TIRTA EMPUL

The Tirta Empul is otherwise known as the Tampak Siring temple and is a holy spring water temple situated in the Tampak Siring Village in the Gianyar regency about 40km east of the centre of Denpasar. In this east area of Bali there are many roads that are less traveled then in the south and the west which make for some beautiful journeys through the rice paddies and past the deserted beaches that line the coast all the way up island. The trip to Tirta Empul is no exception and is located within a hill where it has been set for centuries encircled by the hill. Founded by the first president and changed to its current name from the original names of Tirta Ri air Humpul which means the emerging water or holy pool and Petirthan which means water emerging from the land. Tirta Empul is about an hours drive from the airport and is even closer if you are staying in Sanur. The trip is also excellent, if not better if you are coming from Ubud.

The holy spring itself is set into the mountain and now has a temple built around the natural opening meaning the water that emerges from the ground is the center piece of the Temple. The Tirta Empul is unlike any of the other temples for this reason and has one of the oldest histories of all the temples in Bali. It is said that it was first deemed holy in 882 by king Indrajayasinghawarmadewa who first began to develop the temple that you see today. The water was said to be the definitive creation as it was fresh, clean and was rising out of the ground itself. The understanding was that all of the water in the world originates from this source or at least that it was extremely important for the life of the island.

According to the old papyrus of Usana, it is said that the Tirta Empul was created by Bhatara Indra (sun deity) who was a very miraculous king known to perform miracles throughout his life and at a whim. He was also a very arrogant man who referred to himself as a God although there were people who followed this belief and to this day he is recognized as an extremely holy person.

When at the spring it is important to wear a sarong and remove your shoes to show respect for the areas importance to the Balinese people and their beliefs. It is possible to borrow sarongs if you do not have one although other than this there are no real other things to bear in mind from a respect point of view other than to be calm and quiet as you would in any holy place. The Tirta Empul is well worth a visit even for those who have already visited a few temples as the springs give it a real air of life and spirituality.

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Travel destination and regencies
Badung - Bangli - Buleleng -  Denpasar - Gianyar - Jembrana - Karangasem - Klungkung - 

Places of interest
Alas Kedaton - Badung Market, Batubulan,  Beratan Lake - Besakih Temple - Celuk - Goa Gajah, Jatiluwih - Kintamani - Mas Village - Penglipuran Village - Sangeh - Tanjung Benoa - Tirta Empul - Ubud Monkey Forest - Uluwatu - Bali Eco Tourism - Rambut Siwi Temple - Kertha Gosa - Puri Saren - Batukaru Temple - Banjar - 

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