Pura Tirta Empul (the holy water temple), whose scared springs are said to have been created by the Hindu God Indra and possess curative properties. For thousands of years, Balinese and Hindu worshipers have been drawn to Pura Tirta Empul. The spring is the source of the Pakerisan river.

This tradition continues almost unchanged, and today, aside from worshipers, tourists from all over the world also come to this place to marvel at its beauty and bathe in its refreshing blessed water. Pura Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple is located in the village of Manukaya, near the town of Tampaksiring, not far from Ubud, in the Gianyar Regency, the cultural heart of Bali. The temple is situated just below the Presidential Palace of Tampaksiring.

Built-in 1957 by Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, the beautifully built palace itself is an important landmark of the island and the country. Together with the Presidential Palace, the Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple provides some of the most fascinating views you will ever see.

Just as at other temples and sacred sites around the island, you will need to put on a ‘sarong’ before entering the premises. The sarongs are available at the temple’s entrance and can be rented for a small amount. You can get your own sarongs if you have one. Sarongs are a garment consisting of a long piece of cloth worn wrapped round the body and tucked at the waist. Traditionally worn in Southeast Asia by Men and women.

As soon as you enter the temple, you will walk through the large stone Balinese gate (locally known as Candi Bentar) and arrive in the outer courtyard of the temple. This area of the temple is called ‘Jaba Pura. ‘At the end of the courtyard is another Candi Bentar built into the wall that leads to the central courtyard. This gate is guarded by smoothly carved huge statues of two Dwarapala or guardians given a brush of golden colors. The Temple is divided into 3 sections: Jaba Pura (Front yard), Jaba Tengah (Central) and Jeroan (Inner yard). Jaba Tengah contains 2 pools with 30 showers which are named accordingly: Pengelukatan, Pebersihan and Sudamala dan Pancuran Cetik (poison). They have beautiful names 😊.

The holy springs here bubble up into a large, crystal-clear pool within the temple and gush out through 30 waterspouts into the two sacred purification pools. Local Balinese and Hindu worshippers stand in long lines in the pools waiting to dip their heads under the waterspouts in a purification ritual known as ‘melukat’. Behind the purification, pools are the final section of the Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple, called the Jeroan. Mostly overlooked by tourists, the jeroan or inner courtyard is a pleasant place to visit and relax after the hustle and bustle of the purification pools. This is where people come to pray.

The front part of the courtyard is dominated by the large water spring that feeds the purification pools. The spring is filled with green algae and small fish swim among the reeds. Behind the springs are large Hindu shrines. This part of the temple is nice to quickly explore. The shrines are brightly decorated, which contrasts with the starched white clothing of the Balinese who come here to pray.

As you exit Tirta Empul you pass through a large pool filled with koi fish. This section of the temple is walled off on all four sides from the rest of the complex, which gives it a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Fat koi swim lazily in the pond waiting for their next meal.

Tirta Empul is dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu God of water. An inscription dates the founding of a temple at the site to 926 AD during the Warmadewa dynasty. In the Balinese language, Tirta Empul loosely translated means water gushing from the earth, which for this reason Tirta Empul is regarded as a holy spring. There is a Legendary story behind the creation of this temple. Be sure to hear the story 😊. The Balinese believe that the creation of Tirta Empul involves the legend of an epic battle between a powerful and magical king named Mayadenawa and the God Indra. The Hindu Balinese commemorate the death of Mayadenawa every 210 days in the Balinese traditional calendar as the day when Virtue triumphs over Evil in the ritual and ceremony called Galungan.

Pura Tirta Empul is one of the most beautiful and relaxing places that you can visit in Bali. Do not miss going to this temple. You need get your entrance ticket to Tirta Empul. The ticket can be bought at the ticket counter which located just before the entrance gate and set away from the main road. The payment should be cash in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), so please prepare small cash before you come here. Like many of the temples around Bali, Tirta Empul is open seven days a week. The opening hours for the temple are between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Though it is advisable and seen that the evening visits especially on the full moon nights are truly mesmerizing and keep you spellbound, the best timings for Tirta Empul Temple visit is around 8 am to to 2 pm.

It’s a must go place when you visit Bali !!