Bali is a part of Indonesian archipelago; lying 3.2 km east of Java and 24 west of Lombok, compare with some of the Indonesian archipelago’s giant islands, Bali is quite small with an area of 5,632 square kilometers The island is approximately 135 km wide east to west and 90 km north to south. The highest point is Mount Agung at 3,142 m (10,308 feet) and the lowest is the beaches all over the island (sea level, 0 m). Located approximately 8 degrees south of the equator, Bali has warm tropical climate with plenty of rain and agreeable dry season.

Bali is noted for the beauty and variety of the landscapes from coastal lowland to the exhilarating high mountain lakes, barren limestone plateaus to thick monsoon forests. A west-to-east volcanic chain divides the island in half. Bali’s mountains covered in tall rainforest stand in contrast to the wild and rugged beauty of volcanic craters, some of which are still active. Crater lakes are found at Batur in the east and Bratan, Buyan and Tamblingan in the rich submontane rainforest area around Bedugul. Fast flowing rivers, deep ravines, rugged saddles, and alluvial slopes score the surface of the island.

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Penglipuran is a traditional village at the administrative village of Kubu village. The air is fresh because it is located at 700 meters above seas level. From historical point of view, according to the village elders, the words Penglipuran is derived from words Pengeling Pura means a holy place for remembering their ancestors.

It is reasonable since their ancestors came from Bayung Gede village, still in Kintamani district. From Bayung Gede to Penglipuran is quite long distance therefore the people of Penglipuran, established the same temple as the temple in Bayung Gede. We can draw conclusion from this matter that the people of Penglipuran is still remembering their origin.

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Whether Subandar is or not another name for For Jaya Kesunu’s wife is highly debatable. The fact that Subandar is an important figure in Bali is beyond question. There is a large shrine dedicated to Ida Ratu Ayu Subandar located in the extreme northeast corner of the outer courtyard of Pura Dalem Balingkang. Inside of it is a long megalith that is considered to be very sacred and in the shape of a barong landung. At any rate, there seems to be some connection between Subandar and the Balingkang stories. With this in mind, let us examine the other Subandar phenomena in Bali.

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Formerly, before it is in its present location Batur Temple is located on the north eastern slope of Mount Batur – village called Songan since the devastating eruption in 1917 which destroyed everything, including the temple it self. Then initiated by the head of the village along with other prominent figures, they brought the surviving shrines with them and rebuilt Batur Temple to the higher place at Kalanganyar or its present location.

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Batur Temple or commonly called Ulun Danu Temple is situated at 900 meters above level of Kalanganyar Batur village Kintamani District on the eastern side of the main road leading to Denpasar or Singaraja via Bangli.

The temple faced west ward where Mount Batur and remains of its solidified black lavas serve as backdrop and Lake Batur stretches far down the slope, enhanced the beauty of nature around the temple.

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Balinese culture is always interacting with the surrounding environment. Their way of thinking, in order to fulfill the necessities ofthe physical and spiritual aspects of life, is based on the integration of intuitive intellect with the potential in their immediate environment. For example, if we look at their architecture, the habitat of the population living in the mountain ranges of Kintamani will not be the same as the houses of the Balinese living in the flatlands of Gianyar, or the coastal area of Kuta, even if the climate and weather is not drastically different.

Sirap (shingle) of bamboo is more often used as material for the roofs of buildings in the mountainous areas of Kintamani because, aside from the fact that it functions as a shield from the cold air, there are many bamboo bushes to be found around Kintamani. On the other hand, in lowland and coastal areas, people choose alang-alang (dry grasses) for their roofing, because this is the easiest material to be found in their surrounding environment.

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