Bedugul sacred temples on the lake

Remarks

• Costing only covers the return fare by car.
• This does not include the services of a guide, meals, and site entrance fees
• For each excursion, a sarong remains indispensable.
• Please consult us in advance if a French or English guide is required.

Fruit and spice market at Bedugul

The mountain region in the vicinity of Bedugul abounds with fruit and vegetable plantations unable to take the lowland heat. Here at over 1000 metres in altitude, the climate suits cultivating strawberries, coffee, salad, tomatoes and any number of other vegetables. The king of fruit in these mountains is the mangosteen, something like a small hard apple, dark red to black. When split open its loge reveals one of the most flavourful fruits of the planet. Its white pulp (one of the quarters will contain the kernel) is known to all lovers of exotic fruit visiting Bali, although this fruit remains unknown in the West. These heights are also favoured territory for passion-fruit. The Bedugul market abounds with these fruit alongside a variety of souvenirs including false Rolex watches, all under Muslim control, traders both amusing and frightfully astute in business. Haggling and negotiation remain the order of the day!

Ulun Danu Temple at Beratan lake

This temple shares with that of Tanah Lot the glory of being the most photographed site in Bali. Few visitors in fact stop at the temple itself, along the lake, although they rush to the pagoda isolated on a small island, some metres from the waterside. The meru arises from an island symbolising the tortoise supporting the world. Four frogs adorn the corners of the island. This temple is dedicated to the goddess of the lake waters, Dewi Danu. This is indeed one of the major water temples of the island which, along with that of Batur, remains at the summit of the irrigation system and prodigious wealth by grace of the gods.

At a certain angle, the eye may take in the Hindu temple of Beratan, a Buddhist stupa and the dome of a Mosque, illustrating a significant Balinese specificity, that of pacific multi-religious coexistence by the grace of the gods.

For those visitors who wish, a stop may be made to take in the great botanical garden, conservatory of innumerable endemic species of the island. The most spectacular route is certainly that dedicated to tree ferns. The glass-house of orchids disappoints many visitors, although there is no reason, rather to the contrary. This glass-house recalls that wild orchids are quite different and indeed more discrete than those orchids we all know and admire, hybrids resulting from human-induced genetic crossing. The natural reality of the orchid world is to be discovered in this vast garden of 154 hectares.

Last but not least, a trek including both canoe riding and walking around lake Tambligan may transform this half-day excursion into a full trip. For information consult our personnel.