Pakudui Village, Tegallalang: Where Bali's Garuda Carvings Are Made

Almost 90 percent of residents of Pakudui customary village in Kedisan, Tegallalang district, are Garuda statue carvers, according to the Gianyar regency government when the village was declared the Garuda Village tourism village on 26 May 2016. Many of the wooden Garuda sold in galleries around Ubud come from here.

Where is Pakudui?

About 2 km north of the Tegallalang rice terraces, within Kedisan village. From central Ubud it is roughly a 30-minute drive north via Tegallalang, on the same road tourists take towards Kintamani. The customary village is small: 122 households in one banjar, according to Bali Padma Bhuwana (budayabali.com). View on Google Maps

Is there an entry ticket?

No village entry ticket is on record. You drop into workshops and galleries as you would a shop. Still ask before entering a family compound or photographing a carver.

What can you see?

• Carvers shaping Garuda from hardwoods such as suar or jackfruit. The wood is air-dried first to prevent cracking, and a large statue can take months.
• Gallery Ada Garuda, run by the family of artist I Made Ada, whom the Gianyar government credits with introducing Pakudui Garuda beyond Bali around 50 years ago. Its TripAdvisor listing gives hours of 9am-5pm. Some reviews mention carving classes with the family, but schedules and prices are not published, so ask directly.

What if you want to buy?

Prices are rarely displayed and depend on size, wood and detail. Bargain politely and ask for a receipt. Large statues are heavy and need cargo shipping. Ask about packing and shipping costs before you agree on a price, not after.

Who will be disappointed?

Photo-spot hunters. Pakudui is a working village: wood dust, the sound of chisels, delivery trucks, and no tourist information centre. For a wider range of woodcarving styles, Mas village south of Ubud has more galleries.

When should you go?

Weekday mornings to midday, when the workshops are busy. Recent work can be checked through an Instagram search. Pair it with the Tegallalang terraces early in the morning, then stop in Pakudui before lunch.