Place of Interest: Bedugul
Bedugul is one of interest place in the regency of Tabanan. It is approximately located in 18 km North of Denpasar and 1400 meters above sea level. Bedugul is the name of place located in mountain area encircled by the cold temperature and natural environment with beautiful panorama of Beratan and Buyan Lake. Those lakes are the main water source for surrounding farmlands, rivers and springs on the plains below. The high altitude makes Bedugul a nice and cool place to be, and during heavy rainfall it is rather cold compared to the lowlands.
Beratan Lake is represent the shallow lake in Bali and it is located inside an old caldera with the height 1231m above sea level. This lake have wide 3,8 km2 and also its deepness is maximal 22 m. The water volume in this lake is about 0,049 km3. Tourist can access the Beratan Lake through dock which have been provided or desist around Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. In Beratan Lake the tourist can do various activities, such as riding the boat motorize to circle the lake, parasailing, canoeing with the traditional boat, banana boating, water skiing, and others. For you who has fishing hobby, here is the place. Tourists also can take a rest in lodging and eat in restaurant at the same time enjoy the magnificence view of the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple.
The name of Beratan Lake is inseparable with the Beratan Mount as Deity and Goddess as fertility source, prosperity to keep the prosperity in life and society life. In papyrus chronicle of the Mengwi, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple referred as the name of Parhyangan ri pinggiring danu Beratan (sanctum located in lakeside of Beratan Lake). Ulun come from Hulu word meaning head or power, what is in this case intended by Ulun Danu Beratan is power of Beratan Lake that is Danu Goddess.
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is consisted of 4 temples complex that are:
- Lingga Petak Temple, what its function to worship the Siwa God.
- Penataran Pucak Mangu Temple, referred this gate as Parhyangan ri pinggiring rawa Beratan or Danu Beratan Temple, what is founded by I Gusti Agung Putu to worship the Hyang ing Parwata or Deity which is placed in Pucak Mangu that is Bhatara Hyang Danawa as according to papyrus of Padma Bhuwana and Usana Bali, because Mangu Mount located in north direction, hence its called the Bhatara Hyang Danawa is Wisnu God.
- Terate Bang Temple is to worship the Brahma God.
- Dalem Purwa Temple is to worship the Danu Goddess which is considered to be miraculous of the Bhtara Hyang Danawa that is Laksmi Goddess.
If you visit Beratan Lake, you earn also visit other places of interest in Bedugul nearby like a botanical garden. Kebun Raya Eka Karya represents the great garden in Bali. Opened in the year 1959, this garden own 154,5 ha located in the tropical rain forest at plateau of Bedugul Tabanan Bali. It owns the collection more than 1187 plant type with air temperature around this garden is cold, mean 18 Degree Celsius. In Raya Eka Karya Garden also there is 524 birch which still in its original forest, while the other farm which forest return, or at landscape lawns. Here there is also a lot of collection from America, South America, China, Japan, Australia, Africa and also Netherlands. Cyathea Garden, one of garden at this great garden own the collection the various type of Paku-pakuan which can be eaten as vegetable by Bali society, some also represent the decorative crop. The tree from this nail Cyathea is often exploited as growth media of various orchid types. Cactus collection in the great garden of Bedugul Bali there are 104 types. This cactus is obtained from Africa, America, Germany, Switzerland and also Indonesia. The crop for ceremony in this Great Garden of Bedugul there is 94 types representing collection from crop exploited for Balinese life ceremony, temple ceremony, devoting/offering and others. The great garden of Raya Eka Karya Bedugul also owns the collection of drug crop. Here there is collection of the medicine crop as much 84 types/species.
Tourist earn also enjoy the chirp of time bird conduct the trekking and also bird walk around this garden. Traditional Vegetable and Fruit Market in Candi Kuning countryside which can be reached only in a few minutes from here, it is also represent the place which is often visited at the same time pay a visit to Beratan Lake. Assorted fruits, vegetables and also mace can be bought here with the choice which measurable enough.