PURA ULUN DANU BATUR is the second most important temple on the island after the mother temple Besakih. It is one of the highly venerated directional temples. The temple honors the Goddess of the lake Dewi Danu who controls the water for the irrigation system throughout the island. The different temples in the complex thus reflect a concern with not only the invisible world, but the world of living as well. Parts of the major shrines are; PURA PENATARAN AGUNG BATUR is the principal temple, with the five main courtyards. The dominant shrines are the merus, an 11-tiered one for the lake goddess and three 9-tiered ones for the gods of mount Batur, mount Abang, and Ida Batara Dalem Waturenggong, the defied king of Gelgel dynasty who said to have ruled from 1460 to 1550. The Chinese looking shrine is for Ida Ratu Ayu Subandar, the patron saint of commerce. Another 3-tiered meru is for Ida Ratu Ayu Kentel Gumi who protects the crops from disease. PENATARAN PURA JATI is related to the source temple on the western edge of the lake. PURA TIRTA BUNGKAH is related to the hot spring down by the lake. PURA TAMAN SARI and PURA TIRTA MAS MAMPEH are concerned with agriculture. PURA SAMPIAN WANGI is dedicated to such crafts as weaving, sewing, the making of offerings and ceremonial cakes. PURA GUNARALI is where adolescent boys and girls can invoke help to develop their natural abilities. PURA PADANG SILA consists of forty-five stone shrines for the gods and goddesses of Pura Ulun Danu Batur. PURA TULUKBIU just next to Pura Ulun Danu is another relocated temple. Tulukbiu is the old name of Abang, the second highest mountain in Bali at the southern edge of the summit of Mt. Abang. ERUPTION of Mt. BATUR - it has erupted more than 20 times since 1800, major eruption was in 1917, August 3rd, 1926, September 1963, May 1964, March 1974, and August 7th, 1994.
