candi-kuningLocated in the northern tip of Baturiti District, Tabanan Regency in northern Bali is a place with several fascinating tourism attractions. It lies at 1301 meters above sea level, so the weather is cool most of the day, averaging 24oC in the daytime and falling as low as 18oC at night.

Here we find Lake Beratan, with the Ulun Danunya temple whose fame has spread far and wide. The temple’s meru section, on the shores of Danau Beratan, is one of Bali’s most often photographed icons.

Setting out from the city of Denpasar in the early morning, I first headed west toward Mengwi District in Badung, and then northward on the main Tabanan–Singaraja road. It’s around 62 kilometers from Denpasar Candikuning, on a steep and twisty road, especially as you approach Candikuning. It took me around an hour to get there.

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
My main purpose in Candikuning was to see the sun rise from the shores of Danau Beratan near Ulun Danu temple. After paying for my entry ticket, I entered the temple area through the surrounding garden and headed toward Pura Ulun Danu Beratan on the lake shore. The silhouette of the temple’s meru lit up by lights, with the blue morning sky in the background, was a sight of incomparable beauty. A moment later, a thin mist crept into the sunlight, blanketing the area around the temple and enhancing the drama of the ambience. In the distance I could see several tourists taking boats out to the middle of the lake to enjoy the splendid view of the temple from up close. Wooden boats can be rented for around Rp?50.000 per hour.

candi-kuning-puraPura Ulun Danu Beratan was built in the 15th century as a place to worship the gods and supplicate them for fertility, prosperity, welfare for humans and preservation of the natural universe. Within the Pura Ulun Danu Beratan area lie four other temples, including a Buddhist stupa to the east. The remains of several megalithic sarcophagi and stone walls indicate that this place has been used for rituals since the megalithic era.

Kebun Raya Eka Karya
From Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, I went to the Eka Karya botanical garden, quite near by, only a ten-minute drive. I took my vehicle in so that I could get around the 154-hectare complex more easily. The roads within the botanical garden are excellent.

Expanses of greenery delighted the eye in every direction. Cool breezes reinforced the feeling of calm, inviting me to stay longer in this well-maintained place. Kebun Raya Eka Karya, established in 1958, has a collection of roughly 16,000 plants, comprising 1500 species. The garden is divided into several zones for different types of plants: an orchid garden, a rose garden, a cactus garden, a medicinal plant garden, and so on.

The botanical garden functions as a place for scientific research, conservation, education, and recreation. Various recreational facilities are provided, such as gazebos and benches, as well as toilets. There’s also a treetop adventure called “Bali Treetop”. The cool surroundings with rows of trees and vast open spaces make this a perfect place for a family outing.

Candikuning Market
I then headed for my third destination, Candikuning market, around 500 meters from the botanical garden entrance, just a five-minute drive. I wandered through the market. In the front section are ranks of vegetable and fruit vendors, offering cabbage, green vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries and much more, all fresh and neatly displayed. There are also many types of souvenirs and traditional snacks available to take home to family and friends. To the rear of the market are rows of plant and flower vendors, and surrounding the market are several restaurants where you can eat and rest.

The cool climate is very favorable for various types of vegetable, fruits, flowers and other plants. The local people’s activities in the market bring together the tourist destination, visitors, and the local community. The benefits of tourism are enjoyed not only by those directly involved in the tourism industry; other local residents also indirectly benefit from the large numbers of tourists visiting their area.

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Water sports at Bedugul
My trip now took me to my final destination, the water sports venue at Bedugul, around one kilometer west of Candikuning market. Bedugul is the name of a spot on the south shore of Lake Beratan. It is equipped with a small dock where you can rent wooden boats to navigate around Lake Beratan for Rp 50.000 an hour; it takes around Rp?100.000 to go all the way around the lake once.

A wide variety of other water sports and adventures are on offer here: jet skis, water skiing, banana boat, and much more. If you don’t want to travel around the lake, just sit by the shore and enjoy the spectacular view. Fishing equipment can also be rented from the local residents.

And because these tourist attractions are located so close together, you can visit all of them in the same day!