Mount Batukaru rises to 2,276 meters in the west-central highlands, making it the second-highest mountain on Bali. Unlike Agung and Batur, it is dormant and cloaked in dense, misty forest from its foothills almost to the summit. It is one of the island's sacred mountains, and its rainfall feeds the rivers and springs that water the rice terraces of Tabanan, including the famous fields of Jatiluwih.
On its southern slope stands Pura Luhur Batukaru, one of Bali's most important state temples, set among tall trees and moss-covered shrines. The temple marks the spiritual center of the mountain, and the wider Batukaru landscape forms part of the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Bali Province. The mountain also has the largest crater on Bali, open at its southern end, though forest hides most of it from view.
Climbing Batukaru is a long, muddy forest walk rather than a classic summit view, and few visitors attempt it. Most people experience the mountain from below: walking the grounds of Pura Luhur Batukaru in cool, damp air, driving through clove and coffee gardens on the lower slopes, or watching the peak emerge from cloud above the terraces in the early morning.
Highlights
- Pura Luhur Batukaru in old forest
- Cool highland air and dense rainforest
- Views of the peak above Jatiluwih terraces
- A quiet alternative to the busier volcanoes
Good to know
- Combine a visit to Pura Luhur Batukaru with the Jatiluwih rice terraces nearby.
- Wear a sarong and sash at the temple; they are usually available at the entrance.
- Anyone attempting the summit should go with a local guide, as the forest trail is easy to lose.
- Go early in the morning, before cloud settles over the mountain.
On the map
Bali 2027 Travel Guide
The complete island guide: where to go, how to get around, what to avoid, health and safety, and the phrases that open doors.