Pura Ulun Danu Batur is the directional temple of the north and one of the most important temples in Bali. It honors Dewi Danu, goddess of Lake Batur, the island's largest lake. Because the lake is regarded as the source of water for Bali's rice fields, the temple holds a special place for farmers, and it was inscribed by UNESCO in 2012 as part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province.
The temple once stood at the southwestern foot of Mount Batur, 1,717 meters high. In 1917 lava stopped at its gates, which villagers took as a good omen. In 1926 a new eruption buried almost the entire compound, sparing only the 11-tiered main shrine. The temple was moved and rebuilt that year at its present site, high on the edge of the caldera.
Today the complex rises in courtyards beside the road through the Kintamani highlands, its meru silhouetted against the caldera. The 11-tiered meru is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati, with three 9-tiered meru for Mount Batur, Mount Abang and a deified Gelgel king. Cool air and drifting cloud give the place a quiet, mountain feel. Mornings are usually clearest.
Highlights
- Temple of the north among Bali's nine
- 11-tiered meru survived the 1926 eruption
- Views over the Batur caldera
- UNESCO-listed cultural landscape
Photos
Photos: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · edited / Anggabuana · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Good to know
- Bring a warm layer, as Kintamani can be chilly and damp.
- Combine your visit with views over Lake Batur or a sunrise trek on Mount Batur.
- Ask before photographing worshippers, especially during ceremonies.
On the map
Bali: Culture, Tradition & Religion
Offerings, ceremonies, temples and beliefs: 100 short chapters on what makes Balinese culture unlike anywhere else.
