Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is one of the most beautiful temples in Bali, and worth making the journey from Ubud or Kuta to visit. You couldn't imagine a better setting for a temple, situated on a lake surrounded by mountains. It's in one of our favourite parts of Bali, the less visited northern region, which is well worth a few days of your itinerary to explore. It easily made our list of amazing things to do near Munduk.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

The lake temple is incredibly popular and when you get there you will see why.

The setting is stunning and the temple is equally so. It is one of the highlights of the northern Bali and should be the temple you see if you only have the appetite for one.

Top tips for visiting Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

Best time to visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

By far the best time to visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is at sunrise or just after. As the temple is incredibly popular - and the site is pretty small - getting up early will pay off.

We discovered when staying in Bedugul (where the temple is situated) that in the morning the skies are clear, but by midday the heat and winds from the lowlands create clouds, covering the beautiful mountains and often bringing showers. This is another reason why you should go early!

We visited 10 minutes after the sun had risen and shared the view with only two other passionate photographers. One had stayed all night doing a huge time lapse of the stars passing over this beautiful temple.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Opening Hours

Officially, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan opens at 7am, so staying in Bedugul or Munduk will make getting here before sunrise a lot easier.

When we arrived before 7am we thought the site was closed but actually if you make a bit of noise someone will come and let you in.

If there is no one around and you manage to sneak in, we strongly advise you buy a ticket on the way out, as it helps towards the conservation of the site.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple Entrance Fee

Entrance to Pura Ulun Danu Bratan isn't as cheap as visiting many sites in Bali, such as the these beautiful waterfalls, but in the grand scheme of things it is still very affordable. It costs 50,000 Rupiah per person (just over $3.50 USD) to see one of the must-do sights in Bali.

How to get to Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

Pura Ulun Bratan Temple is in Bedugul, a town that is approximately 1.5 hours north of Ubud with little traffic. From Kuta it will take 2-2.5 hours by car. The easiest way to visit and arrive early is to stay in Bedugul or Munduk. The temple is in Bedugul itself or just a 35 minute drive from Munduk.

The most straight-forward to get to the water temple is by scooter or taxi but there are also several shuttles to the area from other popular parts of Bali, such as Ubud.

We decided to go by taxi so we could visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace which is on route.

Where to stay near Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

Munduk Moding

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We haven’t stayed here personally, but we’ve always wanted to! The bungalows and infinity pool look incredible, not to mention the onsite organic coffee plantation. It’s definitely on the luxury side, with prices to match, but if you’re not travelling on a budget, I’m sure it’s worth it.

You can check out the reviews and prices by clicking below:

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Munduk Cabins

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If it’s fully booked, another rising star in the luxury category is Munduk Cabins - it’s already becoming very popular with Instagrammer’s. You can see the latest reviews and availability by clicking below:

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