Ulun Danu Temple, the Crown of Lake Beratan
A future bride and groom from Malaysia took their time posing for photographs in front of the beautiful Ulun Danu temple on Lake Beratan in Tabanan regency, Bali, in early January. They had fallen in love with the charming portraits of the popular tourism spot and decided to go to Bali for a once-in-a-lifetime pre-wedding photo-op.
“It is so beautiful. I am so satisfied with the pictures. This was why we decided to come to Bali and take pictures at the temple,” said the bride-to-be, who requested anonymity.
They were not the first couple to do a pre-wedding photo shoot there that day. Every day, a number of engaged local and foreign couples come to the temple and line up to take pictures together. From sunrise to sunset, even at night, Lake Beratan offers unique charms.
The serene ambience, cloudy skies and peaceful lake bring a shade of comfort to the two grand temples at the location. A magical aura seems to enshrine the temples and the lake.
Apart from lining up for pre-wedding photos, many local and foreign travelers also line up to take regular photos in front of Ulun Danu Beratan temple.
Unsatisfied with the pictures taken on their own cell phones, travelers can pay for photographers offering their services at the site. Good photos are guaranteed. The frames are adorned with the words Lake Beratan. Just pay Rp 30,000 (US$2.25) and you can purchase your personal, colored photograph.
If you would like to take a trip around the lake, a number of boats are ready to transport you for around Rp 100,000 per trip. There are also more modern boats with water sports facilities. Travelers can use the surfboards while wearing life jackets and being pulled by a motorboat.
Strolling around the temple’s park, you will find a deer reserve where a number of deer live for travelers to see.
Ulun Danu Beratan temple is located in Candikuning village, Baturiti. It is situated at the heart of Bali, some 50 kilometers north of Denpasar. The route from Denpasar is twisty but the road is smooth. During holiday periods, expect the traffic to be busy. However, your tiredness from the journey will be paid off once you reach Lake Beratan.
During religious rituals, Ulun Danu temple and Beratan Lake will be especially crowded. Travelers will be able to mingle with Balinese Hindus on their way to the temple.
On regular days, the bridge to the temple is not put up, to prevent visitors from freely going in and out of the temple. The bridge is only put up during religious rituals to enable Hindus to pray at the temple.
Holy Temple
The temple on the lake is one of Bali’s nine Kahyangan Jagat temples, or directional temples. Within the Ulun Danu temple complex, there are actually five temples, namely Penataran, Dalem Purwa, Taman Beiji, Lingga Petak and Prajapati. There is also a stupa of Buddha.
For Balinese Hindus, the five temples symbolize the Tri Murti or the gods Brahwa, Wisnu and Siwa. They symbolize fertile soil, mankind’s wealth and a sustainable universe.
Ulun Danu temple was constructed by I Gusti Agung Putu in the year 1556 in the Saka calendar and is currently managed by four satakans, who are local village leaders.
Geographically, Ulun Danu Beratan temple is located 1,200 meters above sea level and is surrounded by stunning vistas of Batur Mountain. The temple encompasses an area of around 5.5 hectares.
Ulun Danu Lake Beratan Tourism Park regional manager Wayan Mustika said that his office continuously made efforts to improve the park. He said he hoped travelers were not disappointed when visiting the site.
A flash flood in late December damaged some 1.5 hectares of land in Beiji Park. The park was completed in 2014 with a budget of Rp 1.5 billion. Mustika is optimistic he will be able to return the park to its original beauty.
There are equal numbers of local and foreign travelers at the temple each day. On an average day, some 1,500 travelers visit.
Records show that there were 650,000 visitors in 2015 and 700,000 in 2016.
Nature tourism at Ulun Danu Beratan is a mainstay resource for the Tabanan regency administration. Another major tourism resource is the famed Tanah Lot temple.
Tanah Lot is renowned for its panoramic beach views and beautiful sunset. The two tourism spots are often included on Bali must-visit lists.
Travel agencies usually schedule a day tour to Ulun Danu Beratan Lake with a visit to Tanah Lot at the end of the day to enjoy the sunset.
Cultural festival
Every mid-year, in July or August, the Tabanan regency administration holds the Ulun Danu Beratan Culture and Art Festival. Last year’s festival was the third.
The event involves thousands of artists, who take turns in doing cultural performances, including baleganjur parades, gebogan and traditional dances.
Last year’s festival was part of the Pesona Indonesia (Charms of Indonesia) promotion by the Tourism Ministry. The event is deemed a huge attraction for travelers in Bali.
Last year, the Tourism Ministry provided a budget of Rp 230 million for promotion. This was combined with a budget of Rp 300 million from the local administration.
Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika said that he appreciated the festival. He fully supported it and hoped that similar events could be held in other regencies.
According to Pastika, festivals in beautiful and popular tourist sites would significantly boost local tourism. It would be easier to attract potential tourists with the presence of such festivals, especially if they were held annually for 10 days and involved various dances and traditional creations by Balinese artists.