Pura Luhur Tanah Lot, or Tanah Lot Temple, is a sacred Hindu temple located in Tabanan Regency, Bali, Indonesia. As one of the highly popular tourist destinations in Bali, the silhouette of Tanah Lot Temple serves as an iconic symbol of pride for the Island of the Gods.
The name ‘Tanah Lot’ is derived from the Balinese words ‘tanah,’ meaning land or island, and ‘lot’ or ‘lod,’ meaning sea. Therefore, Tanah Lot can be interpreted as a land or island situated in the sea.
History of Tanah Lot Temple: According to local beliefs quoted from indonesia.travel, the construction of Tanah Lot Temple is believed to date back to the 16th century. The local legend explains why the temple is positioned in the middle of the sea.
The revered figure Dang Hyang Nirartha is said to be the holy man who established Tanah Lot Temple. He also determined the temple’s locations, allocating the northern part of the village for the worship of God Brahma, the central part for God Vishnu, and the southern part for God Shiva.
Dang Hyang Nirartha was inspired to build a temple while walking along the south coast of Bali. During his stroll, he encountered a small rocky island known as Gili Beo, in the Beraban village. However, when he attempted to build a temple on Gili Beo, the leaders and people of Beraban expelled him.
Undeterred, Dang Hyang Nirartha, with his extraordinary powers, moved the entire Gili Beo island into the sea and constructed a temple named Tanah Lot. Witnessing this, the Beraban villagers were astonished and eventually joined to follow Dang Hyang Nirartha’s beliefs.
To protect the temple, Dang Hyang Nirartha created venomous sea snakes from the power of his scarf. These sea snakes are believed to reside at the base of Tanah Lot, guarding the temple from intruders and evildoers.
Components of Tanah Lot Temple: Tanah Lot Temple stands on a 3-hectare rocky island near Beraban Beach. The temple’s structure is on the coral plain, consisting of a single plain courtyard as the inner part (Jeroan). The main building is utilized for worshiping Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, the sea deity.
Around the coral reef near Tanah Lot Temple, there are black and white tame sea snakes, known as ‘poleng’ snakes, considered sacred creatures. To the north of Tanah Lot, there is a temple called Pura Batu Bolong, built on a cliff that juts into the sea, connected to the land like a curved bridge.
Unique Features of Tanah Lot Temple: The allure of Tanah Lot for tourists comes from its unique characteristics. One of them is the presence of holy spring water emerging from a freshwater spring in the midst of the ocean. The water is believed to bring blessings.
Being a grand temple built on a rocky island, Tanah Lot offers breathtaking views, especially when the tide is high, creating the illusion that the temple is floating in the middle of the sea. The best time to enjoy the sight of Tanah Lot is during sunset, making it renowned as one of the best sunset spots in Bali.
Location of Tanah Lot Temple: Tanah Lot Temple is situated on the cliffside of Beraban Beach, Kediri District, Tabanan Regency, Bali. The temple is approximately 13 km from Tabanan City or 30 km from Denpasar City. If traveling from Ngurah Rai Airport, Tanah Lot can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Travelers can use various transportation options, including motorcycles, cars, or buses.
Ticket Prices and Opening Hours: Here are the ticket prices for Tanah Lot Temple in 2022, sourced from bali.tribunnews.com:
- Domestic tourists (children aged 6-12): Rp 15,000 per person.
- Domestic tourists (adults aged 12 and above): Rp 20,000 per person.
- Foreign tourists (children aged 6-12): Rp 30,000 per person.
- Foreign tourists (adults aged 12 and above): Rp 60,000 per person.
Tanah Lot Temple is open every day from 07:00 to 19:00 WITA.
For this must-visit tourist destination, make sure not to miss it. You’ve likely seen captivating photos on the internet taken at Tanah Lot. So, this time, capture your own photos at Tanah Lot. If you’re curious about the atmosphere at Tanah Lot, you can check Surya Samantha KW’s YouTube channel below:
Original Post by : denpasar.kompas.com
Original Video by : Surya Samantha KW
