The inland village of Ubud and its surrounding area form Bali s cultural heartland, home to a huge proliferation of temples, musems and art galleries, where balinese dance shows are staged nightly and a wealth of arts and crafts studios provide the most absorbing shopping on the island.

It s also surrounded by a stunning physical environement. Including Bali s longest waterway, the Ayung River.Ubud and all the other villages described in this chapter lie within the boundaries of Gianyar district, formerly an ancient kingdom.