Tanah Lot
Pura Tanah Lot
A 16th-century sea temple standing on a rock just offshore. Surrounded by water at high tide, its silhouette at sunset is one of Bali's most famous images.
Tanah Lot Temple is on Bali's southwest coast in Tabanan Regency. According to legend, it was founded in the 16th century by the Javanese priest Dang Hyang Nirartha. It is one of seven sea temples that guard Bali's coastline, and it is dedicated to the sea god. The temple is built on a huge offshore rock eroded by waves; at high tide, it is completely surrounded by the sea. At low tide, you can walk over the reef to the base of the rock, where a priest sprinkles holy spring water as a blessing (donations are voluntary). A sea snake, considered a guardian, lives in a cave beneath the rock. Only Hindus may climb up to the temple itself. The grounds also include Pura Batu Bolong, a temple built on a natural rock arch. From the cliff path, you can photograph it with the setting sun. Along the path are souvenir stalls and cafés, and the open-air cafés on the cliffside before sunset make excellent viewing spots. Entry costs IDR 75,000 for foreign adults and IDR 50,000 for children, with parking charged extra. Every day at 18:30, the open-air amphitheater in the grounds hosts a Kecak dance performance (about IDR 100,000). Visiting tips: arrive around 16:30, explore Batu Bolong and the path first, wait on the beach in front of the temple for sunset at 17:30, and enjoy the afterglow and waves at 18:30. The whole visit takes about 2 hours. Tour groups are extremely crowded around sunset, so weekdays are relatively better. Getting there: a hired car from Kuta or Seminyak takes about 1–1.5 hours, and from Canggu about 30 minutes. There is no public transport. Tips: rocks are slippery, so wear non-slip shoes. Waves are big at high tide, so don't approach the edge of the rock. Dress appropriately in the temple grounds: sarongs aren't mandatory, but very short shorts will draw a reminder. Temple anniversary festivals (Odalan) bring larger crowds.
Opening hours
7:00 am–7:00 pm