Pura Desa, A Secret Hindu Temple in Ubud
I stumbled upon one of Ubud’s most beautiful and prized cultural hubs, the Pura Desa Temple, as I walked past the delightful alleyways of Ubud’s art and traditional market. The tapered gate of this ancient temple, flanked by Balinese stone statues, leads into a shrivelled courtyard. However, this courtyard’s first appearance is as deceiving as a chocolate wrapper. When you unfold, you’ll notice an ornately decorated doorway on the inset, which is spanned by a carved arch.
A one minute walk from Puri Saren Agung, this is one of the most important Hindu temples in the area. Bali is a country where Hinduism is more polytheistic. The Puri Saren Agung is a large royal palace that used to be home to Tjokorda Gede Agung Sukawati, Ubud’s last ruling monarch. The royal family, on the other hand, continues to own and operate the Palace.
The palace was converted into Ubud’s first hotel in 1930. It still hosts several ceremonies and dance performances in its courtyard today. If you’re interested in the local culture, this is a great place to visit.
In this land of Pura’s, the eternal order of the world’s oldest religion has made an indelible mark. A form of worship that revolves around the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Something that eloquently expresses the Pura Desa Temple’s foundation. Inside the temple, you’ll find a number of statues and mythical Balinese figures hidden beneath heavily engraved wooden beams. The temple ceiling, on the other hand, is made of black palm wood fibre.
Surprisingly, Pura Desa is referred to as a secret Hindu temple, despite being built in the style of Balinese architecture. At the same time, a row of thatched-roof shrines is arranged in a traditional pattern in the courtyard. Locals refer to it as the Batuan Temple because it is well-maintained by the Batuan Village residents. Regardless of its name, this ornate temple is well worth a visit.
