Batubulan

Batubulan means “moonstone”, and if you like to see or buy any works of stone while you’re on Bali, then Batubulan in the Gianyar region is the place. You will pass this village if you drive from Denpasar to Ubud, it is hard not to notice the kilometers of displayed statues, Buddha figures, demons and other mythical figures, all carved in stone
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Stone carving has a long tradition here, and the quality of the products are usually good. From young boys to old men, they all seems to be experts in stone carving here. The material used is mainly “paras”, gray volcanic stone or soapstone. It’s no problem to stop by a stone carver and watch the workers do their job in the shadows under large trees.

Batubulan is also a center for antiques, and has in addition a large variety of textiles, woodcarving and other crafts on display. Naturally the temples around here is well known for their beautiful sculptures of stone, the Pura Puseh temple in Batubulan is a good example of this. This village is the origin of the famous Kecak dance, and there are regularly dance performances here.

Along the road from Batubulan to Gianyar there are three villages, each specialized in a particular craft. First Celuk which is a center for gold- and silversmiths, then Sukawati where they among other products make the ever-present temple umbrellas. The last village is Batuan which like Ubud is a center for painting.

Not far from Batubulan is Bali Bird park, Taman Burung, a quite new attraction worth a visit. The park contains for example an artificial rainforest with bird species naturally belonging there, like some rare birds of paradise. The park contains species from many parts of the world, not only Asia. Next to the bird park there is a reptile park with some fascinating snakes and reptiles, like the famous Komodo-dragon.

The parks can be hard to find, if you come from the direction of Denpasar you will arrive at an intersection in Batubulan, follow the road straight ahead towards Ubud, not Gianyar. The road is quite narrow, after a few hundred meters you will see a sign and the entrance to the left.

Further down the road from the bird park you will arrive at the small Singapadu village, where you also will find a large variety of handicrafts.