01 What Nyuh Kuning is
Nyuh Kuning is a small traditional village directly south of the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, separated from the busier central town by the forest itself. It's one of the quieter, more genuinely local corners of the greater Ubud area — a working village with its own temple, rice fields and a long-standing tradition of wood carving that predates Ubud's tourism development.
02 Wood carving heritage
Nyuh Kuning has its own distinct wood carving tradition, historically producing temple ornamentation and masks — see our arts and crafts guide for the broader context of Bali's craft village tradition, of which Nyuh Kuning is a lesser-known but genuine example alongside the more commercially prominent Mas village.
03 The village atmosphere
Compared to central Ubud's increasingly busy main streets, Nyuh Kuning retains a genuinely quieter, more residential character — rice fields visible between houses, a working village temple hosting regular ceremonies, and considerably less tourist-facing commercial development. This makes it a popular choice for homestay and guesthouse accommodation among visitors wanting easy access to Ubud's amenities without the noise and crowding of the central tourist strip.
04 Getting there
Walking through the Sacred Monkey Forest (with an entry ticket) is the most direct route from central Ubud, taking about 5 minutes. Alternatively, a short scooter or car ride around the forest's perimeter road reaches the village without needing forest entry. See our Ubud neighbourhoods guide for how Nyuh Kuning compares to Ubud's other sub-areas for accommodation purposes.