Bali: Taman Ayun, Ulun Danu Bratan, and Tanah Lot Temples

A tour of three Bali’s Northern Hindu Temples and the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

I had no car to drive in Bali, so I had to rely on available tours. This tour included visits to three Northern Hindu Temples and one famous rice field.

The most popular religion in Indonesia is Islam, but in Bali, the most popular religion is Hinduism.  So there are many Hindu temples.  This is the outer courtyard of the temple.

The first temple visited was Taman Ayun.

Taman Ayun is a historical and significant water temple located in the village of Mengwi, Bali, Indonesia. Its name, which means “Beautiful Garden,” reflects the temple’s tranquil setting amidst lush gardens, ponds, and impressive architecture.

The red door is the entrance to the temple’s inner courtyard, but it opens only during certain times of the year.  This is the middle courtyard area.

This is a model of the main temple area.  It is a long rectangular-shaped area.

We went to the side of the temple to see it from the outside.  Turned around and looked at the rear side

The view of the inner courtyard of the temple from the side

Taman Ayun was built in 1634 during the reign of King I Gusti Agung Putu, the ruler of the Mengwi Kingdom, one of Bali’s most powerful kingdoms at the time. The temple was constructed as the main temple for the royal family and the people of Mengwi. It served both religious and political purposes, functioning as a center for ceremonies and offerings, while also symbolizing the royal family’s connection to the divine.

The temple complex was designed to be both a place of worship and a statement of the kingdom’s power and prestige. It is surrounded by a large moat, which gives the illusion of the temple “floating” on water, a design element that emphasizes the importance of water in Balinese Hinduism.

Walked along the side way and went around the area

At the other end of the rectangular shaped area

Came to the other sideway and looked back at the gate side

A side buildings

Walked toward the gate

Taman Ayun is a Pura Kawiten, or family temple, for the royal family of Mengwi. It is also a Pura Kawitan, which means it serves as a place of ancestral worship, where the deities of the Mengwi ancestors are honored.

In 2012, Taman Ayun, along with other sites in Bali, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site listing under the designation of “Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy.”

Came back to the gate

There are side buildings near the gate

The temple is surrounded by this body of water

Some of the buildings are used as a museum

Came Back to the outer courtyard.  The layout of the temple reflects the Balinese Hindu cosmological principles. The outer, middle, and inner courtyards represent different levels of the universe: the outer world, the world of humans, and the spiritual world of the gods. This architectural layout is designed to help worshippers progress from the mundane to the sacred as they move through the temple’s courtyards.

Exiting

The tour visited a place that sells Luwak Coffee.  This is a popular stop for tour companies because the coffee is made uniquely.

The coffee trees

The Asian palm civets (a small, cat-like mammal found in Southeast Asia) in a cage. They are native to countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

This is how the coffee is made:

Civet’s Role: The civets consume ripe coffee cherries (the fruit of the coffee plant), which contain the coffee beans. They are known for selecting only the best and ripest cherries, naturally sorting out high-quality fruit.

Fermentation in the Digestive Tract: As the cherries pass through the civet’s digestive system, the outer fruit is digested, but the coffee beans inside remain mostly intact. During this process, the enzymes in the civet’s digestive tract cause a fermentation process, which is believed to alter the chemical structure of the coffee beans, reducing their acidity and creating a smoother, less bitter flavor.

Excretion and Collection: The beans are then excreted by the civet, along with the rest of the undigested material. Farmers or harvesters collect the beans from the droppings, clean them thoroughly, and dry them.

Processing and Roasting: After being cleaned and processed, the beans are roasted like regular coffee beans. The result is a coffee with a distinct flavor profile, often described as smooth, earthy, and with a hint of chocolate or caramel.

The excreted coffee beans

The tradition of producing luwak coffee is believed to have originated in Indonesia during the Dutch colonial era in the 19th century. Indonesian farmers working on Dutch coffee plantations were forbidden from consuming the coffee they harvested. However, they noticed that wild civets would eat the coffee cherries and excrete the beans. Curious, the farmers collected the excreted beans, cleaned, roasted, and brewed them into coffee. To their surprise, the resulting coffee had a unique flavor, and the practice slowly gained popularity.

