Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple in Bedugul, in the highlands of Bali, gains its monicker as the “Floating Temple” as it is on the edge of Lake Beratan. However, the temple is not literally floating on the lake. It depends on where you stand, the temple, at a far distance, looks like it is buoyed up.
On the day I visited it, the water was so low which the temple didn’t really look like I expected it to be. It was disappointing to me because I already knew how/where I want my photos taken. 🙂
Backdropped with a gorgeous mountain, the temple complex reveals its beauty on a sunny day. As it is on the highlands, the weather changes from time to time.
I was lucky that on the day I visited it, the sun cooperated. But as soon as I was done, a thick cloud revealed, and rain came.
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is one of a few major Hindu temples in Bali.
It was built to honor the Goddess Danu, the deity of water, rivers, and lakes.
Inside, you will find four sacred temples for Hindu deities. These temples are: Linga Pura, Pura Puncak Mangu, Pura Dalem Purwa, and Pura Teratai Bang, the main temple.
The whole complex is huge and the views are pretty.
They have well-manicured gardens with flowers of all sorts and colors.
There are shades where you can sit, lay down, and rest.
Inside the temple, you can also rent or go on a boat ride on the lake. You can also go fishing if you want to.
Though I didn’t see it on the day I visited, I was told that you can also take pictures with wild animals. They have a big python, eagles, owls, etc.
The temple grounds are also popular for wedding photoshoots.
But because of the pandemic, all these activities are not available.
Five minutes’ drive from Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is the Bali Botanical Garden. I did go there but I was disappointed. Some of the gardens were closed due to the pandemic. And also, the ground, in general, is not well-kept at the moment.
From Seminyak/Canggu/Kuta, it takes an hour and a half to go there. If traffic is terrible, you’ll find yourself driving for more than two hours on a narrow road.
Where to Stay in Bali
There are many places to choose from in Bali. Depending on your accommodation taste/style and budget, there’s something for everyone. But then, you need to remember that Bali is a tourist destination island, so prices can be expensive in many ways – for a budget solo traveler. If can drive a scooter, rent one for a day/week/month. There’s no public transport in Bali (none that I know of), but Grab bike is cheap. You can book a guesthouse, hotel, hostel, private/shared villa on the following website: HostelWorld, Booking, TripAdvisor, CTrip, and Expedia.