Leading Tourist Destinations In Bali Welcome Rise In Visitor Numbers

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Leading cultural tourist attractions in Bali are welcoming a rise in visitor numbers. This week Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, the Hindu Shaivite temple on the edge of Lake Beratan, released its latest visitor data. After receiving a record-low number of visors during the pandemic, and even in the months after borders reopening in February, tourist managers from Pura Ulun Danu Beratan have announced that they are welcoming over 40,000 a month consistently. 

The Head of Public Relations of DTW, Ulun Danu Beratan, I Made Sukarata, told reporters, “We are grateful that visits have started to increase compared to last year.” Sukarata, like many others, shared his hopes that the G20 Summit will give Bali the final boost needed to skyrocket back to pre-pandemic tourism numbers. He shared that the temple and surrounding villages, including Candikuning Village, received over 40,000 visitors a month in August, September, and October. 

Starting in August, there were over 18,000 domestic adult visitors and around 400 local children, followed by over 27,000 foreign adult tourists and over 1,000 children.

There was a slight drop in September after the high season, with Pura Ulun Danu Beratan welcoming over 16,000 domestic tourists and over 23,000 international visitors. This is in addition to local, Bali-based visitors who come to worship at the temple. In October, numbers averaged around 21,000 for international and the same again domestic tourists. 

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Sukarata explained, “On average, visitors reach 1,500 people daily”. The temple management team has decided to keep entry fees the same as they have been for the last few years, despite fees increasing for other tourist attractions and services in the area.

He said, “The entrance fee is the same. We don’t dare to increase it yet because the tourism sector is just recovering”. Sukarata noted that the increase in boat fees on Lake Beratan had not had a knock-on effect on visits to the temple. He said, “In the past, it was only IDR 150,000, now it is IDR 200,000. Visitors understand and have no objections”. Boat fees have increased as a result of rising fuel prices. 

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is one of Bali’s leading cultural attractions. Staining 1,500m above sea level and batting stunning views of the surrounding mountains, the temple is a must-visit for any culture-hungry travelers. The temple itself was built in reverence of Goddess Danu, the Balinese goddess of water, lakes, and rivers.

Within the temple complex, visitors can find Pura Dalem Purwa, the temple built in worship of Sang Hyang Widhi. It is here that people make offerings, share blessings, and pray for fertility, prosperity, and well-being.

The sacred Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is located in central North Bali. Around a 1 hour and 15-minute drive from central Canggu, depending on traffic, and around an hour from central Ubud. Many tourists visit Pura Ulun Danu Beratan as part of a single-day trip from the southern beaches, though there is plenty to explore in the area.

The iconic Bali Handara Gate is just a 6-minute drive from the temple and is a good stop off on the short drive from Lake Beratan to lesser-visited Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan, also known as the Twin Lakes. 

The Twin Lakes are the starting point for half a dozen wonderful trekking routes, including the hike to Munduk Waterfalls and the Munduk Rice Terraces. There are plenty of budget-friendly camping spots, guesthouses, and B&Bs in the Lake Beratan area. With so much to explore, the area is increasing in popularity with international travelers who are scheduling a few nights’ stay in the area. 

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is not the only cultural attraction celebrating a surge in visitors. Back in the south of Bali, staff at Tanah Lot Temple in Tabanan have been welcoming back visitors in their thousands.

Speaking in mid-September, the Head of the Tanah Lot DTW Promotion and Development Division, Ni Made Suarniti, told local reporters that “the data for visits in the first semester of 2021 were only 274,037 people, while the data for the first semester of 2022 reached 475,257 people, and continued to experience growth”. With Tanah Lot scheduled as a field trip destination for G20 delegations, staff at the temple are hopeful they will surpass a million visits before the end of the year.