Bangli, Peace and Harmony

Speeding Around Batur Lake

Before the 1980’s, traditional rowboats and speed boat became the main transportation means for the villages of Batur Lake surrounding that renowned as Bintang Danu (the Lake Star), which is Songan village, Trunyan village, Abangbatudingding village, Buahan village and Kedisan village. At that time, the path connecting Kedisan village –Songan village did not exist yet, so the water transportation was an important means for the people who wanted or needed to travel.

At the beginning of 1980’s, the road constructed along the lake Batur border connecting Kedisan village to Songan village exactly on the area of eruption stones of Mountain Batur. Although the road exists and the ground transportation is available, the water transportation with traditional rowboats and speedboat keep surviving.
According to Transportation Sub office Chief, Department of Communication of Bangli Regency, R Setiawan, 82 speedboats plus one police patrol speedboat unit operated at Lake Batur. These speedboats used dominantly for tourism transportation to Trunyan village and Kuburan Desa Trunyan (cemetery of Trunyan village). The harbor center located at Kedisan village. R Setiawan said, that his side continuously submitted any efforts to control the transportation in Batur Lake, such as security system establishment for passenger’s safety and comfortable.
From the Tourism and Culture Department of Bangli Regency, the speedboat rate information as tourism transportation varies from Rp.195.000 up to Rp.211.500 and is categorized according number and age of passenger. For children passenger, 1 children: Rp. 195.000, 2 children: Rp. 196.000, and 3 children: Rp. 197.000, 4 children: Rp. 198.000, 5 children: Rp. 199.000, 6 children: Rp.200.000, and 7 children: Rp. 201.000. For the adult, 1 person: Rp. 196.500, 2 persons: Rp. 199.000, and 3 persons: Rp. 201.000, 4 persons: Rp. 204.000, 5 persons: Rp. 206.500, 6 persons: Rp.209.000, and 7 persons: Rp. 211.500.
Meanwhile, for canoes or small rowboats used as fish-catcher boat. According to I Gede Artha, SH, one of Songan village elder, this canoe at present number in tens and for sometimes rented by the tourist, but in less number.
(BTN/030)