Ulun Danu Beratan: A Temple Within An Extinct Volcano’s Caldera
Bali is one of Indonesia’s most exotic destinations that everyone wishes to visit at least once in their lives. I couldn’t get enough of Bali’s extraordinary temples, evergreen rice paddies, sky-high volcanoes, tropical forests, and stunning beaches on my first visit. This island country certainly paints a hypnotic picture of a tropical island getaway. Having said that, one of my favourite places to visit in Bali was the iconic Ulun Danu Beratan floating temple. Perched on Lake Beratan, this is Bali’s most visited temple.
Ulun Danu Beratan, or the Balinese Floating Temple, is one of the most outstanding temple complexes in the Bedugul Highlands. The lake that surrounds the temple inspired the temple’s name. It will, however, float only when the water level in Lake Beratan rises. I took a deep breath as I approached the entrance – I was finally here, inside the caldera of Gunung Catur, an extinct volcano. How often do you get to walk into a massive volcanic crater that has evolved into a fanciful temple? You must however first obtain a ticket from the counter to get to see it from inside.
This wonder costs 50,000 Indonesian Rupiah to visit. As I passed through the gate, I was greeted by a large yard thriving with several domineering shrines. My local guide informed me that the Ulun Danu Beratan temple located on the rim of a massive crater is dedicated to the Lake Goddess Dewi Danu or Ida Batari. In addition to the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The presiding pagoda shrines of Mount Batur, Mount Gunung Agung, and Dewi Danu, the lake goddess, are located within the temple complex. The temple’s history is equally fascinating.
According to legend, this temple was built during the reign of the Mengwi kingdom. During that time, the Mengwi kingdom was known as the Temple Empire. Because of this, Balinese residents refer to this temple as Dang Kahyangan, Bali’s largest Hindu Temple. Ulun Danu Beratan’s massive temple is divided into four clusters of shrines, each with four distinct gates. Each gate is oriented toward the four prongs of the compass. The Lingga Petak Temple is Lord Shiva’s shrine. Its 11-story Pelinggih Meru was built in 1633. Surprisingly, there is a Buddha statue enshrined in this temple.
The northern shrine, on the other hand, is known as the Penataran Pucak Mangu Temple and is dedicated to Lord Wisnu (Vishnu). It is also known as the Bhatara Hyang Danawa. The Terate Bang Temple is the name of the shrine where Lord Brahma is worshipped. Whereas the Danu Goddess is worshipped at Dalem Purwa Temple. The Dalem Purwa Temple is thought to be the most miraculous of all the temples. It’s also known as the Goddess Lakshmi Temple. I also discovered that two types of ceremonies are held at this temple.
The first type of ceremony is held every six months, or every 210 days, on a Tuesday. This Tuesday is known as Anggara in the Balinese Hindu calendar, and it commemorates Kliwon Julungwangi. The second type of ceremony, known as Piodalan Agung, is held every 420 days or 12 months. This is a grand ceremony, much larger than the previous one. The Pakelem ceremony honours the universe, the ultimate power bearer who provides us with the ecosystem, fertility, life, and prosperity. After seeing all four temples, I followed the cool breeze to the peaceful Beratan lake.
From here, I took a 360-degree look around to get a full view of Bali’s most photographed location. This iconic sanctuary, which casts an unusual floating impression, faithfully reflects the facet of the lake that surrounds the majority of the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple’s foundation. Whereas the scenic Bedugul mountain range dominates its actual surroundings. The temple’s administration protects the holy water by not allowing visitors to bathe in it. If you need to get close to the lake, you must wear a sash.
While I was here, I discovered that this lake supplies water to the rivers and springs of central Bali, allowing irrigation to flourish. As a result, the holy water is preserved in order to preserve the ecological health of the water quality. In terms of irrigation, Pura Ulun Danu Beratan effortlessly supports Bali’s 1,000-years-old Subak rice cultivation system. The Subak rice terrace, one of Bali’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, has a significant area for growing semiaquatic crops.
Ulun Danu Beratan is one of the most beautiful temples I’ve ever seen. Expect foggy and rainy weather when visiting Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, one of Bali’s nine Kahyangan Jagat temples. The misty backdrop is the most stunning feature of this magnificent temple. Once you’ve arrived, take your time admiring the scenery. Walk around, see all the beautiful temples, take photos, and relax in the tranquillity of the surroundings. You can even rent a boat to view the temple from the lake.
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is open from 8 a.m. to 6 a.m. and can be reached independently via self-drive or the Perama shuttle bus. The bus departs from Candidasa, Sanur, Ubud, Kuta, Lovina, and Padang Bai.
