KINTAMANI

Kintamani is a highland area in the north of East Bali.

The general area of north-eastern Bali which encompasses Penelokan, Toya Bungkah, Batur and Kintamani villages is known widely as just Kintamani. Kintamani, Batur and Penelokan villages sit on the rim of a huge caldera about 1,500m above sea level and offer dramatic views of the active volcano Mount Batur and serene Lake Batur. Toyo Bungkah village is down at the lake edge.

As well as the lake and the volcano, Kintamani is home to Pura Ulun Danu Batur, one of Bali's key nine directional temples.

Climate

You are high in the mountains of Bali here and the temperature is usually about 15 degrees cooler than down on the coast and even more so at night. That, coupled with the often cloudy and drizzly weather, makes a sweater or jacket advisable in the day time and vital after sunset.

Tourism Information Office
Yayasan Bintang Danu, Penelokan (on the crater rim road, close to the turning down to the lake edge), ☎ +62 366 51730. 10AM to 3.30PM daily. This is a private office run by a local charity, so if they are helpful, please consider a donation.

How to get in

Kintamani is usually approached from the south with 2 routes from Ubud (45 minutes) and one each from Besakih (1 hour) and Bangli (30 minutes). There is also an easy way in from the north via a turning off the coast road east of Singaraja (1 hour).

There are daily shuttle bus services from Ubud which are widely advertised locally there. Book 24 hours in advance.

From the popular tourist destinations in South Bali, a trip to Kintamani by car will take 90 minutes plus.

Organised tours to this area are widely offered in all major centres of Bali.

Not too many visitors choose to stay in this area but instead view the local sites by car or motorbike in the course of a day.

What you can see

The main attraction for visitors is located around Lake Batur where Penelokan village provides spectacular views of this crater lake and Mount Batur, set in a vast volcano caldera. Photo opportunities abound but try to be there as early in the morning as you can before the cloud inevitably starts to gather.

Further northwest along the rim of the caldera is Pura Ulun Danau Batur, One of the most important temples in Bali. Entry is by donation here - Rp 10,000 is about right. The temple was rebuilt up on the caldera ridge in 1926 after an eruption of Mount Batur destroyed the old one down in the crater. There are a large number of shrines here but most visitors are drawn to the huge eleven roofed meru in the inner courtyard. This is dedicated to the goddess of the lake, Ida Batara Dewi Ulan Danau who is regarded as the controlling deity of the whole water and irrigation system of Bali. A virgin priestess is resident at the temple to represent the goddess and she is served by 24 priests who are chosen as young boys and then keep the role for their lifetime. This is a strong example of just how importantly water and irrigation matters are regarded in traditional Balinese culuture.

You can visit the Bali Aga village at Trunyan on the eastern shore of the lake by boat from Kedisan. This is recommended in some guides but first hand reports are frequently negative and speak of some problems. This is an isolated community and one which is not particularly welcoming to tourists, despite relying on income from visitors. If you really must go, catch a boat at the lakefront in Kedisan (or you can charter a boat from Toyo Bungkah) and make sure the price is clearly understood before departing and that the entrance donation to the Trunyan villagers is included. When you arrive at Trunyan, the key attraction is the cemetery. Ancient customs retained by the Bali Aga here include the open burial of dead bodies in a pit covered by just some light cloth. If you want to visit a Bali Aga village though, then Tenganan near Candidasa is a far better option.

One of the best things about a visit to Trunyan is the views of Mount Batur from the eastern shore of the lake. This provides a very different perspective from the usual view from the crater rim. You can though get those same views by taking the small road around the southern edge of the lake through the villages of Kedisan (where there are a few simple places to stay and eat), Buahan and on to the tiny settlement of Abang. The road ends at Abang but you can explore the eastern shore of the lake further on foot, all the way to Trunyan (about 4 km) if you are feeling energetic.

The Museum Gunungapi Batur in Penelokan is surprisingly large and has some well presented exhibits on the vulcanology of the area and also in Penelokan is a small tourist information office. Both are very close to the junction where the road from Bangli meets the main caldera rim road at Penelokan.
Museum Gunungapi Batur (Batur Museum), ☎ +62 361 67678 (info@baturmuseum.com). 10PM to 5PM Mo to Fr. Exhibits here include explanations of the pacific ring of fire and Indonesia's position within that, history of eruptions of Mount Batur, volcanic rocks collected locally, films and computer animations explaining why volcanoes erupt and a telescope to view the mountain. Definitely work a visit.

What you can do

Climbing Mount Batur

A climb to the summit of Mount Batur - 1,700 metres and still an active volcano - to watch the sunrise is a great experience for more energetic travellers. This is an easy climb of about 2 hours and local guides abound. You do not need to be in peak physical shape to complete this trek. Which parts of the mountain are safely accessible change according to volcanic activity.

Guides should all be members of the Association of Mount Batur Trekking Guides who have an office in Toyo Bungkah village from where the trek commences. Book at the office or ask to see proof of membership and expect to pay Rp 300,000 to 400,000.

