Sketches about Bali. Lake Bratan and Balinese waterfalls

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Address: Baturiti Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia
Opening hours: the passage to the temple of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan on the lake is open from 8:30 to 18:00
Visit cost: lake - free, entrance to the temple Pura Ulun Danu Bratan - 30 thousand rupees ($ 2.25)

Lake Bratan (in Indonesian - Beratan) is the most famous and most visited by tourists among the three sacred lakes on (along with and). An amazing atmosphere reigns here, lush tropical forests are often shrouded in haze, and magnificent panoramas of the surroundings open from the mountain.

Location

Lake Bratan is located on the island of Bali, at the foot of Tapak, at an altitude of about 1200 m above sea level.

History of Bro

Several millennia ago, a powerful and destructive eruption of the huge Chatur occurred in these parts, which led to the formation of a caldera, which is several volcanoes with many peaks. As a result of the eruption, the surrounding areas have undergone major changes, one of which was the formation of 3 sacred reservoirs in this part of Bali. Among them was Lake Bratan.

Legends about the lake and its role on the island

Bro, Buyan and Tamblingan are sources of fresh water on, surrounded on all sides by salty sea waters. Therefore, the Balinese treat them very reverently. Indeed, thanks to these freshwater sources, local residents can irrigate, the harvest from which directly depends on the fullness of the reservoirs.

The Balinese associate several legends with Lake Bratan. Its name is translated from the local language as Lake of the Holy Mountain. According to ancient beliefs, every person who bathes in it at the first rays of the sun will find youth and health, live a long and happy life. Lake Bratan is quite large, but not very deep (its maximum depth is about 35 m). The water in it is the purest, so taking a dip here is a pleasure.

The bro is also called the "Abode of Devi Danu." It is believed here that the goddess has 4 residences on the island, including on each of the sacred lakes. And on the shore of Lake Bratan in Bali, they even built a separate one for her.

Attractions of the lake and its environs

Here's what you should pay attention to if you decide to visit Lake Bratan:

How to get there?

In order to get to Lake Bratan in Bali, you can use the public services or take and get on your own.

Public transport (buses and minibuses) departs from the terminals of the main resort towns of the island:

from ,- you need to get to the terminal at, then transfer to the bus to the side; it leaves at 10:00 o'clock, the ticket costs 75 thousand rupees ($5.6);
from the terminal to– buses leave at 10:30, you will also have to pay the same amount for the ticket;
from the terminal to– the route starts at 11:30, the ticket price is the same as on the above routes.

Those who travel by car are often interested in the question of whether the road is dangerous in the Lake Bratan area. No, the road is quite calm, but it makes sense to know the route in advance, which will save time and not get lost.

A trip to Lake Bratan from the main cities of Bali will take you from 2 to 2.5 hours.

Below we present to your attention a brief description of how to get there by car from some settlements:

From Denpasar, Seminyak, Legian, Kuta and Sanur. We have to move north to Jl. Denpasar-Singaraja, and once on it, you will need to drive another 27 km to the intersection. On it you can turn left onto Jl. Baturiti Bedugul (in this case, you will also see the Tanah Lot temple, follow the green signs Ulun Danu Beratan), or to the right, to Jl. Puncak Mangu (then you will get to the southern beach of the lake with an observation deck and a gorgeous panorama from there).
From the Bukit Peninsula and from Ubud. The routes are similar to the previous one, only first you will need to get to Denpasar. From Ubud you have to go south to Jl. Raya Singakerta, and then go to Jl. Denpasar-Singaraja.

Travel Tips

Lake Bratan (Danau Beratan) is one of the main sources of fresh water in Bali. It is located in the mountainous part of the island at an altitude of more than 12,00 meters above sea level.

On this page you will find a detailed description of this attraction. I will also tell you how to get to the lake and what you can see in its vicinity.

In Indonesian, the lake is called Beratan. But, due to the peculiarities of the translation, in Russian it is called not Ber atan, but Bratan.

