Ulun Danu Bratan Temple Bali Becomes the Most Popular Tourist Destination in the World

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan bali (Pinterest)

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, or Bratan Pura is a large water temple and temple in Bali, Indonesia the other main water temple being Pura Ulun Danu Batur. This temple complex is located on the northwest edge of Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul, Tabanan Regency. The water temple fills the entire area of ​​the watershed; on the downstream bank there are many small water temples specific to each irrigation association (subak). This temple is actually used for offering ceremonies to the goddess Dewi Danu, the goddess of water, lakes and rivers. Lake Bratan is one of the important lakes in terms of irrigation. Lake Bratan is known as the "holy mountain" lake, this area is very fertile, located at an altitude of 1,200 meters, and the climate is very cold.

This temple is about 70 km from Ngurah Rai International Airport and approximately 50 km from downtown Denpasar. In the Bedugul Highlands, we can find a temple complex on the northwest edge of Lake Beratan with Ulun Danu Temple in the middle which functions as a subak or irrigation temple. The entire area of ​​​​the Lake, precisely on the downstream bank of the lake, is filled with "Water Temples."

The founder of the temple is thought to be I Gusti Agung Putu. [citation needed] Founded in Saka year 1556 (1634 AD) and maintained by four "satakan" from the villages around this temple area, which consists of: satakan Candi Kuning covers 5 bendesa Indigenous peoples, Bangah satakan covers 3 traditional village heads, Antapan satakan covers 4 customary village chiefs, and Baturiti satakan covers 6 customary village chiefs.

Temple Complex

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple has four temple complexes, namely Lingga Petan Temple, Pelinggih Dewa Shiva; Penataran Puncak Mangu Temple, Temple of Lord Vishnu; Terate Bang Temple, Temple of Lord Brahma; Pura Dalem Purwa, Pelinggih Dewi Danu, the goddess of water, rivers, and lakes who is also known as the goddess of fertility.

History

Until now, no definite source has been found regarding the year the Ulun Danu Temple was founded. The only source that can be found is based on the Lontar Babad Mengwi. It is explained in the chronicle of Mengwi that before establishing Taman Ayun Temple, the founder of the Mengwi Kingdom, I Gusti Agung Putu, had built a temple on the edge of Lake Beratan. It is not stated specifically when Ulun Danu Temple was founded. Lontar only mentions that Taman Ayun Temple was founded on the day of Anggara Kliwon Mendangsia in the Saka Sad Bhuta Yaksa Dewa year, or 1556 Saka (1634 AD). Based on the explanation above, it is concluded that the establishment of Ulun Danu Temple was carried out before the year 1556 Saka.

To visit the temple in the middle of the lake, we have to use a boat that is already available on the edge of the lake. In addition to visiting the core temple which is in the middle of the lake, we can visit other temple buildings because like temples in Bali in general, Ulun Danu Temple is divided into three parts; outer, middle and inner pages.