Tirta Empul Temple

At a Glance

• Original name: Pura Tirta Empul
• Where: Tampaksiring, Gianyar regency
• Hours: 8:00–18:00
• Time needed: 1–2 hours
• Founded: 962 AD (Warmadewa dynasty)
• Getting there: ~40 min (≈15 km) from Ubud

Pura Tirta Empul is a sacred spring temple in central Bali where Balinese Hindus have performed the Melukat purification ritual under fountains of holy water for over a thousand years. It stands in the village of Tampaksiring (Gianyar regency), about 40 minutes and 15 km northeast of Ubud, and its recorded history reaches back to 962 AD. The name means "holy water gushing from the earth" — and that is literal: a clear spring wells up from the floor of the temple pond and feeds both the bathing pools and the Pakerisan River.

Why Visit

This is one of Bali's most revered temples and one of the few places where you can not just watch a tradition but take part in it: locals and travellers alike cleanse physical and spiritual impurity (mala) under the spring.

• Who it's for: anyone who wants to feel Bali's living culture and spiritual side, not just tick a box.
• Bonuses: families enjoy the pond of sacred koi, and history lovers get a site with thousand-year roots.

The Legend of Mayadanawa and Indra

Balinese lore says the Tirta Empul spring was created by the god Indra himself, to revive a poisoned army — a story that underpins Bali's most important holiday, Galungan.

• The tyrant Mayadanawa. Mayadanawa (Mayadenawa) was a powerful king of ancient Bali from Bedulu, son of the lake goddess Dewi Danu. Grown arrogant, he declared himself a god, forbade worship, and destroyed temples.
• The poisoned spring. The gods sent Indra against him. Fleeing by night, Mayadanawa created a poisoned spring (tirta cetik), and Indra's soldiers who drank from it fell dead.
• The water of immortality. Indra then pierced the earth, and a pure spring of immortal water (amrita) burst forth. It revived the army, and the place was named Tirta Empul.
• How Tampaksiring got its name. As he fled, Mayadanawa walked with his feet tu ed sideways to confuse his tracks — giving the village its name: "tampak" (footprint) and "siring" (slanted).
• The link to Galungan. Indra's victory over the tyrant is the triumph of dharma (good) over adharma (evil), celebrated by Balinese as Galungan, which recurs every 210 days in the Pawukon calendar.

History and the Manukaya Inscription

Tirta Empul is not only legend but a dated monument: the bathing pools around the spring were built in 962 AD under the Warmadewa dynasty.

• The founding king. The sanctuary was established during the reign of King Sri Candrabhayasingha Warmadewa.
• The stone inscription. This is recorded on the Manukaya inscription (Prasasti Manukaya), dated to Saka year 884 (around October 962 AD), which describes the royal order to build the bathing place at the sacred spring. The stone is kept today at Pura Sakenan in Manukaya village.
• A UNESCO heritage site. Tirta Empul lies in the headwaters of the Pakerisan Watershed, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System," inscribed in 2012 — recognition of the temple's thousand-year link to Bali's traditional rice-irrigation system.
• The subak philosophy. That irrigation system rests on the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana — harmony between three elements: people, nature, and the divine (parahyangan, pawongan, palemahan).

The Melukat Purification Ritual

Melukat is a ritual bathing that cleanses body, mind, and spirit of negative energy. Worshippers move through the spouts in tu , praying at each one and bowing their head under the water.

• The pools and spouts. There are around 30 spouts (pancoran) in total; the three bathing pools used by worshippers have 13, 2, and 6 spouts from west to east.
• The order. You start at the leftmost spout of the main pool and work to the right, washing your head and face under each stream.
• Forbidden spouts. Two spouts near the end are reserved for priests and funeral rites — both locals and tourists skip them.
• What to bring. Put on a sarong before bathing, and bring a change of clothes and a towel — you get soaked. Lockers are available for valuables.
• Doing it mindfully. Before bathing, worshippers set an intention (sankalpa) and present a canang — a small flower offering on a palm-leaf tray. A temple priest (pemangku) can guide the ceremony if you wish.
• Etiquette. Stay quiet and respectful; by tradition, women who are menstruating do not enter the water or the i

er zones. Afterwards you may continue to the i

er courtyard to pray with incense. Don't photograph people in close-up while they pray.

