KINTAMANI

Kintamani is a village on the slopes of Mount Batur. All at once the temperature in this place can drop to 18o or possibly even lower, but the life of the locals is not too much different from their fellows in the other parts of the island. Just a piece of sarong to wrap the body, a pair of rubber sandals for the feet, and a hot boiled sweet corn in hand is enough to accompany them along the foggy paths.

Turning down the slopes visitors can see the blackly blue lake of Batur surrounded by grey black lava remnants, reminding everyone of the eruptions of the volcano in 1917 and 1927 which killed 1,500 people and destroyed 64.000 homes and properties, including its temple, the temple of Ulun Danu Batur. This temple, which is dedicated to the goddess of the lake, Devi Danu, has been replaced by a new one at a higher place. Turning down from the Kecamatan (district) of Kintamani for about 7 Kilometers is found a curve, Panelokan, or the “place to see”, where visitors can see the enchanting view down the lake and down the lava remnants, under the hanging fogs and clouds. It is very interesting to stay in Kintamani or Panelokan for two or three days, as long as one always remembers to have the dinner before the restaurants are closed soon after dark.