Located :
It is located at Batur Village, Kintamani District, Bangli Regency. This temple is facing to the west, lies beside the route of Bangli-Singaraja. It is about 60 kilometer from Denpasar, and can be reached by any transports
Descriptions :
Batur Temple, which is more familiar with the name of Ulundanu Batur Temple which is located around 1.400 meter above the sea level. It is located precisely in Kalanganyar village, Kintamani District, on the right side of the main road Denpasar-Singaraja, from the south. It faces west with Mount Batur and its solid black volcanic stone as the backdrop, and Batur Lake at the foot of the mountain makes the beauty complete for the Ulundanu Batur Temple. Beforehand, the temple was located at the southwestern slope of mount Batur. The great eruption of Mount Batur in 1917 had destroyed everything, including the temple, except one, the highest God’s Shrine. Hen due to the initiative of village chief along with other village prominent figures, they decided to bring the remaining shrine to be built again on a higher ground, at the present place. The ceremony at this temple is held annually called Ngusaba Kadasa.
The History of Ulun Danu Batur Temple :
Before mount Batur’s devastating eruption occurred 1917, Batur Temple was located at the foot of mount Batur close to the Southwest edge of Lake Batur. The eruption destroyed 65.000 houses, 2,500 temples, and took thousands of lives. But miracle had stopped further disaster at the foot of the temple. People saw this as a good sign and decided to remain staying at their place. In 1926, a new eruption had covered the entire part of the temple except the highest shrine, the place to worship the God in manifestation as Dewi Danu, the Goddess of the waters of the lakes. Villagers then determined to bring the shrine into a higher ground and started to build again the temple.
Some Balinese old scripts said that the origin of Batur. It is said to be part of “sad Kahyangan” or group of Bali’s six temples, written in lontar Widhi Sastra, Lontar Raja Purana, and Babad Pasek Kayu Selem. The Temple also stated as a part of Kahyangan Jagat” temples, a place of worshipping for all people. Histories on Batur Temple are histories about holy offerings to the Goddess that gives fertility,Dewi Danu, the Goddess of lake-water. Mineral-rich waters flowing from lake Batur , flows from one rice field to the other, eventually they reach the sea. In Lontar Usana Bali, one of holy literary texts at Batur Temple, there is an old legend describing the formation of Dewi Danu’s throne.
The Legend goes like the following :
One night in the beginning the fifth month of Margasari, Dewa Pasupati (God Puspati/Siwa) moved the top part of Indian mountain of Mahameru and divided in into two. One was brought with the right hand, and the other with the left hand. They were used as a throne. The one carried with the right hand became Mount Agung the throne for his son, Dewa Putranjaya (Mahadewa Siwa) and the other one turned into Mount Batur, the throne for Dewi Danu. The legend makes the two mountains become the symbolical elements of male and female (Purusa and Pradana), two complementary manifestations for harmony from one source, God (Ida Sanghyang Widhi Wasa.
How to get to Ulundanu Batur Temple :
1. 60 minutes from city of Bangli
2. 2 hours from Denpasar
3. 10 minutes from Kintamani
What you can see around Ulundanu Batur Temple :
1. Volcanoes and Lake Batur are the main attraction for visitors. Penelokan village provides spectacular views of this crater lake and Mount Batur, set in a vast volcanic caldera. Photo opportunities abound, but try to be there as early in the morning as you can manage before the cloud inevitably starts to gather
2. Bali Aga Village at Trunyan on the eastern shore of the lake by boat from Kedisan. the key attraction is the cemetery. Ancient customs retained by the Bali Aga here include the open burial of dead bodies in a pit covered by just some light cloth .One of the best things about a visit to Trunyan is the views of Mount Batur from the eastern shore of the lake. This provides a very different perspective from the usual view from the crater rim
The activities around Ulundanu Batur Temple :
1. Climbing Mount Batur, a climb to the summit of Mount Batur – 1,700 meters and still an active volcano – to watch the sunrise is a great experience for more energetic travelers.
