- Address: Baturiti Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia
- Opening hours: a walk to the Pura Temple Oolong Danu Bratan on the lake is open from 8:30 to 18:00
- The cost of visiting: the lake - for free, the entrance to the territory of the temple of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan - 30 thousand rupees ($ 2.25)
Lake Bratan (in Indonesian - Beratan) is the most famous and visited by tourists among the three sacred lakes in Bali (along with Tamblingan and Buyan ). There is an amazing atmosphere here, the lush rainforests are often enveloped in haze, and the panorama of the surroundings opens from the mountain.
Location:
The Bratan Lake is located on the island of Bali in Indonesia , at the foot of Mount Tapan, at an altitude of about 1200 m above sea level.
The History of the Bratan
Several millennia ago, a powerful and destructive eruption of a huge volcano Chatur took place in the ethic regions, which led to the formation of a caldera, which is a few volcanoes with many peaks. As a result of the eruptions, nearby terrains underwent serious changes, one of which was the formation in this part of Bali of 3 sacred reservoirs. Among them was the Lake Bratan.
Legends about the lake and its role on the island
Bratan, Buyan and Tamblingan are sources of fresh water on the island , surrounded on all sides by saline sea waters. Therefore, the Balinese regard them very reverently. Indeed, thanks to these freshwater sources, local people can irrigate rice fields , the yield from which directly depends on the high water content of the reservoirs.
There are several legends associated with Lake Balaton. Its name from the local language is translated as the lake of the Holy Mountain. According to ancient beliefs, every person who swims in it at the first rays of the sun, will find youth and health, will live a long and happy life. Lake Bratan is large enough, but very shallow (its maximum depth is about 35 m). The water in it is clean, so plunge here is a pleasure.
The brother is also called "The Abode of Devi Danu". It is believed that the goddess on the island has 4 residences, including on each of the sacred lakes. And on the shore of Lake Bratan in Bali for her even a separate church was built .
Sights of the lake and its environs
Here's what you should pay attention to if you decide to visit the Broat lake:
- Temple of Pura Ulan Danu Bratan . The greatest attention on the lake Bratan is attracted to a temple dedicated to the goddess of fertility Devi Danu and erected in 1663. This is a whole temple complex consisting of several pagodas of different sizes, the main one of which has 11 tiers, stands directly on the lake Bratan and is dedicated to the god Shiva and his wife Parvati. This is truly a sacred place for the Balinese, there are often ceremonies of offering to the goddess and praying for the fertility of the land, happiness and longevity of loved ones.
- Lake Buyan and Tamblingan. They are located a little to the north of Bratan, and they can be reached on foot along the paths or by bicycle. Near each of the lakes there are campsites where you can stay overnight if you are traveling with your tent.
- The Hit-Hit Waterfall . One of the most famous waterfalls in Bali. It is located 16 km from Lake Bratan towards Singaraja . Walk to the waterfall will enjoy the beauty of tropical nature. In addition, it is allowed to swim in the waters of the Gith-Gita.
- Botanical Garden of Bali Eka Karya . It offers a plunge into the atmosphere of silence and harmony, take a walk along cozy alleys and take pictures with exotic animals (for example, with bats or local monkeys).
- Amusement Park Taman Rekreasi Bedugul. In it you can rent a boat or water bike, take part in other activities on the water.
- The Subaq Rice Museum. The exposition of the museum is devoted to the process of growing rice. You will be introduced to the irrigation system of the island of Bali and will show the huge rice terraces.
How to get there?
In order to get to the Bratan Lake in Bali, you can use public transport services or rent a car and get there yourself.
Public transport (buses and minibuses) departs from the terminals of the main resort towns of the island:
- from Denpasar , Seminyak , Legian - you need to get to the terminal in Kuta , then change to the bus towards Bedugul ; he leaves at 10:00, the ticket costs 75 thousand rupees ($ 5.6);
- from the terminal in Sanur - buses leave at 10:30 o'clock, for the ticket it will be necessary to pay the same amount;
- from the terminal in Ubud - 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 area of Lake Bratan. No, the road is quite calm, but it makes sense to know the route in advance, which will save time and do not get lost.
A trip to Lake Bratan from the main cities of Bali will take you from 2 to 2.5 hours.
Below is a brief description of how to get there by car from some localities:
- From Denpasar, Seminyak, Legian, Kuta and Sanur. It is necessary to move north to Jl. Denpasar-Singaraja, and after hitting it, you will need to drive another 27 km to the intersection. On it you can turn left, on Jl. Baturiti Bedugul (in this case you will see the temple of Tanah Lot, follow the green signs Ulun Danu Beratan), or to the right, on Jl. Puncak Mangu (then you will get to the southern beach of the lake with an observation deck and a splendid panorama from there).
- From the peninsula Bukit and from Ubud. The routes are similar to the previous ones, but first you will need to get to Denpasar. From Ubud, go to the south to Jl. Raya Singakerta, and after leaving on Jl. Denpasar-Singaraja.
Tips for tourists
To fully enjoy the beauty and greatness of Lake Bratan in Bali, you should:
- go there as early as possible in the morning, to bathe in the holy waters at dawn and ask for spirits about the most intimate, or come the day before and spend the night in a hotel or camping;
- be aware that the entrance to the main temple of Pura Oolong Danu Bratan is closed to tourists, and you can only walk along the outdoor patio;
- due to the constantly changing weather (frequent rains, fogs, temperature changes) to take on a tour warm clothes and raincoats or umbrellas.