Description and legends about Lake Bratan

Many thousands of years ago, a huge volcano erupted, resulting in the Chatur caldera - a ridge of volcanoes with many individual peaks. The eruption of the Chatur volcano caused changes in the surrounding area and the formation of several lakes, one of which is Bratan. Despite the fact that the dimensions of the reservoir are impressive (about 2 km in length and the same in width), its depth does not exceed 35 meters. In addition to Lake Braatan, there are also lakes Buyan and Tamblingan, around which there are forests with lush tropical vegetation.

The Balinese are very sensitive to these lakes, as they are sources of fresh water, which is of particular value for the island, surrounded on all sides by a salty ocean. Bratan is one of the largest freshwater sources from which local residents irrigate rice fields, and the crop depends on how full the lake is.

Locals call Bratan Lake of the Holy Mountain. According to ancient legends, anyone who enters it in the light of the first rays of the sun will live a long life and retain his youth. .

Another miracle, because of which it is worth going to Lake Br atan, is Ulun Danu templelocated on the shore. The Indonesians built it in 1663 in honor of Devi Danu, considered the goddess of the lake. At the same time, they did not stint during the construction and created a real temple complex, located both on land and on water. It consists of several pagodas with different number of tiers.

Each temple is dedicated to some deity. So, the highest of the 11 tiers was built in honor of the god Shiva and his wife Parvati. Graceful pagodas look airy and sophisticated against the backdrop of water and surrounding mountains. The Balinese value this holy place very much, they often bring offerings here and pray for the fertility of the land, for longevity. — his and his loved ones, health and family happiness.

How to get to the lake

By public transport

From the main resort towns of Bali, you can take buses or minibuses that depart from the terminals.

From Denpasar, Seminyak, Legian:
Get to the terminal located in Kuta. From there there are buses to Bedugul.
Departure time - 10:00
From Sanur:
The terminal is located on the territory of the resort.
Departure time - 10:30
Ticket price - 75,000 rupees
From Ubud:
There is also a terminal here.
Departure time - 11:30
Ticket price - 75,000 rupees

By car

In addition, you can come by car or rent a taxi. The trip will take you a maximum of 2-2.5 hours. If you decide to go on your own, then I will tell you how to get to Lake Bratan from the popular resorts of Bali.

From Denpasar, Seminyak, Legian, Kuta and Sanur:
Leave the city north on Jl. Cokroaminoto, Jl. Achmad Yani or Jl. Trenggana.
Get to Jl. Denpasar-Singaraja and move along it without turning anywhere, approximately 27 km.
The road will take you to a crossroads where you can either turn left or right. If you want to see not only the lake, but also the Tanah Lot temple, turn left - onto Jl. Baturiti Bedugul (you can follow the green signs that say Ulun Danu Beratan). If you turn right, onto Jl. Puncak Mangu, then you will arrive at the southern beach of the lakes. There is also an observation deck overlooking Bratan, where you can take beautiful photos.

From the Bukit Peninsula:
The road is exactly the same. First you need to get to Denpasar, then follow the route described above.
From Ubud:

Leave the city to the south - to Jl. Raya Singakerta.
According to Jl. Raya Semana, Jl. Raya Peng embungan, Jalan Baris, Jl. Legong, Jl. Ciung Wanara and Jl. Abimanyu go to Jl. Denpasar-Singaraja. The road passes through the countryside, and there are no special landmarks there. Therefore, if possible, it is better to take a GPS-navigator with you.
On Jl. Denpasar-Singaraja turn right and follow this road without turning for about 25 km. After that, you will find yourself at a crossroads, from where you can either turn towards the Ulun Danu Temple (left) or towards the beach (right).

Lake Bratan (Danau Beratan) on the map

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What to see next to the lake

Of course, when traveling to Lake Bratan, you must definitely visit the local temple. If you are lucky enough to be there in calm, calm weather, then you will be able to notice that the temple seems to be standing on the surface of the water.

A little north of Bratan there are two more lakes - Buyan and Tamblingan. Along them there are trails where you can walk or ride a bike. On the shore of each lake there are campsites where you can stay overnight if you take a tent with you.

