Climbing Tracks of Agung Mountain

1. Besakih Track

Named Besakih track because the climb start is from Besakih temple, the biggest temple on Bali located at the Agung mountain foot. Generally, climb track at Besakih track start at 900 meters above sea level (masl) with stairs path follow by a footstep track with bush and heterogeneous forest. Out from temple area is heterogeneous forest such as pine, casuarinas, and other tree. Next forest is casuarinas homogeneous woods and ended by camp location knowing as Boyke (2560 masl). Track to mountaintop is rocky and slope upward with edelweiss plant. Need to be remember, there is four tops at Besakih track, that is top appearance, fist top, second top, and maintop with dead cauldron at 3142 (masl).

More than just hight

Transportations Route:

• Denpasar city (Ubung terminal or Tegal terminal) to Kreneng terminal (blue bemo (super mini bus))
• Kreneng terminal to Batubulan terminal at Gianyar regent (yellow bemo)
• Batubulan terminal –Klungkung terminal at Klungkung regent (mini bus)
• Klungkung terminal –Besakih village at Karangasem regent (mini bus)

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2. Selat Track

Named Selat track because the climb start is from Selat sub district at Karangasem regent. Generally Selat track is shorter than Besakih track, but steeper. Climbing is start from Pasar Agung temple (1620 masl) on heterogeneous forest at Sebudi village. In the middle woods, there is camp location named Telaga Emas (gold pond) at 1990 masl. From Telaga Emas, the track is rocky until mountaintop at 2850 masl. Mountaintop of Selat is different with Besakih mountaintop. Until this information is written, no one has tray to cross from Selat to Besakih mountaintop or other way.

Transportations Route:

• Denpasar city (Ubung terminal or Tegal terminal) to Kreneng terminal (blue bemo (super mini bus))
• Kreneng terminal to Batubulan terminal at Gianyar regent (yellow bemo)
• Batubulan terminal –Klungkung terminal at Klungkung regent (mini bus)
• Klungkung terminal to Selat village at Karangasem regent (bemo)

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3. Datah Track

This track is not publish in purpose to keep the naturally and the ecosystem. For climber with research purpose please contact Mapala WD at university of Udayana Denpasar, Bali.

4. Tanah Aron Track

This track is forgotten for long time, it use for rare ritual only. Until this information is write, definite information is not clear yet. Generally the track is very steep and has many ravine and cliff that is very difficult to past.

Important Thing For Agung Mountain Climber

Because at the foot mountain there are many temple, especially Besakih temple is the biggest temple, so every climber is not allow to:

• Bring food contain cow, except milk
• Climb while menstruation
• Use bad language
• Use/bring gold jewelry, for Selat track only

Is very important to find out information about there is or not ritual activity on Agung mountain temples. Because, all climb track will be close for a times if there is ritual on Agung mountain temples.

Below are some continually rituals at Besakih temple:

• Eka Dasa Rudra is a ritual every 100 years. Is a biggest yadnya (holy sacrifice) ritual, involves all Hindu religious community. This ritual in purpose to purify 11 direction, that is: north east, east, south east, south, south west, west, north west, north, and three in the center (this is not compass direction, but a symbolic). Last time this ritual carried out is at 1900 Saka or on March 1979 Century.
• Panca Wali Krama is a ritual every 10 years. Entire world purify ritual with God manifestation at five directions that is north, east, south, west, and center. Last time this ritual carried out on March 1989. For this ritual, climbing track is closed form 30 day before (H –30) until 40 day after (H +40).
• Bhetara Turun Kabeh, belong to Hindu belief, on that day, all God go down from Haven (God world). That way all Hindu religious community makes prays. This ritual is annually every April right after Nyepi (seclusion) ritual. For this ritual, climb track is closed from H –7 until H +11.

Below are two rituals at Pasar Agung temple, climb track are close from H –3 until H +3 for Selat track only

• Puranama Kelima, annually every fifth full moon according Saka calendar.
• Wodalan, twice a years, on Wednesday Cemeng Ukir Saka calendar.

Source: Mapala WD book library at University of Udayana, Denpasar, Bali.