Banjar’s hot springs are naturally warm, mineral-rich water channelled through a series of carved stone spouts into a set of tiered public pools, a short drive inland from Lovina. They are not a resort spa in any conventional sense — there are no private cabanas or curated wellness packages here, just genuinely warm water, a mild sulphur smell that some visitors find pleasant and others find takes a few minutes to get used to, and a relaxed, communal bathing atmosphere shared with local families as much as tourists.
The appeal is straightforward: after a morning of dolphin watching, waterfall trekking, or driving North Bali’s winding roads, a soak here is a genuinely restorative way to end the day, at a fraction of the cost of a proper spa treatment elsewhere on the island. It is also one of the few places in Bali where you will regularly see local families using the same facilities as visitors, rather than a space built exclusively around tourism.
A short distance from the springs sits Brahma Vihara Arama, one of Bali’s only Buddhist monasteries, a quiet counterpoint to the island’s overwhelmingly Hindu temple landscape. Combining the two — a soak followed by a walk through the monastery’s peaceful grounds — makes for one of North Bali’s more genuinely relaxing half-days, without the crowds or queues found at some of the region’s more famous single-attraction stops.
Banjar at a glance
| Where | Inland from Lovina, North Bali, close to Brahma Vihara Arama monastery |
| Cost | Modest entrance fee for the hot springs; the monastery grounds are typically a donation-based entry |
| Time needed | An hour or two for the springs; add thirty to sixty minutes for the monastery |
| Access | Self-drive scooter, private driver, or as a stop on a North Bali multi-day tour |
| Best time | Late afternoon for a quieter soak; any season, since the springs are unaffected by rainfall the way waterfalls are |
What the springs are actually like
The water emerges naturally warm and flows through a set of stone carvings, often shaped as dragon or naga heads, into a tiered series of pools at slightly different temperatures and depths. The mineral content gives the water a faint sulphur smell and a slightly different feel against the skin than ordinary pool water — some visitors find it genuinely soothing for tired muscles after a day of hiking or driving, and locally the springs carry a long-standing reputation for therapeutic benefit, though as with most traditional wellness claims, treat that as folk wisdom rather than a medical guarantee. Changing rooms and lockers are available on site, and the pools themselves are shallow enough for confident non-swimmers to enjoy comfortably.
Brahma Vihara Arama, Bali’s Buddhist monastery
Built in a style that blends Balinese architectural elements with more traditional Buddhist temple design, Brahma Vihara Arama stands out simply by being a genuine exception to Bali’s Hindu-dominated religious landscape. The grounds are peaceful and well maintained, with a large bell, statuary, and views out over the surrounding hills, and visiting requires the same basic respect and modest dress expected at any active place of worship in Bali, even though the specific tradition differs from the island’s more common Hindu temples. It rarely appears on standard South Bali itineraries, which keeps it considerably quieter than most of Bali’s well-known religious sites.
Combining with the rest of North Bali
Because Banjar sits close to Lovina, most visitors fold it into a wider North Bali day rather than treating it as a standalone trip. A packaged option like the two-day North Bali tour covering dolphins and hot springs pairs the early-morning dolphin boat trip with an afternoon soak at Banjar, a sensible way to bookend an active morning with genuine relaxation. Alternatively, the two-day tour with a Lovina stay, temples, and waterfalls covers a broader mix of the region’s stops across an overnight itinerary.
If you’re arriving from or heading toward West Bali, the private transfer routing through Gilimanuk and Bedugul is a practical way to include Banjar as a stop along an already-necessary transit route rather than a separate special trip.
The pool layout and how locals actually use it
The Banjar complex is arranged as a series of connected pools at slightly different levels, with the warmest water generally found closest to where it emerges from the stone spouts and progressively cooler as it flows further down the tiered system.
Balinese families visiting on weekends often treat the springs much as a Western family might treat a public swimming pool — a social outing rather than a wellness ritual — and watching that everyday use unfold alongside visiting tourists is part of what keeps Banjar feeling like a genuine local institution rather than a purpose-built tourist facility. Weekday mornings and mid-afternoons tend to be quieter on the local side of that mix, while weekends bring noticeably more Balinese families, particularly in the cooler late afternoon hours.
A short history of the site
The springs have been used locally for generations before any organised tourism infrastructure existed around them, and the current facility — changing rooms, defined pool edges, ticketing — represents a relatively modern formalisation of what was originally an informal bathing spot known to villages in the area. This history is part of why Banjar retains a different character from more purpose-built wellness attractions elsewhere in Bali: the pools were not designed from scratch as a tourist product, but adapted around an existing, long-standing local practice.
