Tanah Lot Temple: A Guide To The Most Paradisiacal Place On The Island Of Gods

One of the famous and the most sacred Hindu temple in Bali is Tanah Lot, also known as Pura Tanah Lot Temple. Being a major tourist destination, every year Bali receives many enthusiasts and adventure seekers who make it a point to visit this site. Much famed for the beautiful sunset view that it offers and even more soothing cold breeze flowing throughout the beach, here’s all you need to know about this holy temple for an impeccable experience on your trip!

About Tanah Lot Temple, Bali

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Sitting on a large offshore rock on the beach, Tanah Lot temple is a set of three temples located at a distance of roughly 100 metres from each other wherein the other two are considered to be a spiritual proxy when the main Tanah Lot temple is closed due to high tide, as it becomes inaccessible. During low tide, one can cross to view the base of the rock to see the ‘guardian’ sea snakes that are dwelling in crevices around the Tirta Pabersihan fountain. It’s one of the top attractions in Bali and welcomes all irrespective of their religion or caste.

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Best Time To Visit: Tanah Lot Temple

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To witness the festive parade of the Balinese locals, you must visit around their sacred piodalan falls located at the site that occur once in every 6-8 months.

One can avoid the crowd and book at a cheaper rates in Bali around late January till early April or late September till early November.

Tanah Lot Temple Location

This scenic temple is located in the Beraban village of the Tabanan Regency , which is approximately 20 km away from the southwest Kuta region. If you’re coming from Kuta, it takes approximately one and half hour to reach this destination. It is roughly a one hour drive from Ubud in Bali.

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History Of Tanah Lot

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Legends attached to the Tanah Lot Temple history are filled with fun and interesting facts about how it came to be. It is said that a high Hindu priest belonging to the Majapahit Kingdom in East Java journeyed to Bali in later part of the 15th century to spread Hinduism and associated beliefs.

He established a site in order to honour the Sea God, Varuna and inspite of facing opposition from the village chief, he successfully guarded the rock, on which he meditated, with the help of sea snakes. That is how the famous temple in Bali derived its name ‘Tanah Lot’ meaning ‘land in the sea’. It is also believed that this blessed site is where the priest attained Moksha, or enlightenment.

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Around The Temple: What’s More?

Despite facing an imminent threat of erosion, the serene site of Tanah Lot temple was well preserved and restored by an aid from the Japanese government, which is why the majestic temple welcomes all till date. Several tropical gardens and resting spots can be seen on the way to the temple, with souvenir stalls, paintings, and art sculptures at display. You can enjoy traditional coconut filled snacks and drinks sold by the peddlers here.

Entrance Fee: IDR 60,000 (INR 289 Approx) for Adults; IDR 30,000 (INR 145 Approx.) for Children

Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 07:00AM to 07:00PM; Sun 07:00AM to 05:00PM

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How To Reach Tanah Lot Temple

By Cab

If you’re a part of a pre-organised tour, you can reach this place via cab booked by your tour agent or guide. In case, you’ve planned to explore the city on your own, it is advisable to take a Grab Cab, as it is cheaper than the normal cab and charges almost half the price. Charges will vary as per time and availability of a Grab Cab in your region.

By Bus

You can also board a bus from anywhere in the city to reach a place from where you can get a direct cab to the temple, but it is not worth the hassle as the price charged by both combined will be almost equal to a cab alone.

By Walk

In case you’re staying in the vicinity of the temple, you can reach here on foot and save time to travel from a far off stay. But if you want to tour the city later on, most of the main attractions of Bali are located at a good distance from here.

By Car

Many tourists also prefer to rent a car from the travel companies in the city, to facilitate their movement throughout the city and in case you’re one of them, there’s a parking lot available here with a parking fee of IDR 5000 (INR 25 Approx.) per car.

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Tips To Visit Tanah Lot Temple

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Here are a few tips for having a better experience while visiting Tanah Lot Temple:

• The panoramic Tanah Lot Temple sunset view speaks for itself when you witness the view in all its glory. Try to keep this site as your last destination for the day but arrive well before sunset to avoid the crowd.
• Obey the warning signs as the waves are hazardous around this region and in case of high tide, the main temple is closed for all.
• Wear fully covered clothes, like jeans overalls or a floor-length dress as the locals here follow the dress code and cover the legs as paying their respect to the deity.
• The entry tickets and parking coupons include your insurance coverage.
• The main temple ground and stairs are not accessible to tourists. So you can chill on the beach and click some amazing pictures and selfies with the temple in the background.
• Be more careful while clicking pictures standing on the rocks as the area towards the edges is slippery due to deposition of moss and green algae.

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Can’t wait to visit the temple? Pack your bags and book your trip to Bali with TravelTriangle and enjoy an amazing vacation at this island of temples today!

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