• Can tourists take part? Yes — Melukat is open to everyone who respects the tradition and dress code.

What to See on the Grounds

The complex is far more than the bathing pools — it is a multi-level sanctuary built around a living spring, so leave time to walk it, not just bathe.

• Three courtyards. The temple divides into the outer yard (Jaba Pura), where visitors prepare; the central yard (Jaba Tengah) with the bathing pools; and the i

er sanctuary (Jeroan) with shrines and altars, where the faithful pray.

• The sacred spring. In the large pond you can watch crystal-clear water bubbling up straight from the bed, stirring little clouds of sand. This is the source of the sacred Pakerisan River.
• The koi pond. Calm lotus ponds with large koi carp add to the atmosphere.
• Balinese architecture. Split gateways (candi bentar) link the courtyards, while the i

er yard is lined with pavilions (bale) and tiered meru shrines under black thatched roofs.

• Suka o's palace. On the hill above the temple stands Istana Tampaksiring, a state palace built in the 1950s for Indonesia's first president, Suka o, and still used to receive distinguished guests.

Did You Know?

• The spring never dries. It flows year-round without interruption — seen as an unbroken stream of spiritual energy.
• The religion of holy water. Balinese Hinduism is historically called "Agama Tirtha" — the "religion of holy water" — and springs like Tirta Empul sit at its very heart.
• Obama visited in 2017. In June 2017, former US President Barack Obama toured the temple with his family, also stopping at nearby Gunung Kawi.

When to Visit

The best time is right at opening, 8:00–9:00 AM: the water is cool and the queues at the spouts are shortest.

• By midday the tour buses arrive and the pools get crowded.
• Weekdays are calmer than weekends and Balinese holidays.
• On major ceremony days (such as a full moon) the temple is especially alive — but also very busy.

Plan Your Visit

Tirta Empul is easy to reach from the main tourist hubs and is a popular stop on central Bali itineraries.

• Where. Tampaksiring village, Gianyar regency; about 40 minutes (≈15 km) by car or scooter from Ubud.
• Tickets. A paid entrance ticket is bought at the gate; sarong rental is usually included.
• Dress code. A sarong and sash are required (provided at the entrance) and shoulders should be covered. Swimwear or shorts without a sarong are not acceptable in the sacred areas.
• What to bring. For the ritual, a change of clothes and a towel.
• Time needed. Allow 1–2 hours for the grounds and the ritual.

Combine Your Trip

Tirta Empul pairs well with other sites along the Pakerisan River and around Ubud in a single day out.

• Gunung Kawi — a complex of 11th-century royal tombs carved into the rock along the Pakerisan, a few minutes away.
• Pura Mengening — another, much quieter spring temple nearby.
• Tegallalang Rice Terraces — the famous tiered fields on the way back toward Ubud.
• Tegenungan Waterfall — a wide waterfall south of Ubud.

FAQ

Can tourists join the Melukat ritual? Yes — the purification is open to everyone who respects the dress code and etiquette; just bring a change of clothes.

What should I bring for the ritual? A change of clothes and a towel — you get soaked under the spouts. Lockers are available for valuables.

How many spouts are there, and which ones can't I use? Around 30 spouts in total; the three bathing pools have 13, 2, and 6. Two near the end are reserved for priests and funeral rites and are skipped.

How long does a visit take? Usually 1–2 hours, including the queue at the spouts.

How do I get there from Ubud? About 40 minutes (≈15 km) by car or scooter heading northeast toward Tampaksiring.

When is the best time to visit? At opening, 8:00–9:00 AM, before the tour buses arrive.