It lies 700 meters above sea level, thus providing a cool, refreshing environment. Hectares of green bamboo forest welcome visitors at the outskirts of the village. Various species of bamboo cover 75 hectares of land surrounding the village. Penglipuran is famous for its residents’ determination to preserve the traditional architectural designs and elements of their houses, mostly made of woven bamboo walls and bamboo roofs. The outer gates of all housing compounds are of a similar design and size, rendering this village that image of uniformed neatness. It is here that visitors could watch the production process of sokasi, a square container made of woven bamboo. It is believed that the village’s name was derived from the words pengeling and pura, which literally means the place to remember the ancestors.
Penglipuran residents are still practicing the ancient customs of the land, including an aversion to polygamy. Any resident who decides to have more than one wife or husband would be politely asked to relocate to a special plot of land known as Karang Memadu. They also will be banned from performing prayers in the village’s major temples and will receive other sanctions. Karang Memadu has been vacant for 30 years. Shrubs and grass now cover its surface.
As an old village, Penglipuran has been developed to take on tourism since 1992. Every day, between 150 and 200 tourists sightsee around the village. To enter the village, foreign tourists pay Rp 10,000 per adult and Rp 7,500 for children. Meanwhile domestic tourists pay Rp 7,500 for adults and Rp 5,000 for children.
For those who want to stay there, there are three guesthouses in the village.