Bali, which is also known as a paradise island in Indonesia, has hundreds of enchanting places that never fail to impress anyone who comes. One of the most popular spots to stop by is Pura Tirta Empul, a temple that keeps a pool of water inside.
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About the temple
Tirta Empul Temple is located in Manukaya Village, Tampaksiring, Gianyar, Bali. To reach the spot, you need to travel about 36 kilometers from the city of Denpasar (about an hour by car). As soon as you arrive, you can purchase the entrance ticket and start exploring what’s hidden inside the temple.
The temple is divided into three parts: Jaba Pura, Jaba Tengah and the last is Viscera. Inside the area of Jaba Tengah, there is a pond that has approximately 33 showers, where tourists usually queue to carry out purification activities which the Balinese call melukat.
Each shower has its own name. The names of the shower in this place include fourteen showers called Pancuran Tirtha Pembersihan (which means cleansing shower), two Pancuran Tirta Pelebur Kutukan (which means showers to remove the curse) and six Tirtha Penyakit Berat ( which means showers to cure heavy diseases). As the name suggests, each shower in the Pura has its own functions and benefits.
The unique tradition
There is a unique and interesting tradition that you can find when visiting this temple. Every day, either domestic or foreign tourists will queue into a pool of water which is hidden inside the magnificent temple. However, to participate in the ceremony, tourists must follow the rules set by the temple. These include the use of traditional cloth tied to the waist.
By the Balinese Hindu community, this cloth is one of the compulsory facilities when carrying out the prayer ceremony held in the temple. Not only can you see the existence of a pond that is commonly used for melukat ritual, you can also observe the unique architectural design of this ancient temple. According to historical records, this temple building was established in 962 AD when Dinaswi Warmadewa ruled.
The activity of melukat at Pura Tirta Empul is believed to have many benefits. There are many people come to the pool because they believe that various types of diseases can be cured there. Starting with minor illnesses such as a toothache to more severe health problems like rheumatism and gout.
There are some procedures that should be followed by anyone who does melukat, including placing the canal on top of the shower that was intended to be used for the sacred bathing ritual. Not only that, you are also required to deliver prayers and requests that are desired during the ritual. Do not forget to cup both hands as you are praying.
The entrance fee and opening hours
If you want to enter the temple, you will be charged an entrance fee of about 30,000 rupiahs (per person). This place is open for tourists from 08.00 until 17.00. From the temple, you can also see the presidential building called Tampak Siring Palace. Unfortunately, the palace is not open to the public. So, the visitors can only the building from the outside.
For you who expect to stay near Pura Tirta Empul, you can easily find homestays, hotels, and inns around the place. There are more than 70 hotels that offer various prices for their guests. You can choose an economy class inn which will only charge you about 500,000 rupiahs, or you can also stay in a five-star hotel with the lodging price is about 1,500,000 rupiahs or more.
