Lake Batur and Bali Aga from Trunyan

🌊 Lake Batur: volcanic mirror in the heart of Bali

📍 Location and geography

• Located in the Mount Batur caldera, in the region of Kintamani, northeast of Bali.
• This is the largest lake on the island, with an area of ​​approximately 16 km², perched at 1,033 meters above sea level.
• Formed by an ancient volcanic eruption, it lies between the mountains Batur and Abang, offering a dramatic and captivating landscape.

🌄 Ambiance and atmosphere

• The waters of the lake vary from deep blue to emerald green depending on the light and clouds.
• In the morning, a light mist floats on its surface, creating an almost mystical atmosphere.
• The banks are lined with traditional villages, of natural hot springs, and of sacred temples as Pura Ulun Danu Batur, dedicated to the goddess of water.

🚣‍♂️ Activities around the lake

• Boat trips to explore the shores and reach Trunyan.
• Hiking in the caldera or towards the summit of Mount Batur.
• Thermal baths in Toya Bungkah, powered by volcanic geothermal energy.
• Watching local fishermen, which still use traditional techniques.

🧙‍♂️ Trunyan: the timeless Bali Aga village

🏞️ An isolated and ancestral village

• Trunyan is located on the eastern shore of Lake Batur, at the foot of the Mount Abang, accessible only by boat from the opposite bank.
• This village is inhabited by the Bali Aga, the Original Balinese, which have preserved traditions predating the arrival of Javanese Hinduism in the 14th century.

🌳 The Taru Menyan: the sacred tree

• The name Trunyan comes from Taru (tree) and Menyan (scented).
• A sacred tree grows in the center of the village cemetery, clearing a natural incense scent which neutralizes that of decomposing bodies.

⚰️ A funeral rite unique in the world

• Unlike the rest of Bali, the people of Trunyan do not burn or bury their dead.
• The bodies are placed on the ground, under bamboo cages, in an open-air cemetery, only accessible by boat.
• Thanks to the fragrance of Taru Menyan, no smell of putrefaction does not emerge, despite the visible presence of human skulls and bones.

🛕 Spirituality and preservation

• The temple Pancering Jagat, one of the oldest in Bali, houses a 4-meter megalithic statue representing the ancestral god Bhatara Datonta.
• The inhabitants live mainly from fishing, of corn cultivation, and of community rituals, by limiting contact with the outside world.

✨ Why this region is fascinating

Lake Batur and Trunyan form a striking duo : the raw beauty of volcanic nature and the spiritual depth of a preserved culture. It is a place where one feels the power of the elements, the respect for ancestors, and a intimate connection with the sacred.