Tanah Lot or Land of the Sea symbolizes the romance of the island of Bali. As the name suggests, Tanah Lot does have a unique offshore setting. Tanah Lot is also the 'home' of one of the famous icons in Bali, namely the Tanah Lot Temple Silhouette.
Tanah Lot is located in Tabanan, only 30 km from Denpasar. Meanwhile, the temple is located about 300 meters offshore. Tanah Lot Temple is believed to have originated in the 16th century according to Dang Hyang Nirartha, a respected religious figure in Bali.
.Dang Hyang Nirartha is believed to be the figure who created the three temple system in villages in Bali. He determined the location of the temple divisions where the temple built on the north side of the village was dedicated to Lord Brahma, in the middle of the village for Lord Vishnu, while the temple on the south side was for Lord Shiva. He got the inspiration to build the temple while walking along the southern coast of Bali. At that time he saw a small rock island known as Gili Beo, in the village of Beraban. When he wanted to carry out his intention to build a temple on Gili Beo, the Beraban leaders and people actually expelled Nirartha.
Based on Balinese mythology, Dang Hyang Nirartha is known as a person who had extraordinary supernatural powers so that he was able to move an entire rock island into the sea, build a temple and name it Tanah Lot. To the point that the entire Beraban village was very surprised and then joined in following what Nirartha believed. Tanah Lot Temple was built to worship Bhatara Segara, or the God of the Sea. It is said that to protect his temple, Nirartha created a poisonous snake thanks to the power of his shawl. This sea snake is believed to live at the bottom of Tanah Lot, to protect the temple from evil intruders.
Currently, Tanah Lot has become a favorite tourist spot for taking photos. Here, Pesona Friends can also find many shops selling local products and handicrafts along the entrance to Tanah Lot. The best time to visit Tanah Lot is during Odalan Day, which is celebrated every 210 days. This ritual usually takes place on the Buddhist holy day Cemeng Langkir near the Galungan and Kuningan celebrations. On this day, Pesona Friends will see rows of Balinese women gracefully carrying offerings on their heads to pray at the Tanah Lot temple.
The Tanah Lot tourist area near Batu is very well managed for tourist purposes, complete with vehicle parking facilities, toilets, art shops, restaurants, hotels, open stages, tourist information services, as well as security and health services. Pesona Friends will find many restaurants to enjoy breakfast or have a luxurious lunch while looking at the beautiful panorama here. Feel calm when you see the sunlight slowly sinking over the western horizon with the atmosphere of the open sea. There is no doubt, this view will be a memorable experience.
