Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets – a unique museum in Bali
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Most tourists wouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit Goa Gajah (known as the Elephant Cave) in Bali, but not many tourists know about the nearby Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets. This incredible museum is only a 5-minute drive from Goa Gajah or a 15-minute drive from central Ubud.
Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets has a huge range of masks and puppets from Indonesia and around the world. Items range from detailed small paper shadow puppets through to massive wooden puppets that are larger than an average adult. The displays are extensive with approximately 1,300 masks and 5,700 puppets!
Adding to this experience is the creative way that the masks and puppets have been displayed in traditional Javanese houses surrounded by Balinese gardens.
The range of masks and puppets is seriously impressive and definitely worth visiting!
What to expect
A range of different Javanese traditional houses provide the perfect backdrop for the masks and puppets. The houses are set up with different styles and ages of masks with excellent information provided for each item. Personally, I don’t read all the labels and information signs at museums, but the ones I did read were very interesting.
There is NOTHING electronic in terms of displays or interactive information ….and I LOVED this! The lack of electronics or fancy lighting means the houses are really quiet and you can relax into the visit.
Outdoor sculptures are scattered around the gardens and the grounds also have a performance stage. The museum is surrounded by rice fields and traditional villages making it a serene location.
On our first visit our driver surprised us by playing some traditional bamboo instruments (called rindik and are like a bamboo xylophone). These instruments were available for anyone to play near the car-park! For me, this is a beautiful way to honour traditional style instruments by allowing people to play them and hear the wonderful sounds..
Cost
Entry to Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets is by donation. We gave around 50,000 IDR (AUD $5) per person…but then I did go back and leave a little more since I loved the place so much!
Getting there
Getting to Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets is easiest via private driver or renting a scooter. The museum is around 15 minutes’ drive from Ubud and 1 hour from Denpasar.
A private driver costs around 800,000 IDR (AUD $80) per day and can be organised through accommodation providers. Otherwise look for private drivers on reputable sites such as GetYourGuide.
TIP | Generally the price for a private driver is not based per person, rather by car. So if you are travelling on a budget find someone to share the cost with!
EXPLORE | See below for suggestions on combining your visit to the museum with other attractions such as Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) and Yeh Pulu (carving in rock wall).
How long to stay
A visit to Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets can be as short or as long as you like! Allow around one and a half hours to walk through each of the buildings. However, you can easily stay for several hours reading the information and enjoying the gardens.
Tips for visiting
Top 5 tips for visiting Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets are:
- Drivers might not know this location as it isn’t a huge tourist attraction but online maps will get you there.
- Bring cash for a donation since there is no formal entrance fee.
- Smaller children might find some of the masks and puppets scary. Some of the houses are dimly lit with large puppets creating a spooky atmosphere.
- Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off since you should remove your shoes to go into the houses.
- Take the time to read some of the information cards as the explanations are very interesting.
When to visit
Since this museum is off the Bali tourist trail it should be pretty quiet so you won’t need to plan your visit around the crowds.
Opening hours are 8.00am – 4.00pm.
MORE | For more information visit the Setia Darma House of Puppets website or have a look at the reviews on Trip Advisor.
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Where to stay
Whilst there are gorgeous places to stay near the museum most travellers would opt to stay in nearby Ubud.
We fell in love with Nyuh Kuning Village in Ubud which is only 15 minutes from the museum. The village is around 10 minutes from the main Ubud centre. I should probably stop telling people about this area so it doesn’t end up over-developed like central Ubud!
We stayed at Chili Ubud Cottages and enjoyed a spacious villa with gorgeous gardens and swimming pool. The staff were prefect too!
Things to do nearby
Combine a trip to Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets with a visit to Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) and Yeh Pulu (a carving in rock wall).
Suggested day trip itinerary to see Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets, Goa Gajah and Yeh Pulu (drive times in brackets) from Ubud:
- Ubud to Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets (drive 15 -20 minutes): allow 1 – 2 hours to visit
- Setia Darma to Goa Gajah (drive 5 minutes): allow 1 – 2 hours to visit
- Goa Gajah to Yeh Pulu (drive 5 minutes): allow 1 hour to visit
- Yeh Pulu back to Ubud (drive 20 minutes)
Is it worth visiting Setia Darma ?
Oh gosh, I just love this place! Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets is a truly unique experience in Bali and provides an educational experience that is also visually interesting.
You might not see this museum advertised anywhere on the promotional materials for Bali but it is definitely worth a visit.
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