Singapadu

According to local legend, Dewa Kaleran’s sacred keris was bestowed with creative powers and helped artistic skills such as music, dance and carving to flourish in the area. Unfortunately, while Singapadu was once known as the region’s center for dance and music, these skills have diminished over the years.

However, a large number of famous dancers still come from Sangapadu, including Ketut Rujag, Wayan Kengguh, Wayan Griya and Ni Ketut Senun. These artists are known all over Bali for their contribution to the arts and are often invited to perform at international concerts.

Visitors to Sangapadu may be lucky enough to catch a traditional dance performance here. Topeng and barong mask-making is one of the village’s surviving crafts and is carried out in special schools. Visitors can also watch local craftsmen carving and decorating wooden images.

Singapadu is surrounded by intense natural beauty and whilst it is easy to take a bus here from Ubud, one of the best ways to reach the village is by hiring a bicycle in the city and cycling through the countryside. A large number of natural attractions are waiting to be discovered including caves and ancient temples, while the area is liberally scattered with a number of other traditional villages for visitors to explore.