The major town of Candikuning is placed in the cool hills of the Bedugul area, around 30 miles north of Bali’s capital, Denpasar. Several package tours offer tourists a stopover at the traditional town market before heading to nearby Bratan crater lake.

Bedugul is renowned as the garden of Bali and a visit to the colorful Pasar Candikuning market offers a captivating insight into the culture of this island. Here you will find a great variety of fruits, vegetables and spices as well as diverse exotic flowering plants, including orchids and roses. Taste a pomelo or a yellow passion fruit, while the smelly durian is something for the very brave.

Less than a 10-minute drive from Candikuning lies Lake Bratan with the water temple of Ulun Danu, one of the major draws in Bali. Devoted to the goddess Danu who provides the irrigation of the rice fields, this unique temple appears to float on the crater lake, making it an exceptional sight that adorns numerous picture postcards.

Further rewarding places of interests in the vicinity of Candikuning include the Bedugul Botanical Garden, featuring traditional Balinese houses and the Bali Treetop Adventure Park. The Bali Handara Kosaido Golf and Country Club is surrounded by mountains and crater lakes and is considered to be one of the globe’s best golf courses.

Candikuning is located about 30 miles from Denpasar and 40 miles from Bali’s international airport and can be reached by minibus, car or motorcycle in less than 2 hours.

  • Worth it? Yes, if you are in the area and heading to Lake Bratan and Ulun Danu temple.
  • What to do: visit the lively market.
  • Best time to go: during the dry season from April to October; try to avoid the peak season between July and September.
  • How long? A few hours are enough to see Candikuning.