If you drive from the lake towards Singaraja (about 16 km), you can get to one of the most famous Balinese waterfalls - Git-Git. By the way, there you can not only enjoy the beauty of tropical nature, but also swim in the waterfall itself.

Botanical garden and amusement park

Around the lake there is a beautiful botanical garden Eka Kary a and an amusement park Taman Rekreasi Bedug ul. In the botanical garden, you can walk through the well-groomed area among the plants, see and take pictures with exotic animals, such as monkeys , bats.

The amusement park offers:

boat trips;
water biking;
other active types of recreation.

On the way to the lake or on the way back, I also advise you to look into the museum dedicated to the culture of rice cultivation. There you will get acquainted with the irrigation system of the island, learn how the Balinese grow rice, and even see the famous rice terraces.

To enjoy the beauty of Lake Bratan to the fullest, see all the sights in the vicinity and participate in local ceremonies, I recommend you:

Come at dawn to swim in the sacred waters of Lake Bratan and ask the spirits for protection. You can come here the day before and check into a hotel in order to go to the lakes in the morning.
Visit the Ulan Danu temple, the entrance to which is open from 08:00 to 18:00. At the same time, please note that visiting the temple is paid, and the ticket price is 30,000 rupees. Be aware that this is a sacred place for the Balinese, where ceremonies take place throughout the day. For visitors, the entrance is open only to the outer courtyard, and the rest of the tourists are not allowed.
Take raincoats and warm clothes with you to feel comfortable. This is necessary, since Bratan Lake is high above sea level and the weather there is not the same as in the southern part of the island - the clouds hang low over the lake, the temperature is lower and it often rains.

If you are tired of the bustle of the resort area, welcome to Bedugul! Here, in addition to Lake Bratan, there are many other natural attractions. A trip to the lake will give you the opportunity to see a completely different Bali - without noisy beaches, trendy boutiques and chic hotels. These places have a different atmosphere - more quiet and calm.

I must say that it is simply impossible to visit Bali and not encounter the spiritual part of the life of the islanders. An incredible number of temples is one of the most noticeable features of the island (according to official figures, there are more than 20 thousand temples in Bali). Every village has at least three public temples. Moreover, if a Balinese can afford it, then he certainly has his own family temple. For the Balinese, the construction of any house begins with the construction of a temple.
I told you about the temple, and today I will tell you about the popular temple in Bali - Pura Ulun Danu.

The temple is located on Lake Bratan - this is the heart of the island of Bali. It is located in the very center of the island at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level. This area of Bali is covered with regal volcanic massifs, green exotic forests. The depth of the lake in some places is 35 meters.
This lake is the main source of water for rice fields, the Balinese protect it very much and built here the temple of Pura Ulun Danu, erected in honor of the goddess of the reservoir Dewi Danu.

The temple really stands on the water and you can’t just approach it.
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2. Main entrance.

3. The temple complex includes several buildings, some of them are on the shore and therefore quite accessible to tourists.

4. In addition to the temple complex itself, on the shores of the lake there is a chic Eka Karya botanical garden, which was created in 1959.

6. Buildings on the temple grounds.

8. Meal.

10. Currently, the temple is open for tourists from 8 am to 6 pm, despite the constant pilgrimage of residents who perform various rituals and religious ceremonies. I just got to the ceremony. You can’t go there, so you had to watch through the fence.

11 . The second legend is connected with the creation of the temple: as if it was erected by blacksmiths-gunsmiths who created "kris" - magical daggers for kings and troops, and after the territory was seized by Javanese invaders, they were expelled from the territory of the island. And the temple itself remained as a reminder of them. They say that it was here that the very masters, blacksmiths of antiquity, who could endow any weapon with real magical power, lived.

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13. Despite the fact that the age of the Ulun Danu temple is more than 300 years, it has been perfectly preserved to this day.

14 . One of the most favorite places for tourists.

15. Newlyweds.

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20. The 11-tiered tower (pelinggih meru) is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Pavati, his wife. Inside the tower is a Buddha statue.

