Bedugul, Bali

So you have come to Bali, Indonesia on your holiday and after a little time in the busy, touristy southern part of the island you’re ready for something different. Have you heard of Bedugul? Nestled in the mountains in the central part of Bali island, is much less crowded with package tourism and also boasts much cooler temperatures than the coastal areas. You can visit as part of a day trip from Kuta or Seminak, but if you’d like to stay longer, accommodation is also available to suit any budget.

The town of Bedugul is about 45 km straight north out of Denpasar, on the road to Singaraja. A one-way trip of roughly one hour in a taxi should cost no more than 300,000 rupiah, or if you’re feeling ambitious you can come up on a rented motorcycle.

In the area around the town you’ll find three fairly large, picturesque lakes: Bratan, Buyan and Tamblingan, and actually the entire area around these lakes is referred to as Bedugul Tanah. As soon as you arrive you will immediately notice that the air is cooler and feels cleaner too!

The first thing you’ll want to do is visit the Temple at Lake Bratan. You have probably already seen it on postcards-it’s a gorgeous, serene looking small temple surrounded by the lake. The Bali botanical Gardens are nearby in Candikuning, and are absolutely worthy of a visit, ranging over 160 ha. If you are a fan of waterfalls, Munduk is nearby as well.

When people think of Bali they normally think of rice terraces, and some of the most beautiful on the island are in Bedugul, at Jatiluwih. You certainly had better at least get out of your vehicle and breathe in some of the most spectacular scenery that Bali has to offer. Take an hour and do one of the hikes through the area, which was recently nominated to be a UNESCO world heritage site.

The area around Bedugul also has bird watching, and Hot Springs just to the south at Angseri. It is quite pleasant as you drive along to see cloves drying on the side of the road, as well as cacao plants, and coffee and vanilla.

Be sure to take at least a day to visit the mountainous area of Bali because not only is the terrain and weather are quite pleasurable change, in some ways it’s like taking a step back in time to see what Bali was like before it became known mostly as a tourist attraction. The mountainous lake area around Bedugul is perfect for this.

Bedugul Day Trip

The three large lakes up in the mountains in the central part of Bali, Indonesia represent an opportunity for visitors to get some fresh, cooler air. This is the Bedugul area, and it has some of the nicest scenery on the island, as well as an important, picturesque temple that tourists really should not miss on a trip to Bali, Indonesia.

Getting to Bedugul

Bedugul is easily reached on a day trip if you are staying, as most tourists do, in the south part of the island. Look to spend about 400,000 rupiah for a car and a driver for the day. You might be able to save a little money by renting a car and driving yourself, but not much money, and I have serious doubts as to whether the savings are worth it. Having a driver enables you to relax and enjoy the scenery, which is the whole point. I would recommend asking a Bluebird taxi driver how much he would charge off-meter for the day trip to Bedugul. He can pick you up from your hotel and go pretty much anywhere you’d like to explore. Do negotiate the price advance, though. (By the way, Bluebird taxis are the way to go anywhere in Bali-clean, with courteous drivers who will never give you a problem with the fair.)

In and around Bedugul

The Ulun Danu Temple at Lake Bratan (also spelled Beratan) is a special place in Bali, certainly one of the most famous and photographed temples on the island. If the water level in the lake is high from recent rains, the Temple appears to be floating! A close look at even this one temple will be worth the drive to Bedugul.

In addition to the Temple, make a stop at the fruit market at Candikuning. You’ll find a huge assortment of beautiful fruit, including a few that will be unfamiliar to you unless you spent much time in these latitudes. Treat yourself to a good sampling, including durian, an incredibly smelly fruit that you’ll probably either love or hate.

Take a little time to explore the Bali Botanical Gardens as well. You have an option to walk or drive through-I would suggest walking, especially if it is early or late in the day, as close-up views of the trees and flowers, most of which are indigenous to Bali, are well worth it.

All in all, a day trip to Bedugul will certainly be one of the highlights to your Balinese vacation.