Tirta Empul One of the busiest water temples in Indonesia, Tirta Empul is a temple that is considered sacred by the Balinese Hindu community.This temple has several holy springs which are said to have been created by the God Indra and are believed to be blessed water that can purify people who bathe there.Tirta Empul is dedicated to Vishnu, the God of water in Hinduism. In Balinese, Tirta Empul, loosely translated, means water that radiates from the earth, so Tirta Empul is considered a holy spring. Tirta Empul Temple includes shrines to Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, as well as a shrine to Indra and Mount Batur. It is considered one of the five holiest temples in all of Bali and is considered one of the most sacred water sources in Bali. You can also find other Holy Water Temples in Bali such as Ulun Danu Temple on Lake Beratan, Tirta Tawar Temple in Gianyar, Tirta Harum Temple in Bangli, Tirta Taman Mumbul Temple in Badung, and many more.
Tirta Empul was founded in 926 AD and is still actively used today. Although it is a sacred place of worship for local residents, tourists from all over the world are welcome to experience its beauty and participate in purification rituals. In 2017, former US President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and their daughters Malia and Natasha, made Tirta Empul one of their chosen sites to visit and enjoy.
If you are planning to visit Tirta Empul, here are things you need to know more about this holy temple:
The inside of Tirta Empul : Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple is located in the village of Manukaya, near the town of Tampaksiring, not far from Ubud, in Gianyar Regency, the cultural heart of Bali. This temple is located right under the Tampaksiring Presidential Palace. Built in 1957 by Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, this beautifully constructed palace is an important landmark of the island and the country. Along with the Presidential Palace, the Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple provides some of the most stunning views you will ever see.
As a center for bathing or bathing, Tirta Empul is a fairly large temple complex and it takes at least 30 minutes to an hour to explore the entire site. Just like other temples and holy places around the island, you need to wear a 'sarong' before entering the site. Sarongs are available at the temple entrance and can be rented for a small donation.
Once you enter the temple, you will walk through a large Balinese stone gate (known locally as candi bentar) and arrive at the outer courtyard of the temple. This temple area is called Jaba Sisi. At the end of the courtyard there is another momentary temple installed on the wall leading to the central courtyard. This gate is guarded by a large statue of two finely carved Dwarapalas or guards, brushed with gold. At the top of the gate there is a Kala carving which is quite different from other Kala carvings because it has fangs extending upwards and a pair of hands with open arms.
.Bali Entering the inner courtyard, you will arrive at the Central Jaba area which is the main area of the temple. The sacred spring water here overflows into a large, crystal-clear pool within the temple and flows out via 30 water jets into two sacred purification pools. Local Balinese people and Hindus stand in long lines at the pool waiting to dip their heads into the water jets in a purification ritual known as melukat. Bathing starts in the pool from the left side, standing in the waist-deep pool below the first water jet. After they dust themselves off under the first spray, they join the next queue. This process is continued until they clear themselves under each waterspout. However, there are two sprays which are intended only to purify dead people and are prohibited from being used by living people for the melukat ritual.
Behind the purification, the pool is the last part of the Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple which is called jeroan. Often overlooked by tourists, the innards or inner courtyard is a pleasant place where people come to pray. The front of the courtyard is dominated by a large spring that flows water into a purification pool. The spring is filled with green algae and small fish swim among the reeds. Behind the spring is a large Hindu shrine. This part of the temple is good for a quick exploration. The temples are brightly decorated, contrasting with the starched white clothes of the Balinese who come here to pray.Coming out of Tirta Empul you pass a large pond filled with koi fish. This part of the temple is surrounded by walls on all four sides of the complex, providing a calm and relaxing atmosphere. Fat koi swim lazily in the pond waiting for their next meal.
