SARASWATI TEMPLE
SARASWATI TEMPLE UBUD IS A HINDU TEMPLE WITH AMAZING DESIGN AND BEAUTIFUL LOTUS PONDS IN UBUD VILLAGE
Saraswati Temple Ubud, also known as Pura Taman Saraswati, is a Hindu temple located in Ubud village. The temple is dedicated to Dewi Saraswati, who is the patron goddess of humanity in Balinese Hinduism. Located in the center of Ubud, this temple is a favorite destination for tourists who want to experience the uniqueness and spiritual beauty of Saraswati Temple. The temple’s large lotus pond adds to its visual charm, making it one of Gianyar places of interest as a tourist destination not to be missed in the Ubud village. When you visit Ubud, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the vicinity of Saraswati Temple and enjoy the beauty of the Balinese architecture featured in this temple, complete with a charming lotus pond in front of it.
If you visit Saraswati Temple Ubud, here’s what you need to know:
- Location of Saraswati Temple Ubud
- History of Saraswati Temple Ubud
- The Attraction of Taman Saraswati Temple
- Geography Saraswati Temple Ubud
- Balinese Dance Show at Saraswati Temple Ubud
- Facilities of Saraswati Temple Ubud
Location of Saraswati Temple Ubud
Saraswati Temple is located in the center of Ubud, its strategic position makes it often the main destination for tourists visiting Ubud Village. The uniqueness of this temple makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations. Its location close to Ubud Market and Ubud Castle makes it easily accessible, so it is not difficult to find this temple. If you travel from Kuta to Seminyak, it takes about 2 hours by car or motorcycle. With the help of Google Maps, you can easily find the route to Saraswati Temple. If you don’t want the trouble of finding the location yourself, we from Bali Exotic Tour provide Hire Car and Driver service. With our private car and experienced driver, the trip to Saraswati Temple will be more enjoyable and comfortable for you.
History of Saraswati Temple Ubud
The history of Saraswati Temple in Ubud began with the desire of the Prince of Ubud, Cokorde Gede Agung Sukawati, to build a Saraswati Temple in Ubud Village so that the people of Ubud could pray there during the Saraswati festival, which falls once every six months (according to the Balinese calendar). The Prince of Ubud instructed a sculptor and undagi named I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, who arrived in Ubud after previously living in Puri Blahbatuh, to begin construction in 1951 using a base of red bricks and beautifully carved sandstone. The Balinese carvings on the front depict a lotus pond inspired by Dewi Saraswati’s place, surrounded by lotuses. The pond is built very beautifully with lotus trees that make Saraswati Temple full of colors during the blooming season. The construction of the Saraswati temple was completed in 1952. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, who is the wife of Lord Brahma and the goddess of science, literature, and Hinduism. On the day of the Saraswati ceremony, many students come to pray here and seek blessings for success in their studies.
The Attraction of Taman Saraswati Temple
Saraswati Temple, also known as Pura Taman Saraswati, is a place of worship for Hindus that functions to worship the Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wife of Lord Brahma. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Ubud Village, famous for its beautiful lotus ponds and majestic and beautiful temple buildings. Once you enter Saraswati Temple, you will be greeted by a mesmerizing view with lotus ponds located on the left and right, creating an atmosphere that is perfect for photographing and sharing on Instagram. The main temple is located inside and should only be entered by those who wish to pray, as this area is considered sacred by the local community. However, you can still enjoy the beauty of this temple from the outside, looking at the main temple and lotus pond, which are the main attractions. Even if you don’t go inside, the view from outside is enough to admire the beauty and elegance of this temple, especially when you want to take photos with the charming lotus pond in the background. The results will definitely be very Instagramable.
Geography Saraswati Temple Ubud
Saraswati Temple in Ubud is one of the famous landmarks in Ubud Village. What makes it so interesting is the lotus pond and water garden that are immediately visible when entering the temple area. The lotus pond is decorated with frangipani trees around it, adding to the beauty of this place. To reach the temple, we cross a small, beautifully designed bridge made of concrete. Along this bridge, there are small statues that add to the charm of its beauty. All the statue designs, carvings, and layouts are the work of Lepat. The main focus of the view is the large Kori Agung, with frangipani trees on either side, making the temple a great photo opportunity. The direct route to the inner courtyard is lined by the unique aling-aling, a wall designed to ward off evil spirits in the Balinese architectural tradition. Behind this wall, there is a 3-meter-high rakshasha statue of Jero Gede Mecaling.
The main temple is located in the most sacred area, located inside the Kori Agung, and is only accessible to those who wish to perform prayers there. The Padmasana temple is on the northeast side of the temple, decorated with carved faces resembling the shape of cosmic turtles and several dragons symbolizing the demonic world called Bhur, and at the top is a Padmasana depicting an empty golden throne with the image of Acintya, the highest deity in Hinduism. There is also a pavilion (bale) with three empty thrones inside dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, as well as several Meru towers located on that side. Bale barong is also present in this temple, serving as a storage place for barong figurines used in exorcism rituals by the villagers. Usually, there are two barong figures inside the bale barong, namely Barong Ket in the form of a lion and Barong Pangkal in the form of a wild boar, as well as the enchanting statue of Dewi Saraswati.
Balinese Dance Show at Saraswati Temple Ubud
At Pura Saraswati, you can enjoy Balinese dance performances every night. Usually, the dance performed is the Legong dance, but sometimes it can change to other dances, such as Kecak, depending on the situation and demand. These Balinese dance performances are held from Monday to Thursday, as well as from Saturday to Sunday. On Fridays and some specific holidays, there are no dance performances at Saraswati Temple. So, before you come, make sure to check the performance schedule. Tickets for these performances can be purchased on site, where attendants will be guarding the entrance to the temple. Alternatively, you can also watch the show from the lotus cafe in front of the temple, but there is a certain fee that you have to pay to enjoy the show from the cafe. The dancers who perform the Legong dance at Saraswati Temple are very professional and have a beautiful storyline, making it one of the best options for tourists who want to enjoy Balinese dance performances when visiting Ubud village.
Facilities of Saraswati Temple Ubud
As one of the popular tourist destinations in Ubud Village, Saraswati Temple provides complete facilities that will make tourists enjoy their stay here. Starting with clean toilets for the convenience of visitors, there is a restaurant called Lotus Fond Cafe in front of Saraswati Cafe. In this restaurant, you can buy drinks while enjoying the beautiful view of Kori Agung and Lotus Pond at Saraswati Temple, as it is located behind the lotus cafe. In addition, there is an open-air stage used for fantastic kecak dance performances at night. You can enjoy this performance from Lotus Cafe on the condition that you buy a meal at a certain price. Along the way, you will also find many art shops selling a wide variety of beautiful handicrafts. So, if you want to visit Saraswati Temple in Ubud, there is no need to hesitate anymore. Take advantage of this opportunity if you are in Ubud Village, and enjoy the beauty of the lotus and the magnificent Kori Agung at Saraswati Temple.