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24. There is one detail of Balinese reality that is especially striking to tourists - these are offerings to spirits. It is simply impossible not to pay attention to these small baskets woven from palm leaves, they are everywhere: at any house, shop, in a taxi, at bridges, at crossroads and on the beach. This completely pagan tradition, at first glance, carries a beautiful idea of harmony and peaceful coexistence. After all, the Balinese do not condemn, deny or expel dark or "evil" forces, accepting the fact of their existence in themselves and in the world, and moreover, they try to establish good relations with them. Offerings cajole all spirits, both good and evil, only for good spirits, offerings are placed on small pedestals, and for evil ones - right on the ground, and tourists often step on them. Good spirits receive notes with prayers and incense, while evil spirits receive water, food, and sometimes even cigarettes.
Every morning, the Balinese pick fresh flowers from the garden for decoration - mostly frangipani.

25. Offerings are short-lived - natural products quickly fade, in the morning they are already replaced by new ones, but the main thing in Balinese Hinduism is not even the offering itself, but the process of making it, that good energy that women invest, and which then, according to legend, will turn into a bright aura that protects their house will be blown by the wind through the rice fields and will give fertility and prosperity.

Believers, most of whom are engaged in agriculture, regularly bring gifts to the temple with prayers for improving the well-being and fertility of their lands.

26. A cool tropical climate prevails here, ideal for agriculture, so there are many farms around the lake. And the magnificent landscapes have attracted numerous tourists and travelers for decades.

27. Fog is a frequent visitor to Lake Bratan. Beautiful place.

28. On the shores of Lake Bratan Bali, there is a mountain village of Bedugul, a visit to which is often included in the excursion program.

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32. Temple guards.

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34. On the shore there is a modern amusement park offering tourists boat trips.

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36 . A functioning Muslim mosque is located 300 meters from this place.

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Be sure to visit this temple!

Lake Bratan (Beratan) is the second largest on the island of Bali, located in the high caldera of the volcano of the same name (about 1230 meters above sea level) in Bedugul, a well-known tourist region of the island. The largest Bali lake is also volcanic - located in the Batur caldera.

The area of Lake Bratan is 3.8 square meters. km, its depth reaches 22 meters.

The main attraction of Bratan Island in Bali is the Ulun Danu sea temple with multi-tiered classical pagodas, created in the 17th century. It is the landscapes with the temple that most often flash in the photographs of the lake. The best time to shoot is at sunset or in a light fog in the morning. From the side of the temple there is also a lake pier.

Locals choose Beratan as a destination for picnics and communication with loved ones.

One of the types of recreation on Lake Bratan that is in demand among tourists is boat trips on high-speed boats or traditional canoes - this is an opportunity to move away from tourist places and see a calm lake in all its glory. Other leisure and entertainment options are parasailing, water banana and water skiing, lake fishing. Near the tourist sector, where buses arrive, there are souvenir shops and cafes.

It is always cool on the coast of Bratan - this contrast with the beaches of Bali is always felt. That is why it is so important to choose dry weather for the trip and, just in case, take a windbreaker or raincoat with you. The best time to visit is in the early morning (before 8-9 o'clock), when there are few people on the banks of the Bratan.

In one trip to the lake and the temple, you can also combine a visit to the Bedugul botanical garden and a large fruit and vegetable market.

How to get to Lake Bratan in Bali

You can get to the most popular part of the lake coast - at the Ulun Danu temple - with organized excursions, which are held from the southern resorts of Bali.

Since there is no public transport along the route, travelers have few alternatives to tour buses: take a taxi for at least half a day (distance from Kuta - 60 km, from Denpasar - about 53 km) or get on your own on a rented scooter / car.

Keep in mind that the trip from Kuta and the nearest beach resorts will take about 2 hours one way, so for an early visit you will have to leave before dawn.

Video: Bratan Lake (Beratan) and Ulun Danu Temple, HD aerial footage

Lake Beratan on Google Maps panoramas