Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is arguably the most photogenic temple in Bali: a multi-tiered meru tower reflected in the still waters of Lake Beratan at dawn, with highland mists drifting in from the forested crater rim above. The temple was built in 1633 by the King of Mengwi and is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of water, lakes, and rivers — and by extension the patron deity of Bali's traditional rice-agriculture irrigation network. The lake, situated in a volcanic caldera at 1,240 metres above sea level, is one of Bali's three great highland crater lakes. Its waters feed the irrigation systems of wide swathes of central and western Bali, making the temple's function as a centre of water management rituals as practical as it is spiritual. The complex consists of five individual temples on the lake shore and on small islands. On overcast or misty mornings — which are common at this elevation — the meru towers appear to float entirely detached from the land, creating the famous "floating temple" effect. Early morning (6–8 a.m.) before tour buses arrive offers the best light, the best reflections, and the genuine atmosphere of the temple's daily rituals.