The Balinese temple - Tirta Empul Temple

bali vacation
8 min readDec 3, 2022

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Tirta empul temple

Where exactly is Pura Tirta Empul Bali's Temple located? Both foreigners and Balinese frequent this popular attraction. This spot is the pinnacle of relaxation and a fantastic introduction to Balinese culture. Sure to rank high on your list of recommended activities in Ubud.

If you visit the Tirta Empul temple in Bali, Indonesia, you can take advantage of the holy waters and water fountains there. This one is a must-read for any Bali traveler who has seen the Uluwatu Temple. In addition, it’s one of the most enjoyable activities you can have in Ubud. In the same vein as Bali’s monkey forest, this is one of the most delightful destinations.

Tirta Empul means holy spring, and the Pura Tirta Empul Bali temple is the holiest of all Bali's Hindu temples. Its pure waters are where locals perform their daily rituals of worship and purification. And the water of the temple is known as Amritha, which means holy in Balinese Hindi; the temple is located in Tampaksiring in Bali, Indonesia; and locals and people from all over the world travel there virtually constantly throughout the year.

Explains everything you need to know about visiting Bali's Pura Tirta Empul.

What do the fountains at Tirta Empul mean?
Top Attractions in the Tirta Empul Temple Mayadenawa played hide-and-seek from Indra's army at locations ranging from the Petanu and Pakerisan rivers to the north of Tampaksiring.

The temple of Empul features no fewer than 13 separate fountains. Each one is a prayer for forgiveness and a ritual for cleansing your soul. For almost a thousand years, this site has served as a pilgrimage for repentant soldiers. The magical properties of the water are also put to use to protect people from bad spirits.

It is claimed that Indra the Hindu god constructed the spring that feeds the 13 water fountains and that mythology still exists on today, thus, it is imperative you visit the Ubud water temple with full respect.

It's fine to photograph the Ubud temple for your own enjoyment, but keep in mind that people visit the temple often to receive blessings.

The Pura Tirta Empul Bali: Where Is It Located?

The holy spring temple is located in Tampaksiring which is near the town of Manukaya. The area may be reached from north of Ubud in about half an hour and from Denpasar in around an hour and a half. Public transportation is available and runs often; alternatively, you can book a private cab for as little as $45 for the day.

To ride the bus, you need to do some investigating and purchase a ticket. There are signs everywhere, but you won't get lost. Or you can hire a minivan from any local tour operator or there are several taxi sellers, mostly, you will notice them near your hotel. You can also rent a motorbike from the local taxi sellers.

How much does it cost to park at the temple?

Motorcycle parking costs (IDR 2000) in Ubud's Petirtaan Pura temple, while automobile parking costs (IDR 5000). (IDR 5000).

Bali’s Tirta Empul Temple’s Visiting Hours

When do the doors officially open? The Ubud holy spring water temple hours; (9am to 5pm) (9am to 5pm), Please tell me when I should go! If you want to avoid long waits in traffic, it’s better to leave your Ubud hotel no later than 7:30 or 8 in the morning to make the trek to the temple. Leaving early is ideal to appreciate the fountain blessings at a peaceful time, additionally The visitors start to come more and more around 12pm and afterwards.

There is a lot of tourists that visit here because it is one of the more prominent tourist points of interest in Ubud.

You should also check out the Gunung Kawi temple in Bali which is another renowned tourist site.

Tirta Empul Temple Tour
If you don’t want to go to the temple, you can plan a trip and visit other attractions in Bali as well as the water fountains. A typical tour will take you to Mount Batur, the Ubud monkey forest, and the Bali swing, saving you time and money compared to visiting each attraction independently.

Doing a tour in Bali is a great way to see all the regular tourism sites without the stress of having to drive around Bali yourself.

Where do I go to reserve a tour?
Bali Vacation are your best bet for finding a good deal, and you can always haggle down the price with them (also see if Bali is expensive).

Prices to enter Ubud’s Tirta Empul water temple

Tickets to visit Tirta Empul (adults: IDR 15,000) on the island of Bali cost (IDR 7,500 for children). This fee grants access to the temple’s gardens and blessing water fountains; however, if you want to swim in the fountain pools, you’ll need to rent a sarong. As an added bonus, you’ll gain a ton of insight into Balinese culture and have a blast doing it, so it’s money well spent.

