Placed on the western edge of Batur crater, the villages of Batur and neighboring Kintamani are among the most favorite tourist spots in Bali, providing breathtaking views of Mt Batur and Danau Batur, the largest lake on the Indonesian island.
Formerly sited inside the crater, Batur saw much death and destruction caused by two violent eruptions in 1917 and 1926. However, these outbreaks also had a positive effect on the community in so far as the fertilizing properties of the falling ash made the soil exceedingly rank, allowing for the cultivation of various produce.
Daily tours to Kintamani are organized from Denpasar, Ubud and Singaraja and take visitors to Penelokan (‘Place to Look’), where you look down from the rim onto the volcano and Lake Batur inside the enormous crater, which has an estimated size of more than eight square miles and has a diameter of nearly 1.9 miles. Kintamani offers a few restaurants and hotels for those who wish to stay longer and enjoy the cool climate.
Two impressive temples can be found on the crater’s western rim as well. Around half a mile north of Batur sits Pura Ulun Danu Batur, one of Bali’s most important temples that comprises several shrines and other appealing structures. The other temple, Pura Punkak Penulisan, is considered the highest temple in Bali and requires you to climb 333 steps to see various stone carved figures dating from the 13th century.
Getting There
The two villages are about 35 miles from Denpasar and 40 miles from Kuta, which is a 2 to 3-hour drive away. Every 30 minutes, buses run from Batubulan near Denpasar and from Singaraja to Mt Batur. From Ubud, Kintamani bemos will get you to the volcano via Tampaksiring and Payangan.
Need to Know
- Worth it? Absolutely a must since the two villages present spectacular views of Mt Batur and Lake Batur.
- What to do: visit the crater and the two temples on its rim.
- Best time to go: during the dry season from April to October.
- How long? A day is sufficient to see the crater and the temples.
- Tidbits: Mt Batur is Bali’s most active volcano.