Mas: Home of Bali’s Fine Wood Carvings
Mas, Indonesia is a village in Ubud popular for its wood carvings. It is the birthplace of Ida Bagus Sutarja, a well-known mask carver.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Mas is during the months of May through October. The busiest months are usually March, April, and June. People are least likely to visit in September. For 3 days every April since 2015, locals celebrate the Ubud Food Festival. Some of the highlights of the event include cooking demonstrations, film screenings, food tours, fora, markets, and workshops. Another popular event nearby is Bali Vegan Festival, which is held for 3 days every October. It features cooking demonstrations, films, talks, workshops, among others.
What to Do & Area Attractions
When in the village, tourists should visit Pura Taman Pule. It is a Hindu temple once inhabited by the great Majapahit priest, Nirartha. Another famous attraction nearby is Mandala Suci Wenara Wana or Ubud Monkey Forest, a sanctuary of Balinese long-tailed monkeys. Currently, more than 790 monkeys live in the habitat. These are classified into 6 groups— cemeteries group, central point group, eastern group, forest conservation group, in front of the main temple group, and Michelin group. It is also home to nearly 200 plant species. Moreover, tourists will find 3 temples in the sanctuary— Dalem Agung Padangtegal Temple, Holy Spring Temple, and Prajapati Temple. Some of the most luxurious Mas hotels include the Taman Harum Cottages, the nearby Zen Rooms Ubud Mas and the Bumi Ubud Resort. These hotels are the closest hotesl from the city center with just less than 1 mile away.