Penglipuran Village is a traditional tropical Balinese countryside village located in the Bangli region in the middle eastern area of the island of Bali. Bangli is famous for particularly hot food and has an excellent history of uncertainty and working the fields. Most of the local people of the area work on the land farming and culturing rice and other tropical spices and fruits. At over 700 meters above sea level the journey to get to Bangli is incredible and the views throughout are the relaxing including the rice padi plains and hills as you approach the mountains and then followed by the slow winding roads that lead you up the mountainside and which is coated in tropical trees and woodlands. Along the whole way you will pass little villages and temples of the traditional nature that offer a cultural dimension to the areas beautiful geography. At this height the incredible views of Bali are enjoyed at a lower and fresher climate then in the south of the island and extend across to the towing mountains and volcanoes as well as down the hillside and across the east of the Bali.It is said that the area of Penglipuran Village takes it’s name from the word ‘Pengeling Pura, which translates roughly as remember your ancestors although another school of though is that the word Penglipur meaning ‘entertainer’ is the origin from which the Penglipuran Village has derived as past kings of the ancient times have been known to retire to the area when in need of some time out from their duties and when in need of cheering up when upset and had royal entertainers based in the area for this reason. Either way it he area is both beautiful and entertaining to this day and well worth an excursion when staying in the Ubud area or if planning a trip around the mountain areas.
The residential areas of Penglipuran Village have a very particular look that is unique to the area and extremely aesthetically pleasing with rows of very small but tall traditionally built houses that are very decorative and with thatched roofs. These roads are straight and within the field areas meaning there is a tropical country feel as well as being very culturally interesting. All of these roads are inline with the direction of the mount Agung, which is the most holy peak and one of the most holy places on the entire island. This gives a lovely effect and also extenuates the impressive grandeur of Bali’s largest peak. These cobbled roads sharing their direction with the family temples that can be found in the gardens also facing mount Agung as with the rest of the island the mountain is very important to the culture. In Penglipuran Village its importance is even stronger which is not surprising as it is likely that the villagers’ ancestors where the people who have suffered the most from the eruptions that have taken place in the past. This being said, there has not been an eruption for many years and although the peak is still deemed as active, another eruption is not expected for a long time.
