Throughout our trip I planned an itinerary that involved staying overnight near temples, allowing us the freedom to visit them in the morning before the crowds hit. It is for that reason we spent a night in Bedugul.

We stayed a night at the Zen Rooms Cemara Bedugul, however I wouldn’t recommend this as accommodation. Whilst the staff were really friendly and the location was great for our purpose the room was really run down and not at all like the room represented in the photos.

We ate at the Hot Chocolate House, which was absolutely amazing. I had the richest chocolate fondue, all whilst overlooking a beautiful view of the lake. For anyone with a sweet tooth this place is a must stop.

The local area is known for producing strawberries and so we had a lunch at Strawberry Stop, which does sell normal savoury food too. The value was insanely good and everything we had was delicious. I especially loved the strawberry juice, which really hit the spot on a warm day. The place looks very simple but absolutely worth stopping at.

The reason for our visit was the temple Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a Hindu temple located on the shores of Lake Bratan. The appeal of this temple is it’s stunning location, the lake surrounded by mountains, it’s all very magical.

The gardens next to the temple are beautiful and within the complex there are a restaurant, toilets, play parks and even a hut with a display of animals so there is plenty of occupy your time.

The inner sanctums of the temples are not accessible if you’re not a worshipper but much of the complex can be viewed from the gates.

I’d recommend taking the times to stroll away from the temple and explore the shores of the Lake, which often has a mist lightly floating on it, giving it a very mystical aura.