Use your common sense with the weather but bear in mind that the paths become very slippery when it is raining and should be avoided altogether in the wet season.

There are two commonly used ascent routes. Both are about the same length but by far the best is from Toya Bungkah itself as more than half of the climb is through pleasant shady forest. The alternative route from Pura Jati is across ancient lava fields, there is no shade whatsoever and underfoot conditions can be harsh. Longer treks of up to 10 hours are also available which get you right off the beaten path and will appeal more to serious trekkers. Ask at the guide association office.

Pre-dawn climbs timed to reach the peak at sunrise are popular and also give you the best chance of avoiding cloud which often envelopes the mountain from mid-morning onwards. From the peak of the mountain the views in all directions are quite splendid. The sun rises over much higher Mount Agung to the east while the northerly aspect back towards the crater rim road takes in a large volcanic ash slope with several steaming, active cones. A popular little gimmick from the guides during the climb is to cook an egg on lava-heated rock. Fun, but also a stark reminder of just how active this volcano is.

Other things that can to do

If (and that's a big if) it is passable, the road which circumvents the base of the crater is very much worth a drive. You get some very different perspectives of the mountain from here. From Toya Bungkah the road loops north around Mount Batur, through Yehmampeh, past another important temple called Buki Mentik and then up again rejoining the caldera ridge road between Kintamani and Batur villages. This road is often so damaged as to be impassable except on foot though. You can walk the whole circuit but it is a long trek - about 18 km if you start from the caldera road.

Downhill cycling tours from Kintamani back to Ubud are offered by several operators on the island including Bali Sobek [2], Bali Adventure Tours [3] and BikeBali [4]. This is a relaxing way to explore the pleasant mountain and hill country between Kintamani and Ubud. The tours normally commence mid-morning from Kintamani, include a lunch stop and the total duration is 4-5 hours. Expect to pay about Rp 400,000 per person including all equipment, water and lunch.

Soaking in the hot springs of Toya Devasya right by the lake side in the village of Toya Bungkah. Very relaxing and a great way to warm up on the frequent chilly days up here.

Souvenir

Kintamani is the pushy souvenir hawker capital of Bali. They will surely target you the moment you arrive and try to admire the view. If you are confident handling the haggling with these vendors, Kintamani can turn out to be an interesting shopping experience.

Fruit and vegetables. Kintamani is renowned for growing oranges (especially) and other fruit. You will see lots of streetside vendors in this area selling excellent quality freshly picked fruit. The local orange is called Jeruk Kintamani and is delicious. The areas down around the lake (especially on the eastern shore) are market gardens for all sorts of cool climate vegetables.

Find food

There are a large number of identikit buffet restaurants sited on the main road in Kintamani and Penelokan. These are aimed at tour buses. Avoid like the plague and head instead for local food stands and other outlets close to Kintamani market and smaller restaurants in Penelokan.

In Toya Bungkah there are several small restaurants that specialise in locally caught fish from Lake Batur.

Find drink

There are no bars here at all. If you are staying at Toya Bungkah you might well run into other travellers keen to exchange chat and have a few beers by the lake.

Check in

Few visitors stay in the area but instead take in the sights during the day. Those that do stay do so for the purpose of climbing Mount Batur pre-dawn and therefore stay down around Lake Batur close to the ascent start point in Toya Bungkah or at Kedisan on the southern shore.
Arlinas, Toya Bungkah, ☎ +62 366 51165. Something of an institution in Toya Bungkah and popular with budget travellers. Located next door to the trekking guide association office. You can chose whether you want hot water or not (costs extra) and the rooms have nice verandas with lake views.
Lakeside Cottages, Toya Bungkah, ☎ +62 366 52149. The grandest place down by the lake but still quite simple. Nice views, all rooms have hot water and some of the cottages are really quite large. From Rp 225,000.
Lakeview Hotel, Penelokan village, Bali (on the caldera road at Penelokan), (lakeview@indo.com), [6]. Few foreign visitors ever stay on the caldera ridge road here but if you decide to, this is the nicest of the bunch of hotels there. Amazing views but a strange almost fortress-like design. From US$ 34.
Puri Bening Hyato, Toya Bungkah, ☎ +62 366 51234. Located a little to the north of the other places to stay in Toya Bungkah. The more expensive rooms have hot water. From Rp 120,000.
Putra Mulya, Kedisan, ☎ +62 366 51754. Very simple and cheap rooms and this place on the south shore of the lake is popular with backpackers for that reason Rp 70,000.
Hotel Segara, Kedisan, ☎ +62 366 51136 (hotelsegara@hotmail.com). A variety of rooms here, some with hot water and even TVs. Decent restaurant, internet available, nice views of the lake and a good source of reliable trekking guides. From Rp 150,000.

Contact

Internet access has finally arrived in this area and the better places to stay in Kedisan and Toya Bungkah offer internet facilities for non-guests.
There public telephone offices at Penelokan close to the turn off down to the lake, at Kintamani market and in Toya Bungkah.

Get out

Onto the north coast to Singaraja and quiet beaches at Lovina.
The cultural heartland of Bali in Ubud is just 45 minutes to the south.