Penglipuran is a Balinese Custom and Tradition Village administratively belong to Kubu Village . Located on the road connecting Bangli to Kintamani area, just about 5 kms North direction from Bangli the capital town of Bangli Regency . It has a very specific pattern housing compound compare to common Balinese villages. The housing compound consists only just 2 lines along side of a single village road. Lining North to South direction, most of the houses have a similar shape and measure according to Balinese House architectural (Asta Kosala Kosali) and Lanscape Rule (Asta Bumi).

The house shrine located in North East direction of house compound, kitchen is in northern most area. In the middle there is a 6-pilar Balinese pavilion where the preparion of a ceremony used to be held also as family meeting/dining room. The main building where the house hold sleeps located in western part of the compound. If other buildings are dominated by wooden and bamboo materials and look similar in every house, but not with the main house. The main house are built freely no need to be similar one to each other. The material of main house usually concrete like house in common Balinese house. Every house surrounded by a man-high wall. The entrance gate is using roofed gate and looks the same in every house.

The village compound is elaborating into some 6 levels where at the highest level considered to be the most sacred place as the location of Village Temples ( Penataran Temple and Puseh Temple ). The worshiping to the temple is where the name of Penglipuran came from. Literally means as “Remembering the Ancestor Temple ”, the name refers to their ancient village that originally placed in Bayung Gede Village , Kintamani around Mount Batur area, some 40 kms from the recent Penglipuran Village . The migration occurred in 10 th century. It was believed to be occurred by more to economical reason than natural disaster causes. The people of Bayung Gede had to go to Bangli as the capital town of Bangli Kingdom to sell their products of bamboo handicrafts. Therefore the ancestor of Penglipuran village decided to move their village to the recent location. But they made a vow that they will not forget their original village at Bayung Gede where their ancient temple had lied for ages. To keep their mind attached to the original village then they built their temple similarly to represent the temple in Bayung Gede village.

THE PEOPLE

The people of Penglipuran used to be well-known as bamboo craftsmen and along with their migration to the recent location, they also brought their bamboo to be growth in Penglipuran. Close to the housing compound, they have any kind of bamboo that grow to be one of the most importing plants for the villagers since beside of the using as handicraft, the bamboo are used also as building material. The bamboo plantation itself grows to be a forestall-garden with a very unique arrangement and well maintain. It makes the village seems to be a cozy place to live or just to visit, located at 700 m above the sea level, Penglipuran has a slightly cold weather, it is the best place for any kind of tropical plantation especially bamboo and coconut trees. Nowadays the villagers of Penglipuran works as farmers and craftsmen (most of them), a few of them are civil servants.

Beside of the similarity of the shape, all the houses in Penglipuran were built from the same material. Most of the building except the main building, where the household used to sleep, are made from bamboo, woods, and the wall made of clay bricks and covered by clay mud. It is a small unique village occupied by less than 1000 inhabitants makes the village a little bit easier to be maintained therefore we will fine a clean and cozy circumstance surround the village.

The people of Penglipuran village is considered to be Bali Aga (Old Balinese inhabitant) more like Bali Aga villagers, like we found in Trunyan village. They have their own social-cultural custom and tradition. They have their own priest to lead the villagers during their regular ceremony, but for some bigger ceremonies they will ask another high priest from outside to conduct the ceremony. Their own priest is just like Pemangku in common Balinese villages and has a function to be the religious leader for villager within their daily activities. Up till now the villagers still holding on their ancient custom and tradition so they become a unique community compare to common Bali inhabitants.