Brahma Vihara Arama’s presence nearby is a related but separate story — the monastery was established considerably later than the springs’ local use began, drawing on North Bali’s more religiously mixed history compared with the south and centre of the island, where Hindu temples dominate almost without exception.
Practical notes on visiting with kids
Families visiting with children generally find Banjar an easier stop than some of North Bali’s more physically demanding attractions like Sekumpul’s steep trek. The shallow depth of several of the pools, combined with a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere, makes it a reasonable place to let kids swim and splash without the same level of vigilance required at open water or a swimming beach. That said, some sections of the pool system are deeper than others, and supervision remains sensible throughout, particularly around the stone spouts where footing can be uneven and slightly slippery.
What isn’t worth the detour
Skip expecting the springs to be quiet and private — this is a public facility that draws both local families and tour groups, and a degree of shared, communal bathing is simply part of the experience rather than a flaw to complain about. Also skip visiting the monastery in shorts or exposed clothing without a plan to cover up; while less strict than some of Bali’s Hindu temples, basic modest dress is still expected and appreciated.
Sulphur smell: what to expect
The mild sulphur odour associated with the springs is a natural by-product of the mineral content in the water and is generally faint rather than overpowering once you are a few minutes into a soak — most visitors report barely noticing it after the initial few minutes, though it can linger faintly on skin and swimwear afterwards, worth knowing if you have a shower and change of clothes planned for later in the day.
What it costs
The hot springs charge a modest entrance fee, among the more affordable paid activities in North Bali, while the monastery grounds typically operate on a donation basis rather than a fixed ticket price. Together, a stop at both remains one of the lower-cost half-days available in this part of the island, particularly compared with a formal spa treatment.
When to go
There is no strong seasonal argument for Banjar specifically, since the spring water temperature is naturally maintained regardless of rainfall, unlike waterfalls that depend on recent weather. Time of day matters more than season: late afternoon tends to see fewer tour groups than the late morning and early afternoon window, when several North Bali day tours converge on the springs around the same time.
Getting there and getting around
Banjar sits a short drive inland from Lovina, reachable by scooter, private driver, or as part of a North Bali tour itinerary; the monastery is a short additional distance from the springs themselves, sometimes walkable depending on where you park. There is no meaningful public transport option covering this route, consistent with most of North Bali away from the main coast road.
How Banjar fits into a longer trip
Banjar works well as an easy, low-effort addition to a North Bali day already built around Lovina, Sekumpul, or Singaraja — read the North Bali day trip guide and the North and West Bali, 4 days itinerary for how to sequence it sensibly rather than as an isolated stop. If Balinese wellness culture interests you more broadly, the Balinese massage and spa guide and Bali wellness retreats guide offer useful comparison points against Banjar’s more public, low-cost soak.
Frequently asked questions about Banjar Hot Springs
Are the hot springs naturally heated or artificially maintained?
Naturally heated by underground geothermal activity, channelled through carved stone spouts into the bathing pools — this is a genuine natural hot spring, not an artificially heated pool.
Is it safe to soak in the water given the sulphur content?
Yes, for the vast majority of visitors, though anyone with sensitive skin or specific medical concerns should check with a doctor beforehand, as with any mineral-rich bathing water.
Do I need to bring my own towel?
Bringing your own is sensible, though basic facilities including changing rooms are available on site; check current amenities with your accommodation or tour operator if travelling light.
Is the Brahma Vihara Arama monastery still an active place of worship?
Yes, it functions as an active Buddhist monastery rather than a purely historical site, so the same basic respect expected at any working religious site applies.
Can I visit Banjar independently without a tour?
Yes, it’s straightforward to reach by scooter or private driver and does not require a guide, though combining it with a broader North Bali tour is a more time-efficient way to see the wider region in one trip.
How does Banjar compare to natural hot springs elsewhere in Bali?
Banjar is among the better known and more developed of Bali’s natural hot springs, with the added draw of the neighbouring monastery — a combination not replicated at most of the island’s other, less developed spring sites.
Is the water at Banjar too hot to be comfortable?
No — the temperature is warm rather than scalding, closer to a comfortably heated pool than a therapeutic hot tub, which makes it suitable for a longer, relaxed soak rather than a brief, intense dip.
What should I wear to the monastery afterwards?
Modest, covered clothing is appropriate — shoulders and knees covered is a sensible default, similar to visiting a Hindu temple elsewhere in Bali, even though the specific religious tradition differs.
Is there anywhere to eat near Banjar?
Small warungs near the entrance offer basic local food and drinks, though the selection is more limited than at Lovina’s beachfront strip, so plan to eat before or after rather than expecting an extensive on-site menu.
