Tanah Lot Temple

Indonesia

An unusual temple in the sea, a freshwater spring surrounded by salt water and poisonous sea snakes of all sizes.

Along the southwestern coast of Bali are seven sea temples, one of which is the Hindu temple Tanah Lot. The rocky peak jutting out of the water was gradually shaped by the forces of the crashing waves and small caves were formed. Behind the temple is a fascinating story that has been passed down through the ages in many different versions. One thing is certain, however; the temple is protected by poisonous sea snakes to this day and holds a hidden spring, which is said to have healing powers.

Tanah Lot is Balinese and translated means "land (in) water", which makes perfect sense when looking at the unusual temple. However, this name was given to the spiritual place only by the legend behind its creation. According to the legend, a famous Javanese Hindu priest named Dang Hyang Nirartha stopped in the region during his pilgrimage in the 16th century. One day, as he was walking along the southwest coast, the holy monk spotted a bright white light. This led him to a rock that was then called Gili Beo (Gili = small island, Beo = bird). Under the rock he discovered a fresh water spring, which seemed to have healing powers. Overwhelmed by the beauty of this place, he sat down and began to meditate on the rock. In a vision he realized that this was a very special, spiritual place and therefore perfect for worshipping sea deities. Some fishermen discovered the meditating scholar and brought him gifts in return for being allowed to listen to some of his teachings. This angered the then ruler of Beraban, Bendesa Beraban Sakti, as the teachings did not agree with his own spiritual views. The ruler then ordered his followers to expel the intruder. Dang Hyang Nirartha, however, did not put up with this and used his powers to lift the entire rock and place it in the water a little further from the shore. From his scarf, he created a giant sea serpent to protect the sacred place. Bendesa Beraban Sakti was so overwhelmed by this miracle that he immediately became a professed follower of the scholar. It was at this moment that the new name "Tanah Lot" was created and a temple for the worship of sea deities was built. Since then, the temple is supposed to protect the land from evil forces and demons from the sea.

Today, the temple is one of the most important for the inhabitants of Bali and is still used for the worship of sea deities. Every six months, a large festival is celebrated, in which visitors from different regions participate. Only locals are allowed to enter the temple itself. However, visitors are allowed to be blessed by the priests with water from the freshwater spring, enjoy the countless market stalls and restaurants, and even take a look at "Ular Suci", the cave full of sea snakes (by which supposedly no one has ever been bitten). The temple is very accessible at low tide, as it is not far from the coast and is connected to the land by walkable stones. Surrounding hills also offer a beautiful view of the impressive temple.

The popularity of Tanah Lot as a photo motif has resulted in an ever-increasing rush of tourists over the years. A particularly large number of visitors gather at the site at sunset, as the light of the setting sun makes the temple shine in a particularly beautiful light. Although such a sight would certainly be worthwhile, the number of visitors has reached barely tolerable levels. The structure of the sacred place suffers and the faithful are increasingly disturbed in their religious practice. Some even suspect that the giant sea serpent will one day rise up and put an end to the commercialization of the sacred place.

If you still want to visit Tanah Lot, we recommend arriving early in the morning when visitor numbers are still limited. A visit outside the usual season can also be advantageous. Either way, you should always be respectful of nature and the believers.

The temple complex is located about 20km from Denpasar in Kediri. Many island tours include a visit to Tanah Lot, but you can also arrive on foot or by scooter. On the main road of Denpasar there is a huge signpost in the direction of the temple, so you almost can't miss it.

Want to travel Indonesia in a sustainable way and discover its many hidden wonders? Then our Indonesia adventure just the thing for you!

Fun Fact

Over the years, the rock beneath the temple has been worn away by the surging tides and increasing visitors. With the help of the Japanese government, Tanah Lot was restored in 1980, and today about one-third of the rock is made of artificial stone.

MEGA SALE

Double your discount up to 1.200,- €when you book with a friend today! 😍

Save on our unique trips, including our Namibia trip, with up to 300,-€ Discount.

👫✈️ Unique friends campaign 🚨: Book together with a friend and we'll double your discount - for both of you! 🎉

Offer only until on January 31! ⏰

Wait! A 50€ voucher is waiting for you

Sign up now for the TripLegend newsletter for free and get 50€ off your first booking (with full payment). Get travel inspiration and adventure ideas delivered to your inbox.