Away from the big tourist places on Bali lies the small place Munduk. Optimal conditions for a few days of relaxation, which does not mean boredom. Because in and around Munduk you can experience a lot and explore interesting destinations. In the following article you will find out what these are.
Where is Munduk?
Munduk is located in the highlands of Bali, west of the twin lakes Danau Tamblingan and Danau Buyan. From Singaraja, Bali’s second largest city, the village is located about 17 kilometers to the south. From Ubud, Munduk is located about 35 kilometers to the northwest.
From Singaraja, it takes about an hour by car to reach Munduk. From Ubud, you should allow about two hours. The journey from the international airport in the south of the island will take even longer. From there, the journey takes about 2.5 hours in good traffic conditions.
Sights in and around Munduk
The landscape around Munduk is characterized by many forested hills and mountains. The lush green nature and numerous waterfalls make Munduk a place for nature lovers.
Waterfalls
Among other things, Munduk is famous for its waterfalls. Due to the mountainous landscape, there are several large and small waterfalls in the region. Some of them are now very touristy, as they are popular as photo motifs. Others are less popular, but no less beautiful than the heavily frequented ones. If you like a bit more peace and quiet and don’t want to be with tens of other tourists, you should choose one of the less known waterfalls as your destination.
Rice Terraces
Like so many others in Bali, rice is grown in abundance in Munduk. Due to the mountainous location, some of the rice fields were created as rice terraces. These elaborately laid out fields invite you to take relaxing walks with wonderful views of the landscape. Small paths lead through the rice terraces in Munduk, which are also used by the farmers.
Twin lakes
East of Munduk borders Danau Tamblingan – one of the two twin lakes. Directly at the Tamblingan Lake there is a small hiking trail that leads to the temple Pura Ulun Danu Tamblingan. This temple is located so close to the shore that it is partially surrounded by water when the lake level is high. Around the lake it is possible to hike in a relaxed way.
If you want to go a little further than Tamblingan Lake, you will reach the second of the twin lakes shortly after – Danau Buyan. This one is much bigger than Tamblingan. Here, among other things, there is the possibility of camping. But even without an overnight stay you can enjoy the idyllic lake wonderfully.
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
If you drive a little further east from Munduk past the twin lakes, you will reach Bedugul. Here you will find Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, one of the most famous temples in Bali. He is a popular photo motif and excursion destination and thus attracts plenty of tourists. And rightly so. The temple stands partly on artificial islands and thus in the lake Danau Bratan. The multi-storey merus (pagoda roofs) together with the lake and the mountains in the background form an extraordinary picture.
Conclusion: Is a visit to Munduk worthwhile?
For travelers who enjoy great landscapes, nature and impressive waterfalls, Munduk is the perfect place to spend a few days. The abundance of greenery invites you to exciting discovery tours. No matter if you go to the rice fields or to the waterfalls, which are mostly surrounded by dense trees and bushes. In addition, around Munduk you will find other excursion destinations, such as the twin lakes or one of the most famous temples of Bali. It will definitely not be boring there.
