Danau (lake) Batur is the largest of Bali 's 4 mountain Lakes, with a length of 8km and a width of 3km. Danu Batur sits inside the massive 13km long caldera (crater) which also contains Gunung (mount) Batur (1717m).
As the largest lake in Bali, Danau Batur is sacred to the Balinese, with the Goddess of the Lakes, Ida Batara Dewi Ulun Danu, honored at Pura Ulun Danu Batur which is on the crater rim. The original temple was at lakeside, but was moved, together with the village of Batur in 1926 after an earthquake. Around the lake, which are fed by 11 springs which the Balinese believe supply many other springs in Bali.
Danau Batur lies 500m below the crate rim. Villages that circle the lake are called ‘bintang danu’ which means ’stars of the lake’. Access to the lakeside from the crater rim is via Penelokan. The winding road drops and gives some nice views of the lake and the surrounding areas. At first it seems surreal to be inside a massive volcanic crater, next to a freshwater lake and seeing people farming crops at the edge. The 3km drive takes no time at all and arriving at lakeside you have 2 immediate options for accommodation, go right to Buahan and the Hotel Baruna, or turn left towards guest houses close to Kedisan. Toya Bungkah, the main trekking point has more accommodation options and is around 4-5km past the junction to the NE.
It is possible to take a public bemo bus from Penelokan to lakeside. These bemos will go as far as Songan, though not frequently. Better to aim for Toya Bungkah. Bemos will also take you as far as Abang on the SE edge of the lake. For people wishing to get to the Bali Agavillage of Trunyan, accessible only by boat, you can get the best deals from Abang, rather than the main boat area at strong>Kedisan. Driving around inside the Batur crater it is easy to get disoriented for a couple of reasons. Firstly, if you are reading from a guide book you will read about things on the edge of the crater rim, edge of the lake, inside the crater and around the mountain. Important to remember which object the book is referring to. Secondly, its not until to start exploring the inside of the crater that you realize there are 2 crater rims, one inside the other, on the western and northern sides.