Candidasa · Culture
Taman Ujung Water Palace: A Visitor’s Guide
A raja’s seaside palace of ponds, bridges and European arches, quieter than Tirta Gangga.
By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 9 November 2026
Overview
Taman Ujung Water Palace, before you go.
Taman Ujung, officially Taman Soekasada Ujung, is a royal water palace on the coast 5 km southeast of Amlapura, 20 to 30 minutes by car from Candidasa. Three big ponds, an island pavilion and hillside arches spread over about 10 hectares, with the sea below. It is worth a stop for anyone touring East Bali who wants space and architecture rather than a swim.
Taman Ujung was the pleasure garden of Karangasem’s last raja, I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, also known as Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem, the same ruler who later built Tirta Gangga. He began building in 1909 around an older pool, the Dirah pool, which his predecessor had built in 1901 to cleanse people accused of black magic. Most sources date completion to 1921. The king worked on the design with Balinese undagi builders, the Dutch architect Van Den Hentz and the Chinese architect Loto Ang, which is why carved Balinese gates sit beside concrete arches and a white colonial facade. The Dutch called it the Waterpaleis, and a marble stele records its inauguration in 1937. Guests included the King of Siam, the Dutch governor-general and the sultans of Yogyakarta and Surakarta.
The layout tells a Hindu story. The main pond stands for the milky ocean that the gods churned for amerta, the elixir of life, and the island pavilion in its center stands for the mountain they used to churn it. That pavilion, the Bale Gili, is reached by two long bridges and now holds old photographs of the royal family.
Then the palace nearly disappeared. Mount Agung’s 1963 eruption and earthquakes in the 1970s left it almost entirely in ruins, and it was abandoned for decades. Restoration ran from about 1998 to 2001, so most of what you see is rebuilt; the Bale Kapal on the hillside is the one building described as original. Accounts of the size vary from 9 to 12 hectares; about 10 is the figure most often given.
Today it is East Bali’s calmer water palace. Karangasem’s count for January to July 2025 put Tirta Gangga at 214,070 visitors and did not list Taman Ujung among its top three sites; managers told Antara in 2023 that Ujung drew about 800 visitors a day. You get long views, wide lawns and room to walk, but no swimming in the ponds and little shade. In mid-2023 a bamboo visitor center funded by Pertamina, with a display of lontar palm-leaf manuscripts, was being finished near the Bale Kapal; whether it is open in 2026 is unclear.
Plan around the price and the heat. Foreign adults have paid IDR 100,000 since 1 January 2024, more than at Tirta Gangga. Come early or late, climb the hill and walk down to the sea, and the ticket earns its keep.
- Opening hours
- Daily 7 AM–7 PM, closed on Nyepi (checked Nov 2026)
- Ticket
- IDR 100,000 foreign adults, IDR 50,000–75,000 children (checked Nov 2026)
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours; 2 hours with the hill and the seafront temple
- Best time
- 7–9 AM or after 3:30 PM; April–October
- Dress code
- No sarong needed; cover shoulders at the seaside temple
- Location
- Tumbu, 5 km southeast of Amlapura; 20–30 min from Candidasa
Today at Taman Ujung Water Palace
- Daylight
- to
- Hours of light
- 12 hr 28 min of light
Checking the weather in Candidasa…
Times for this spot, in Bali time (WITA).
Ujung, Tumbu, Karangasem, Karangasem Regency, Bali 80811, Indonesia
Open in Google MapsWhat to See
What to see at Taman Ujung Water Palace.
- 01
The Bale Gili and its bridges
The island pavilion in the middle of the main pond is the heart of the palace. Two long bridges with small pavilions of their own lead out to it across the water. Unlike an open Balinese bale, it has walls, a white Dutch colonial facade, colored glass and Balinese carving, and inside hang photographs of the Karangasem royal family. In the raja’s plan, it stands for the mountain the gods used to churn the ocean.
- 02
The three great ponds
Three large ponds stocked with koi and water lilies fill the lower garden, with mountains behind. A 2022 report put the depth at about 1.5 m, so watch small children on the edges. A small gazebo, the Bale Bengong, sits in one of them. Walk the full loop of the paths and bridges rather than stopping at the first viewpoint: the far banks are where the crowd, such as it is, thins out.
- 03
Bale Kapal and the hillside
West of the ponds, a long flight of stone steps climbs to the Bale Kapal, the one building said to survive from the original palace. From the top you look over the ponds and coconut groves to Ujung Beach and the sea, with Mount Lempuyang and, on clear days, Mount Agung inland. There is little shade on the way up, so climb early or late and carry water.
- 04
The arches on the hill
Also up the slope is a roofless colonnade of carved stone arches and columns, which some guides call the pillar building. With hills and sea framed between the columns, it is the shot most people come for, and the light is warmest in the late afternoon. On a weekday at opening time you may have it to yourself.
- 05
The Dirah pool
The palace grew around this older pool, built in 1901 by the previous king, A. A. Gde Djelantik. It was used to purify people suspected of practicing black magic, a reminder that the site had a ritual purpose before it became a royal garden. Ask the staff to point it out, since it is easy to walk past among the bigger ponds.
