Perhaps the most popular water temple in Bali, Tirta Empul is a sacred place for the Hindu community, located just footsteps away from the Presidential Palace of Tampaksiring. This temple is famous for its holy springs, where both residents and tourists can take part in a water purification ceremony (aka Melukat) – the ritual of bathing within the holy water to rid you of negative energy. Within Tirta Empul’s grounds, you’ll also find shrines dedicated to several Hindu Gods: Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva and Indra, as well as one for Mount Batur.
Tirta Empul was founded in 926 A.D and is still being actively used to this day. Although it is a sacred place of worship to the locals, tourists from all over the world are welcome to experience the beauty and participate in the purification rituals. In 2017, the former US President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Natasha, made Tirta Empul one of their selected sites to visit and experience.
