Penglipuran Village: Bali’s “Cleanest” Little Secret
One of the oft-neglected attractions from Bali’s travel guides packed with beaches and waterfalls, Penglipuran Village is the world’s third cleanest village which sits quietly in the Bangli district of Bali, Indonesia. Notable for its conversation of both cleanliness and culture, Penglipuran is home to about 240 families (1000 people) who fiercely preserve their culture and traditions which render Penglipuran one of Bali’s best-kept secrets.
Getting There
Penglipuran lies some 28 miles (45 kilometers) northwest of Denpasar, the capital of Bali. Since most tourists stay in the southern part of Bali, here are some easy reference points and estimated travel duration:
- Ubud – 1 hour
- Canggu – 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Sanur Beach – 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Nusa Dua – 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Kuta Beach – 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Seminyak – 1 hour and 40 minutes
Due to the lack of public transport, Penglipuran is only accessible by means of private vehicles. Although it is possible to hail a one-way ride from your hotel to Penglipuran using ride apps, I would caution against it as taxis and e-hailing services can be limited in Bangli district. To avoid being stuck in Penglipuran with no rides back to your hotel, here are some of the options you can consider:
- Rent a scooter
- if you have an international motorcycle license and are confident driving around Bali, this is the option for you
- Charter a car with or without personal driver
- book online with Klook or any local car rental services
- Join a tour
- if you join the right tour it can save you both time and money (the costs for scooter or car rentals are sometimes comparable to day tour packages)
Admission Tickets
The cultural village imposes an entrance fee for all visitors. For international visitors, an adult ticket costs IDR 50,000 while a child ticket costs IDR 30,000. Rumors are that the village is moving towards electronic ticketing starting September 2022 but as of now cash remains the only accepted payment method.
Penglipuran Village
Once you get the logistics out of the way, it is time to explore and enjoy Penglipuran for all it has to offer. The whole village is 112 hectares and you can easily spend 1-2 hours here. Given its higher elevation, Penglipuran has a cooler and rainier climate than most parts of Bali. Make sure you check the weather before your trip and bring an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
Once inside the village, you will quickly notice neat lines of traditional Balinese houses that share similar designs and styles. Most of these houses have been home to local villagers for generations and some even double as family-owned stores and warungs. Depending on the day and time of your visit, you might be lucky to see Balinese women carrying food offerings with their heads to an ancestral temple and children playing on the streets after school.
Towards the north end of the village lies an elaborately-designed temple called Penataran Temple where locals gather for religious rituals and functions. Immediately next to the temple is a communal stage where you will find young villagers perform the religious kecak dance (fire dance) to tourists. Beyond the walled residence, there is a vast area of bamboo forest that makes up almost half of the village and has been carefully preserved for centuries. The bamboo forest is the main reason behind the village’s reputation for sustainability efforts.