Penulisan means 'Place of Writing'. You'll find this site eight-km north of Kintamani at a left bend on one of Bali's prettiest roads. Spectacularly situated on the outer edge of the Batur crater, this remote temple is the highest (1,745 meters) and perhaps oldest on the island. Penulisan is believed to have been the mountain sanctuary of the kings of the Pejeng dynasty.

Today, people in the surrounding villages worship here. It's also visited by pilgrims from all over Bali.

From Sukawana, to the east of the stairway up to Pura Penulisan, take the high road that follows the northern rim of the outer crater from where you can take in the wild and rugged beauty of the crater. The road plunges to Pinggan on the crater's north side, then curves southeast to Songan.

Through pine forests and coffee, clove, and citrus plantations the road north of Penulisan winds down to the ocean at Kubutambahan, 47 km away. From there you can either head west to Singaraja and Lovina or east to Tirtagangga and Amlapura. Down the road from Penulisan, toward Kubutambahan, is Desa Adat Loteng, where local 'banjar' keep a traditional trinity temple.