Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple Guide: A Bali Temple Turned Tourist Attraction

Built in 1663, the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan hindu-buddist temple floats effortlessly upon Breatran Lake in North Bali. The lake has been and still is of high importance to the local communities, providing irrigation for crops and is why the temple was built in this location.

The temple has become one of the most famous in Bali and is featured on the RP50,000 bank note. It is worth noting the temple has various names, this confused us at first, that include Pura Ulan Danu Bratan Temple, Ulun Danu Temple, the Water Temple, Bedugul Temple, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Lingga Petak Temple and the prominent Lingga Petak Shrine.

Throughout this post we will share all the information you need to know about visiting the temple including, how to get there, Ulun Danu Bratan Temple ticket price, what to expect and our thoughts about the attraction.

Where Is Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple?

On the island of Bali, in the Bedugul Region you can find the picturesque water temple, Ulun Danu Bratan. A short drive from the mountain town Munduk and around 2 hours from Ubud, this temple has gained popularity over the last few years.

How To Get To Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple?

If you’re coming from Ubud then the drive takes 2 hours and from Kuta it can take 3, therefore we recommend spending a couple of nights in the mountain town of Munduk on your trip.

The easiest way from Munduk is to hire a scooter. Scooters cost around … per day and are cheap to fill with petrol. The roads are quieter than other areas in Bali but if you still don’t fancy driving one then you can hire a taxi.

The final option would be to join a tour group to visit the temple, you just need to remember you will then be visiting with a bus load of people whereas we recommend arriving at 7am to beat the tours.

About Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

The main attraction in the grounds is the floating temple, a Hindu thatch-roofed meru. The temple elegantly hovers over the lakes surface during wet season, in the high season the lake starts to dry up and the temple may no longer be ‘floating’, this is something to consider when you decide to visit.

Apart from the temple the ground is full of animal statues, photo opportunities and other buildings. In our opinion the temple is the star and we’ve heard the rest of the park being compared to a playground or Disneyland… it’s nowhere near as good as Disneyland mind you.

A temple turned tourist attraction, we still think it’s worth a visit early in the morning before the tour buses arrive, otherwise it will be overwhelmingly busy.

On site there are a couple of restaurants if you wish to eat there however by 8am it was heaving and we left to go and explore the quieter parts of Munduk. You also need to take into account the entrance fee, so if you’re a budget traveller and not too fussed about temples then give it a miss.

What Can You Do At Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

There are plenty of ‘tourist’ opportunities here that we skipped, as we felt seeing the temple in the morning light was the main attraction. To get a better look at the temple you can hire a boat out onto the lake or hire a swan pedalo. You can also try on Balinese costumes for a photoshoot and there are also cafes, restaurants on site.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple Common Questions

What is the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Ticket Price?

Adults: 75,000 IDR per person
Children: 50,000 IDR per person

You also need to pay for parking…

3,000 IDR: motorbike or scooter
5,000 IDR: car

When Is The Best Time To Visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan?

If you don’t go early, don’t bother going as you’ll be weaving in and out of large tour groups. We arrived at 7am and when we left at 8:30 two large tour buses pulled into the car park.

The best season to visit the temple is actually the wet season, this is because the lake is at its fullest creating the illusion of the floating temple. It will also allow you to take some great reflection photos. In the dry season the lake starts to dry up and retreat meaning you may not get to see the temple surrounded by water.

The temple is open to tourists from 7am to 7pm.

What is the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Dress Code?

As the temple is a holy place you need to dress in a modest way. As this temple has become more popular it seems as though they have relaxed the rules, but we recommend you still bring clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.

Women shouldn’t enter the temple while menstruating as it is seen as unclean and of course you’re in a holy place so you need to act respectfully throughout your visit.

Final Thoughts on Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, Bali

If you're planning to visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan then you must head early, we believe the site would not be as charming with the huge hoards of tourists that arrived just as we were leaving. Plan to arrive at opening time as this will not only give you the site to yourself but you will catch the morning sun which will give an atmospheric light and low mist over the lake and temple, perfect for capturing the famous floating Balinese icon.

Similarly, to Cambugahay Falls in the Philippines we recommend visiting early or not at all, because as come mid-day it's more of a Disneyland Park than a peaceful attraction. If you're in the region of Munduk in northern Bali we highly recommend visiting their world class waterfalls, find out more here.

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