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Tirta Empul Temple is located near the town of Tampaksiring (or Tampak Siring) in Manukaya village, hence it is also known as Tampak Siring Temple. The village is about a 30-minute drive north of Ubud – the cultural center of Bali.
This sign indicates you have arrived at the Holy Spring at Tirta Empul temple.
The Tirta Empul temple was founded in 926 AD and is still in regular use today. Although it is a sacred place of worship for the local people, visitors from all over the world are welcome to experience its beauty and participate in the purification rituals.
The Holy Spring is located within the grounds of the Tirta Empul temple.
Long lines of locals and tourists alike prepare to immerse themselves in the sacred waters.
The purification ritual at the temple is called Melukat. Participants prepare offerings including flowers and incense. After praying, they light incense at the altar on the bank and place flowers on the water spout, then bow their heads under the clear, flowing water.
Tourists eagerly prepare to perform the purification ritual.
The Holy Spring, also known as the sacred water spring, is located within the Tirta Empul temple in the valley between two hills, with springs considered sacred by the local people. In the Balinese language, Tirta Empul loosely translates to "water gushing from the earth." For this reason, Tirta Empul is regarded as a sacred spring.
The main temple is where Hindus in Bali come to perform purification rituals. Its special feature is the underground spring that has continuously gushed forth for thousands of years, creating a sacred stream of water. The Balinese believe that this sacred water was created by the god Indra, and that the blessed water can cleanse those who bathe in it, helping them get rid of illnesses, wash away sins, save souls, and bring joy.
These are very interesting pictures at the Tirta Empul temple.
This place is always bustling with long lines of people waiting to be purified.
Hindu devotees in Bali stand in long lines in swimming pools, waiting to be rinsed under taps in a purification ritual called melukat. Those bathing begin in the pool on the left, standing waist-deep under the first tap. Once they have cleansed themselves under the first tap, they join the next line. This process continues until they have cleansed themselves under each tap.
However, there are two springs used exclusively for purifying the dead, and their use by the living is forbidden for the melukat ritual. For local families, if someone dies in the household, a relative will come here and bring water from this spring to bathe the deceased one last time.
Like other temples and sacred sites around the island, you will need to wear a sarong before entering the grounds.
This is a lake with a continuously gushing underground spring. The water flows from here into the 'purifying' lake behind it.
Hindus traditionally worship Linga and Yoni.
In 2017, former US President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama, and their two daughters Malia and Natasha included Tirta Empul on their list of places to visit and experience when they came to Indonesia. While Tirta Empul is not the only Balinese temple where you can find sacred springs, it is considered one of the most sacred temples there.
And remember, if you plan to explore the sacred city of Bali, begin your journey with a purification ritual at Tirta Empul temple.
The sacred and mysterious space of Tirta Empul temple.
About the author:Thinh, a writer specializing in geopolitics and culture, currently lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City. Thinh is a visual storyteller with a documentary style. His stories are personal reflections and experiences from his travels.
