Tirta Empul Temple

Tirta Empul temple is located at Manukaya village, Tampaksiring. it is around 30 minutes from Ubud center. Tirta Empul temple is known as holy spring temple built around 960 A.D at the time Warmadewa Dynasty. The story from an old manuscript, there is a evil king called Mayadenawa that doesn’t believe in God and objected to worship God. Lord Indra the god of war come down to earth and attack the arrogant king Mayadenawa, but Mayadenawa using Cetik poison to kill all Lord Indra army, to safe all the army Lord Indra put his magic stick to the ground and the magic water blow that known as holy spring water.

Tirta Empul means Holy Spring in Balinese. Tirta Empul temple is divided to three sections, front yard with main entrance gate, temple hall and some guard temple. Middle section is consists of the temple pond with a spring water, Petirtaan or bathing structure where Balinese Hindus go for ritual purification. The third is main area that called Jeroan, the place where Balinese Hindus people do the offering, praying and blessing.

Pura Tirta Empul. The site of what is considered Bali’s holiest spring, the peaceful, shady gardens and clear pools of the Tirta Empul Temple were once the bathing places of eastern Bali’s kings.  A public pond lies in the outer courtyard, and the central compound has two rectangular pools lined with spouting fountains. The inner courtyard is home to nearly two dozen small, ornately carved temples and two large pavilions dedicated to the gods. During the annual Purnama Kapat celebrations, which take place on the anniversary of the temple’s founding , the grounds come alive with colorful figures of Barong, brought here for ritual bathing ceremonies. The palace of Indonesia’s first president Sukarno lies on a hill above the temple.