Nine different samples of coffee and teas.  The coffee made with Luwak beans was indeed smoother than the regular coffee.

The second temple was Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, also known as Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, is a water temple on Lake Beratan’s shores in the highlands of Bedugul, Bali. It is one of the island’s most iconic and photographed temples, renowned for its picturesque setting against the backdrop of Lake Beratan and the surrounding mountains.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple was built in 1633 by the King of Mengwi, I Gusti Agung Putu, during the rise of the Mengwi Kingdom. The temple was constructed to honor Dewi Danu, the goddess of water, lakes, and rivers, who is a vital deity in Balinese Hinduism. Given the importance of water for agriculture in Bali, particularly rice cultivation, the temple plays a central role in the island’s traditional subak irrigation system.

Ulun Danu Beratan is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the lake and fertility. The temple’s location on the shores of Lake Beratan is symbolic, as the lake provides essential water for Bali’s rice fields and agriculture, supporting life in the region. The Balinese believe that honoring Dewi Danu helps ensure abundant harvests and harmonious relations between humans and nature.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple consists of several shrines and meru towers (multi-tiered pagoda-like structures) dedicated to different deities.

The most iconic part of the temple is the 11-tiered meru that appears to float on the lake during certain seasons when the water level is high. The layout of the temple reflects the Balinese Hindu cosmology of balance and harmony between gods, humans, and nature.

One of the most striking aspects of Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is its setting. The temple is situated at an altitude of around 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) above sea level, which gives it a cool, misty atmosphere, quite different from the tropical climate in other parts of Bali. Surrounded by Mount Catur and the scenic Bedugul region, the temple’s reflection in the calm waters of Lake Beratan is a stunning sight, especially during sunrise and sunset.

On the way to the third temple, we stopped at the famous Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.

I moved closer to the rice field and took another panoramic shot of the area.

The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, located in the central part of Bali, Indonesia, are one of the island’s most picturesque and culturally significant landscapes. These expansive terraced rice fields are part of Bali’s ancient Subak irrigation system, a traditional agricultural practice that dates back over 1,000 years. The terraces are recognized for their cultural, environmental, and historical importance and were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces have been cultivated for centuries using the Subak system, an ancient cooperative irrigation method developed by Balinese farmers and inspired by Hindu-Balinese philosophy. The Subak system reflects the Balinese people’s deep connection with nature and their belief in Tri Hita Karana, the philosophy of maintaining harmony between humans, nature, and the divine.

The name “Jatiluwih” is derived from two Balinese words: “jati” (really) and “luwih” (beautiful or extraordinary). The region truly lives up to its name, with its expansive rice terraces cascading down the slopes of Mount Batukaru, offering a stunning view of meticulously cultivated green paddies.

The Subak system, which is still in use today, allows for efficient and sustainable water management, ensuring that water is shared equally among all rice farmers. This cooperative system fosters a strong sense of community among local farmers, who work together to maintain the irrigation channels and share resources. As a result, Jatiluwih produces some of the finest quality rice in Bali, including red rice, which is highly valued for its taste and nutritional content.

In 2012, the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces were inscribed as part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy by UNESCO. This designation recognizes the importance of the Subak system and the rice terraces as a unique example of sustainable agriculture and cultural heritage. The UNESCO inscription also highlights the balance between human activity and the environment that the Subak system represents.

The third and last temple visited was Tanah Lot Temple.

The temple is located in this direction.

But I walked in the opposite direction to see the buildings on this protruded rock bridge.

The buildings were not accessible, so I walked toward the temple location.

The right side of the picture shows a view of the temple, which is located near the ocean. Although the temple was closed to tourists, I could get closer to it.

A viewing area for the temple.

The picture with my phone camera, which has zoom.

Walked closer to the temple

This is the closest I could get. It was getting too dark for pictures. When the water level rises, the only way to reach the temple is by boat.