- 06
Pura Lingga Yoni and Ujung Beach
Between the palace and the sea stands Pura Lingga Yoni, a small temple built around a stone about 2 m long that workers found some 10 m offshore while building a breakwater in 2012. Below it is Ujung Beach, a working black-sand shore with fishing boats rather than a swimming beach. Cover your shoulders and knees at the temple, and keep back if a ceremony is under way.
- 07
A dip at Tirta Ujung
Since the palace ponds are not for swimming, locals cool off at Tirta Ujung, a natural spring-fed pool among rice fields about 500 m away. In 2022 foreigners paid IDR 10,000 and Indonesians IDR 5,000. Motorbikes park on site, while cars wait at the roadside. It is a village bathing place, so wear modest swimwear.
Seasons
Best time to visit Taman Ujung Water Palace.
Arrive at the 7 AM opening for cool air and an almost empty garden, or after about 3:30 PM, when the light turns warm on the arches and the white pavilion. Midday is hot and exposed, with little shade on the lawns or the hill. The gate closes at 7 PM and the last entry is around 6 PM.
April to October is drier and clearer, the best months to see Mount Agung and Lempuyang from the Bale Kapal; mornings are clearer than afternoons. From November to March expect afternoon storms. The lawns and steps get slick, but rain matters less here than at a beach.
Indonesian holiday weekends bring local families, but the grounds are big enough to absorb them. The whole island, Taman Ujung included, shuts for Nyepi, next on 8 March 2027. Ujung is a royal garden rather than a temple, so it stays open around Galungan; Lempuyang, if you pair the two, closes to tourists for about five days after Galungan, next on 13 January 2027.
Coming between November and March? Read our Bali rainy season guide →
Getting There
How to get to Taman Ujung Water Palace.
| From | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Candidasa | 20–30 min | About 13 km by car or scooter east on the main coast road, then down to the coast past the edge of Amlapura. |
| Tirta Gangga | 20–30 min | About 10 km south by car through Amlapura. Easy to pair with a morning at Tirta Gangga. |
| Amed (Jemeluk) | 40–50 min | About 27 km by car inland via Culik and Amlapura. The coast road around the eastern tip through Seraya is slower, about an hour on a narrow, hilly road; drive it in daylight. |
| Ubud | 1.5–2 hours | About 58 km by car via Klungkung and the east-coast road. Leave early and add Tirta Gangga or Lempuyang to make the drive worth it. |
| Bali airport (DPS) | 2–3 hours | About 77 km by car on the east-coast bypass past Padang Bai and Candidasa; longer in afternoon traffic around Denpasar. |
| Sanur | 1.5–2 hours | About 62 km by car along the coast bypass, the quickest of the southern bases. |
| Seminyak or Canggu | 2–3 hours | About 72 to 74 km by car. Better as a stop on a transfer to Candidasa or Amed than as a day trip from the south. |
Getting around Taman Ujung Water Palace
Parking is outside the gate, with a few food and drink stalls; expect IDR 2,000 to 5,000, paid separately from the ticket (checked Nov 2026). Buy tickets at the counter. Cash is the most reliable way to pay. The lower garden is flat and the paths are wide, but the hillside means many stone steps, and only part of the site suits a wheelchair.
Most visitors come with a driver, often on an East Bali loop with Lempuyang and Tirta Gangga. Grab and Gojek drivers are scarce this far east, and public bemos are rare, so do not count on an app ride back to Candidasa. Keep your driver, or ride a scooter if you are confident on busy two-lane roads.
There is no audio guide or printed map, and you do not need a guide to find your way around. If someone offers to show you around, agree on the price before you start.
Know Before You Go
Taman Ujung Water Palace tips that save time and trouble.
- 01Bring cash for the ticket and parking; it is the most reliable way to pay.
- 02Carry water, a hat and sunscreen: the lawns and the hillside stairs have little shade.
- 03Wear shoes with grip for the stone steps up to the Bale Kapal and the arches.
- 04Walk the whole loop, including the hill and the seafront temple, or you will miss half the site.
- 05Hold small children’s hands on the bridges and pond edges; parts of the ponds are about 1.5 m deep.
- 06Ask at the ticket office before flying a drone or starting a pre-wedding or model shoot; both carry separate fees.
- 07Pair it with Tirta Gangga, 10 km away: swim there in the morning, then come to Ujung for the late-afternoon light.
- 08Bring a sarong or cover-up if you plan to step into Pura Lingga Yoni by the sea.
FAQ
Taman Ujung Water Palace questions, answered.
How much is the Taman Ujung entrance fee?
IDR 100,000 for foreign adults (checked Nov 2026), under Karangasem’s fee regulation that took effect on 1 January 2024. detikBali then listed foreign children aged 5 to 12 at IDR 75,000; a guide updated in November 2026 gives IDR 50,000, so check at the counter. Domestic visitors pay IDR 35,000, or IDR 25,000 for children. Some guides still show the old IDR 75,000 adult price.
