Ulun Danu Batur Temple

Ulun Danu Batur Temple, built in 1926, is the second most important temple complex of Bali, after the mother temple Besakih. Ulun Danu Batur Temple is dedicated to Dewi Batari Ulun Danu, goddess of lakes and rivers. “Ulun Danu” literally translates as “head of the lake”. Until 1926 Ulun Danu Batur Temple and the village of Batur were located down in the caldera, at the foot of the Batur volcano.

After the volcano erupted violently in 1926, both the village and the temple were destroyed except for the most important shrine, an 11-tiered meru dedicated to Dewi Batari Ulun Danu. The villagers moved to the highest and oldest rim of the caldera where they rebuilt their village and the temple. Actually the Ulun Danu Batur Temple is a complex of nine different temples, containing in total 285 shrines and pavilions dedicated to the gods and goddesses of water, agriculture, holy springs, art, crafts, etc.