Yeh Pulu

Yeh Pulu is a rock-cut bas-relief site near Bedulu in Gianyar Regency, Bali, known for a long panel carved into a riverside cliff showing figures and scenes in low relief. The relief is set into a limestone rock face and runs along a narrow terrace path.

The site is commonly visited together with the nearby Goa Gajah archaeological complex and is interpreted as a secular or narrative carving showing daily life and ritual scenes. The carvings are sometimes dated to the late medieval period and are examined for both artistic and cultural information about pre-modern Bali.

Yeh Pulu was carved directly into the riverbank rock and has been subject to conservation efforts to protect the shallow relief from weathering and vegetation. It functions as an archaeological and interpretive site rather than a temple complex.

The relief sits close to the village of Bedulu, inland from Bali’s southern coast and not far from the town of Ubud in central Bali. The setting is a small river valley with terraces and terraced rice fields nearby.

• Nearby site: The carved rock-relief panels are located close to the Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) complex near Bedulu, making a combined visit with Goa Gajah logical.

Dating to either the 14th or 15th century, the rock carvings of Yeh Pulu are believed to be among the oldest in all of Bali. The site’s centrepiece is a 27-metre stone relief cut directly into a sheer rock face, depicting seated women, horsemen and what many take to be an image of Krishna. The figures are life-sized and remarkably detailed, and the sheltered position of the wall has kept them well preserved.

With the exception of Krishna and the elephant god Ganesh, the reliefs portray scenes of everyday life, offering a rare insight into the culture of the region. One of the most memorable panels shows a woman peering from behind a doorway, an image many visitors find quietly unsettling.

A holy well stands nearby, where an attendant priest will bless visitors with its water on request; as this is a sacred site, modest dress covering the shoulders and knees is expected. The Goa Gajah cave lies about a 45-minute walk away through picturesque rice fields, making the two a natural pairing for anyone based in Ubud.

Yeh Pulu is in the village of Bedulu, about 5 km east of central Ubud and roughly a 15-minute drive. The turn-off is signposted south from the main road just west of the Bedulu roundabout, and a short path leads through rice fields to the reliefs. Taxis, ride-hailing, private drivers or rented scooters are the usual ways to get there, and it combines easily with Goa Gajah a short distance away.

• Take your time along the panel: the reliefs show village and daily-life scenes, such as a horseman, a hunter and a woman peering from a doorway, and many figures are weathered and easy to miss.
• Visit in the morning to avoid flash floods on the nearby river terraces during wet months.
• Combine the visit with Bedulu’s other ancient sites: Goa Gajah and Pura Samuan Tiga are a few minutes away.