What are Taman Ujung’s opening hours?
Daily from 7 AM to 7 PM, with the last entry around 6 PM (checked Nov 2026), according to its Google Maps listing and recent guides. There is no official website. It closes for Nyepi, next on 8 March 2027. Older articles list 8 AM to 5 PM or even later evening hours, so do not plan on entry outside 7 AM to 6 PM.
Is Taman Ujung worth visiting?
Yes, if you are already in East Bali and like architecture and space. It is 20 to 30 minutes from Candidasa and much quieter than Tirta Gangga, with views to the sea and Mount Agung. Travelers on a tight budget, or anyone who wants a swim, may prefer Tirta Gangga. As a day trip from the south, pair it with Tirta Gangga or Lempuyang.
Taman Ujung or Tirta Gangga: which is better?
Tirta Gangga for koi stepping stones and a swim, which is included in its IDR 90,000 ticket; Taman Ujung for space, sea views and European-style arches, at IDR 100,000. The same raja built both. Ujung covers about 10 hectares against Tirta Gangga’s 1.2, and far fewer people come. They are about 10 km apart, so a driver can easily do both in a day.
Can you swim at Taman Ujung?
Not in the palace ponds: they are ornamental, kept for koi and water lilies, and current guides describe Ujung as a place to walk rather than bathe. For a swim, Tirta Ujung, a village spring pool about 500 m away, charged foreigners IDR 10,000 in 2022. Tirta Gangga’s pools are included in its ticket.
How long do you need at Taman Ujung?
About an hour to an hour and a half to cross the bridges, see the Bale Gili and walk the ponds. Allow two hours if you climb to the Bale Kapal and the arches and walk down to Pura Lingga Yoni and the beach. Add half an hour for a dip at Tirta Ujung nearby.
How do you get to Taman Ujung?
By car or scooter. It sits on the coast 5 km southeast of Amlapura: about 13 km (20 to 30 minutes) from Candidasa, 10 km from Tirta Gangga and 27 km (40 to 50 minutes) from Amed. From Ubud it is about 58 km and 1.5 to 2 hours; from the airport 2 to 3 hours. Most visitors book a driver for the day.
Who built Taman Ujung?
I Gusti Bagus Jelantik, the last raja of Karangasem, also titled Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem, with Balinese builders, the Dutch architect Van Den Hentz and the Chinese architect Loto Ang. Work began in 1909 and most sources say it ended in 1921. The 1963 eruption and later earthquakes ruined it, and it was restored from about 1998 to 2001.
Do you need a sarong at Taman Ujung?
No. Taman Ujung is a former royal palace, not an active temple, so light everyday clothes are fine. The exception is Pura Lingga Yoni, the small temple by the sea, where you should cover your shoulders and knees. Bring a sarong if you plan to go in. Lempuyang, if you go the same day, includes one with its ticket.
Can you visit Lempuyang, Tirta Gangga and Taman Ujung in one day?
Yes, this is the classic East Bali loop. Start at Lempuyang for the first shuttle around 5:30 AM, drive about 10 km down to Tirta Gangga for a swim and lunch, then another 10 km through Amlapura to Taman Ujung for the late-afternoon light. From Candidasa it is an easy day; from Ubud or the south, leave by 3 or 4 AM.
Can you fly a drone or do a photo shoot at Taman Ujung?
Ask at the ticket office first, because commercial shoots pay separate fees. In 2022 IDN Times listed pre-wedding shoots at IDR 2 million for a foreign crew and IDR 1 million for a domestic one, and Wikivoyage lists modeling fees, but no current official rate is published. Casual phone and camera photos are covered by the ticket.
Nearby
Where to go after Taman Ujung Water Palace.
Places close by that fit into the same trip, with realistic travel times.
20–30 min by car (10 km)
Tirta Gangga Water Palace
The same raja’s spring-fed garden, with koi stepping stones and pools you can swim in, included in the ticket.
Visitor guide10–15 min by car (5 km)
Puri Agung Karangasem
The royal palace in Amlapura where the builder of Ujung lived; it mixes Balinese courtyards with European and Chinese details.
25–35 min by car (17 km)
Tenganan village
A walled Bali Aga village above Candidasa, known for double-ikat weaving and customs older than Bali’s Hindu-Javanese ones.
Visitor guide35–45 min by car (20 km)
Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven)
The split gate framing Mount Agung. Go at dawn, before the wait for the photo stretches to hours.
Visitor guide40–50 min by car (29 km)
Goa Lawah Temple
A sea temple built at the mouth of a cave full of bats, on the coast road back toward Padang Bai.
Visitor guide
More in Candidasa
Plan the rest of your time in Candidasa.
Read Next
More Taman Ujung Water Palace guides.
How we researched this
Sources and fact checks.
Prices, opening hours, show times and travel times in this Taman Ujung Water Palace guide were checked against official sites, government tourism pages and recent reporting on 9 November 2026. Where sources disagreed, we give the official figure and say so. Rankings are our editorial judgment, set out in our editorial policy.
We re-check the guide at least every three months and whenever we hear about a change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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