It is entirely up to you whether or not you want to make a further contribution to the funding of the water temple. Furthermore, there is a large car parking lot quite some distance from the temple's main entrance that you will see as soon as you arrive.

What to wear?

Wearing the traditional'sarong' cloth is required before entering the Empul holy water temple in Ubud. Just outside the temple's main gate, for a minimum donation of IDR 10,000, you can hire a sarong and a locker.

what to wear to the the tirta empul Bali

Additionally, I was told off for entering the holy water while wearing my own clothes, which is incredibly important to the natives but I didn't know about.

What Should I Pack for a Trip to Asia? To see what I recommend bringing for a trip to Asia, take a look at my packing list.

Before you travel to Indonesia's Bali, make sure you read up on everything there is to know about the island in our comprehensive guide.

Historical Tirta Empul Water Fountains and Their Associated Rituals

The Pakersian river provides the source water for this temple, which was established in 962 A.D., and is the oldest Hindu temple in Bali. In addition, legend has it that Indra or Vishnu fashioned the sacred rivers (Gods in Hinduism).

The king, Mayadenawa, in this tale, actively opposed Hinduism by refusing to acknowledge its validity. The gods decided to send Indra to investigate the situation.

According to the myth, King Mayadenawa hid in the woods as Indra seta searched for him, eventually making his way from the Petanu river to the Pakersian river and then to the north of Tampaksiring.

Furthermore, the term Tampaksiring means feet sideways, the king left his footprints on the hill while hiding from the troops. Mayadenawa, using his magical abilities, poisoned the spring to keep his troops at bay; when they drank from the spring, they all perished. Indra, upon learning of this, purified the soldiers and brought them back to life.

Originally constructed for Indonesia's first president, Soekarno, the shrine has now become a major tourist destination. President Barack Obama and his family paid a visit to the temple in 2017.

A look at the Pura Tirta Empul tampak siring
There are four sections that make up the Pura Empul:

center courtyard -Jaba Tengah -Jeroan -Koi Pool
The name "Jaba Pura" refers to this section of the temple. To reach the temple's secondary section, continue through the Jaba Pura until you reach another Candi Bentar. Great stone statues flank this entrance. The statues depict two guardians, or Dwarapala. Smooth golden paint covers these figurines. As you stroll about the shrine the local shopkeepers will distribute bananas and water to the tourists.

At this point, you'll reach the Jaba Tengah, the heart of the temple, which is home to 30 water fountains and 2 pools (also known as purifying pools). A large queue of Hindu devotees, tourists, and native Balinese people can usually be seen forming near the Tirta Empul springs, waiting for their turn to take a holy bath.

For this ritual, known as melukat, participants stand next to the line and take turns dunking their heads in the fountains until all 30 spouts have been used. Although the last two fountains at Pura Tirta are reserved for the dead, visitors often visit them anyway.

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The Jeroan, the temple's final and most remote section, can be found behind the temple's holy springs. This is where the majority of worshippers in the temple go to avoid the crowds of both locals and visitors. Among the little fish and algae-colored water of this spring sits a massive shrine complex.

The large pool of koi fish awaits you as you leave the holy water temple. You may relax and unwind in this tranquil area of the temple while simultaneously feeding the fish, thanks to the four surrounding concrete walls. You can buy water, traditional jewelry, and other small items at the residents' makeshift stands that line the exit.

Information for Tourists
Considering a Trip to Bali’s Tirta Empul Temple

With that in mind, here is a list of helpful hints that will aid you in avoiding offending the locals and will allow you to maintain your precautionary measures, as this is the holy place of Balinese and the most respected area:

  • Get out of there early; if you wait until the last minute, you can get caught in a traffic jam on the way out.
  • Don’t bother going to temple if you’re still feeling the effects of last night’s partying.
  • Bear in mind that you’ll need to pay for the sarong’s rental out of pocket, so keep some spare cash with you at all times.
  • When visiting the temple for a bath, leave your passport at home and instead rent a locker.
  • Make sure you don’t lose the locker key if you rent one.
    Remember to get your belongings from the locker and double-check them before you put them back inside.
  • We do not allow women who are menstruating.
  • If you have a youngster, make sure he/she doesn’t pee in the pools.
  • Always have your phone inside a watertight case.
  • Make sure to bring along some spare clothes just in case.
  • Use sandals.
  • To protect your eyes after swimming in the pools, we recommend using bottled water. Furthermore, make sure your eyes and nostrils are closed before you enter the water.

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