Tirta Empul Temple
Pura Tirta Empul
A Hindu temple founded in 962 CE around a sacred spring, where worshippers and visitors bathe in turn beneath 30 fountain spouts in purification rites (Melukat). It's Bali's most participatory religious experience.
Tirta Empul Temple is in Tampaksiring, about 15 km northeast of Ubud. It was built in 962 CE under the Warmadewa dynasty and is one of Bali's most important water temples. According to legend, the temple's spring was created when the god Indra struck the ground with his spear, causing water to gush forth, and the spring water is believed to have purifying power. Every day, Balinese come dressed in ceremonial clothing to perform “Melukat” purification rituals, and visitors can join in too. Change into a sarong (included in the entry fee; wet sarongs for water use are available to rent). In the rectangular purification pool, move from left to right beneath the 30 fountain spouts, bowing your head to let the water run over you and offering prayers. Two of the fountains are reserved for rites for the dead and should not be used. The whole process takes about 30–45 minutes. The temple complex has an outer courtyard (with a cockfighting arena and thatched pavilions), a middle courtyard (the purification pools), and an inner courtyard (with a shrine to Vishnu and a source pool where water can be seen welling up from the sand). On the hillside above the temple stands the Tampaksiring Presidential Palace, built in 1957 by President Sukarno. Entry costs IDR 75,000 for foreign adults and IDR 50,000 for children (prices revised in 2024), including a sarong. Lockers cost IDR 10,000–20,000. The exit route passes through a long stretch of souvenir stalls. Visiting tips: combine it with Tegallalang Rice Terraces, the nearby Gunung Kawi (an 11th-century rock-cut tomb complex reached by 300 steps), or the Kintamani volcano viewpoint for a day trip on Ubud's northern route. Arrive when it opens at 8 a.m. for the most peaceful experience. Getting there: about 30–40 minutes from Ubud by hired car. Tips: if you join the purification ritual, follow the order and etiquette, keep quiet, and don't photograph others in the pool. Women who are menstruating are not permitted to enter the temple. Bring a towel and a change of clothes for after the water, which is quite cool.
Opening hours
08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Gunung Kawi
- Tegallalang Rice Terraces
- Tukad Cepung Waterfall
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Ubud Palace & Ubud Art Market
- Bali Swing (Ubud)
- Goa Gajah
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary