Popular Bali Temple Is Surprisingly Crowd-Free From Tourists Right Now

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Tourists traveling to Bali looking for a culture-filled and crowd-free day out should look no further than Ulun Danu Beratan temple right now. The world-famous temple has seen a sharp drop in the number of visitors…why? Traffic.

If you’re willing to go the extra mile, take the scenic route or even spend a few extra minutes in traffic (or set the alarm a little earlier and dodge the jams entirely), you could find yourself enjoying a crowd-free visit to Ulun Danu Beratan.

The temple, situated on the shores of Lake Beratan, stands at the heart of the Bedugul Highlands, which beckon to be explored. As Bali’s beaches become busier and as Ubud attracts even more culture-curious tourists, the Bedugul Highlands are where it’s at right now!

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A post shared by Official DTW Ulun Danu Beratan (@ulundanuberatan)

Filled with cultural gems, affordable, and offering a crisp, cool mountain breeze, tourists quickly fall for the magic of the Bedugul Highlands. Oddly, for tourists, the presence of traffic congestion on some of the routes in the surrounding areas can work in their favour. Tourists are now starting to avoid Ulun Danu Beratan, which in turn is seeing a drop in the number of visitors to the temple, and you’ve guessed it, clearer roads.

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A post shared by Official DTW Ulun Danu Beratan (@ulundanuberatan)

The reason why the traffic congestion got so bad is only temporary, too, so tourists should make the most of this slightly odd turn of events while it lasts. Just last week, a massive sinkhole opened up in the middle of the Denpasar-Gilimanuk Highway, in the heart of Bajera Village, in Tabanan Regency, just a 15-minute drive away from popular tourist hotspot Soka Beach. For many tourists traveling to attractions in the Bedugul Highlands, this stretch of the Denpasar-Gilimanuk Highway is the route of choice.

With the section of Denpasar-Gilimanuk Highway undergoing round-the-clock repairs, with hopes that the situation will be resolved within a month, tourists have the opportunity to take a more scenic route through Tabanan Regency up to Ulun Danu Beratan, the Blooms Garden and even onwards to Munduk, as well as making the most of a less crowded destination in the height of the peak travel seasons. 

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A post shared by Official DTW Ulun Danu Beratan (@ulundanuberatan)

The President Director of Ulun Danu Tourist Attraction, Wayan Mustika, told reporters, “There has been a 20% decrease in visits, especially from domestic tourists.”

Typically, during the high seasons, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple welcomes 1,000 to 2,000 visitors a day, and the neighboring Blooms Garden sees between 500 and 1,000 guests. 

Throughout July and August, visitors to both The Blooms Garden and Ulun Danu Beratan Temple are being gifted with the opportunity to watch one of Bali’s most impressive cultural parades.

Every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, and every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at The Blooms Garden, hundreds of local performers come together for a Gebogan Parade.

Access to the parade performance is included in the entry fee to both venues, and tourists can buy a combined attraction ticket, save money, and explore more. The cultural shows start at 1 pm, and visitors are advised to be in place a few minutes before the start of the performances. 

Tourists planning visits to the Bedugul Highlands from beach resorts in the central south of Bali or from Ubud are encouraged to consider booking an overnight stay in the area to explore the region more deeply.

Bedugul is home to a wonderful collection of small boutique hotels and locally run guesthouses that offer tourists traditional Balinese hospitality, great affordability, and a welcome escape from the coastal heat and the crowds. From a stay in Bedugul, it is also possible to organise day trips to Munduk, the Twin Lakes, and even Lovina Beach.