Location: Puri Saren Royal Palace and other locations
Address: Jl. Raya Ubud 1, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar
The magic of dance is to be found everywhere on the island. Whether its a mere performance or a sacred ritual, the hypnotic sounds of the gamelan guide the steps of men and women, keeping spectators’ eyes glued to the stage. It would be madness to leave Bali without having witnessed at least one evening of the Legong Dance, the most fascinating of them all. Born as entertainment for the royal court, it was once practiced by young dancers destined to a prestigious future - as adults they would stop dancing to marry nobles or rich merchants. Intricate movements of the fingers characterise a refined style which requires discipline, flexibility and grace. Gold and vivacious colours illuminate the clothing of the dancers as they hit the stage with traditional stagings of stories featuring a male character, the condong - like the tale of the Javanese king Lasem and the princess Rangdesari, from the famed book of the Malat. In Bali, it is possible to see performances of the Legong in the temples, palaces and even on the street. In Ubud, the cultural capital of the island, the most popular performances are at the Royal Palace (Puri Saren Royal Palace), at the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) or at the Temple of Pura Saraswati.
The Attractions at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
Here, rests a magnificent statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana, national emblem of Indonesia and, with a height of over 120 metres, one of the tallest monumental statues in the world.
Ancient Legends on the Seaside - the Temple of Rambut Siwi
Legend states that in the XVI Century, Dang Hyang Nirartha stopped at this large temple on the coast which began to crumble as the priest prayed. Nirartha then rebuilt the temple with a lock of hair planted in the earth by the caretaker