Ubud.. The Balinese Paradise.

Bali was our holiday destination this year, made sweeter by the fact that my last vacation had been a year ago, in Malaysia. Living in India often feels festive year-round, but this trip promised a slower, more reflective escape.

Our inspiration came from a close friend, Ramnath, who had lived in Indonesia and explored its islands extensively. His advice was simple and spot-on: skip the crowded tourist hubs and stay in Ubud. Located about two hours from Denpasar airport, Ubud welcomed us at dusk. After a quick refresh, we walked into town for dinner at Sun Sun Restaurant, known for its home-style food. That first meal quietly set the tone for the trip—light, healthy, and unhurried. As we wandered through Ubud’s narrow streets, with scooters zipping past, I felt an unexpected sense of familiarity. It reminded me of small towns in India, but without the noise—calm, chaotic, and charming all at once.

On Day 1, we explored Ubud on a two-wheeler, starting with the Saraswati Palace. Also known as Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati, the Water Palace is dedicated to Dewi Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. The gentle sound of flowing water and lotus-carved stone pathways created a serene, almost meditative atmosphere.

Idols of goddesses and gods 

The paved lotus motif ponds. Leaves so large. 

Mandatory temple shots 

We stayed at Padma Villa, a one-bedroom villa surrounded by lush greenery and complete with a private pool. Tempting as it was, exhaustion won, and the pool had to wait.

Next on the agenda, was the much-hyped Campuhan Ridge Walk. With minimal signs and few people around, we followed a small, weathered arrow pointing uphill—trusting instinct over maps. The early part of the walk was shaded and soothing, accompanied by the sound of the river below. Soon, the climb grew steeper, the sun harsher, and our conversations turned to laughing about overly optimistic social media trail ratings. A clearing revealed scattered homes on rolling hills and patches of terraced cultivation—but no postcard-perfect rice fields. Still, we pressed on, encouraged by nature’s quiet creativity: massive leaves catching falling branches, forming intricate patterns. Eventually, we reached a village and walked a little farther, hopeful. Soon, familiar faces passed us on their way back. When we asked why, they smiled and said the trail seemed endless. That’s when it struck us—travel isn’t always about reaching the destination. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to turn back, carrying the story with you. And Ubud gave us exactly that.

On day two we started early to Mount Batur to watch the sun rise. It was the first unique experience for us to visit an active volcanic rock mountain that has and UNESCO status. We opted for the jeep ride because of the weather conditions. The road starts smooth but soon turns rocky and bumpy as we entered the volcanic landscape. We swayed along with the jeep over the black lava fields left behind by past eruptions.

It was a cloudy morning, it was about the experience of watching the sunlight from a volcanic mountain rather than the spectacle. The air was cool , there was a faint aroma of volcanic earth. The sun itself never appeared - jut a glowing presence behind the mist would be seen. The sky brightened gradually, As the sun broke through the clouds, we could see the neighboring mountains and the shimmer of the lake below. The light was gentle, giving the landscape a quiet dreamlike quality like the mountains were waking up at their own sweet time.

Volcanic rocks with some natural formation.

The rest of the day, we took the touristy road. One of the stops was to experience the Bali swings.. a popular attraction that attracts tourist from around the world. The swing offers a beautiful way to experience the beauty of the island. The higher the swing goes, the views are more breathtaking, reveling endless expanse of rice fields and coconut plantations.

To wrap up our at Ubud we immersed ourselves at the Yoga Barn Studio. Yoga Barn is the largest yoga studio in Bali, and the lush green yoga oasis is famous among yogis all over the world. The classes range from easy to tough . No matter whether one is completely new to yoga or have a lot of sun salutations under your belt, there is a lot to learn from each class. The range of teachers are immpresive and the environment calm and relaxing.

Will we visit Ubud again.. Yes