at the entrance and by vendors nearby; the weekly line-up is posted at the ticket desk. Similar shows run at Ubud Palace, two minutes' walk away.

## Things to see

- **The lotus pond** and the walkway across it.
- **The carved red kori agung gates.**
- **Lempad's statues** along the pond.
- **The rakshasa statue** blocking the way behind the gate.
- **An evening dance** in front of the lit temple.

> **Temple etiquette** This is a working temple. Only worshippers, in sarongs, enter the inner courtyard. As at all Balinese temples, women who are menstruating and anyone with an open wound shouldn't enter the shrines. Don't step into the pond or pick the lotuses.

## How to get to Saraswati Temple

1. **From central Ubud** — on foot: it's 200 m from Ubud Palace, behind the cafés on Jl. Raya Ubud, with another entrance on Jl. Kajeng.
2. **From Sanur** — about 23 km; **from Kuta or Seminyak** — about 32 km, 1–1.5 hours by taxi, Grab or Gojek.
3. **From Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS)** — about 35 km.
4. Central Ubud is congested with little parking — leave the car at your hotel and walk.

## Is Saraswati Temple worth visiting?

Yes, if you're in Ubud: it's two minutes off the main street, free and lovely, especially with the lotuses open in the morning or during an evening dance.

YesGo's take: it's small, the inner courtyard is off-limits and the pond gets crowded at midday. Don't travel to Ubud just for this — but it belongs on any walk around the centre.

## Bali temples compared

Temples on Bali rated by YesGo.

- [Saraswati Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/pura-taman-saraswati) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free; dance ≈ IDR 100,000
- [Ubud Monkey Forest](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/ubud-monkey-forest) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · IDR 130,000
- [Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/goa-gajah) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ IDR 50,000
- [Batuan Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/batuan-temple) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · donation or ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000
- [Tanah Lot Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/tanah-lot) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · IDR 75,000
- [Taman Ayun Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/taman-ayun) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000
- [Gunung Kawi](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/gunung-kawi) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ IDR 50,000
- [Tirta Empul Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/tirta-empul) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000
- [Ulun Danu Batur Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/ulun-danu-batur) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ IDR 35,000
- [Goa Lawah Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/goa-lawah) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ≈ IDR 30,000
- [Uluwatu Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/uluwatu-temple) — YesGo score 23/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ IDR 50,000–60,000
- [Ulun Danu Beratan Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/ulun-danu-bratan) — YesGo score 23/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · IDR 100,000
- [Besakih Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/besakih) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · IDR 150,000
- [Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven)](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/lempuyang) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttle
- [Geger Beach](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/geger-beach) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · free or ≈ IDR 5,000–10,000

## Central Ubud on foot

Saraswati Temple, Ubud Palace and the art market opposite — all within five minutes of each other. Add it to your trip — YesGo will set the timings.

1. [Saraswati Temple](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/pura-taman-saraswati) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free; dance ≈ IDR 100,000
2. [Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/ubud-palace) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
3. [Ubud Art Market](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/ubud-art-market) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free

## Tips

- Come at 8–9 am: lotuses open, few people.
- Return in the evening for a dance in front of the lit gates.
- The dance line-up changes daily — check the board at the entrance.
- It's not the same as Ubud Palace, though the two are neighbours.
- [Ubud Palace](https://yesgo.io/indonesia/bali/ubud-palace) is 200 m away.

## Questions

### Is Saraswati Temple in Ubud free?

The lotus-pond area is free to visit; the inner courtyard is for worshippers.

### Why is it called the Ubud Water Palace?

Because of the large lotus pond in front of the temple gates.

### When is the dance show at Saraswati Temple?

Most evenings around 7:30 pm; tickets are about IDR 80,000–100,000.

### When do the lotuses bloom?

In the morning; the flowers close by early afternoon.

### Where is Saraswati Temple?

In central Ubud, 200 m from the palace, behind the cafés on Jl. Raya Ubud.

### Who built Saraswati Temple?

The master craftsman I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, in 1951–1952, for the prince of Ubud.

### Who is the temple dedicated to?

Saraswati, goddess of learning, literature and the arts.

### How long do you need?

About half an hour by day, around 1.5 hours with an evening show.

## How we checked

History, architect, deity and the layout of the pond, gates and inner courtyard are from English Wikipedia. Free access to the pond, the dance line-up, ticket price (IDR 80,000–100,000) and start time come from 2026 guides; there's no official schedule, so these are marked unconfirmed. The lotus tip reflects how the plant behaves. Distances are OSRM routes without traffic from central Ubud (0.2 km), Sanur (23 km), Kuta (32 km) and the airport (35 km).

## Sources

- English Wikipedia — Pura Taman Saraswati: 1951–1952, Lempad, Saraswati, pond, gates, rakshasa, padmasana
- baliholidaysecrets.com, pickyourtrail.com (2026) — evening dance and prices (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q48841813 — coordinates; OSRM routing — distances

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