Tanah Lot, meaning land in the sea, sits on a rocky outcrop off the coast of Tabanan, cut off by the tide for much of the day. It is one of the seven principal sea temples along Bali's southwestern coast and is dedicated to the sea god Dewa Baruna. Its silhouette against the evening sky has made it one of the most photographed places on the island.
Tradition credits the temple to Dang Hyang Nirartha, the 16th-century priest from Java, who is said to have rested here during his travels across Bali. One legend tells that he took off his sash and turned it into a serpent to guard the rock. By the 1980s the rock face was crumbling, and a Japanese-funded conservation program reinforced it; more than a third of the visible rock today is artificial.
The approach runs through a long lane of shops before opening onto the black-sand shore, where waves wash around the base of the islet. At low tide you can walk across toward the rock, though the temple itself is reserved for worshippers. Along the headland, further shrines look back at Tanah Lot, and crowds gather on the cliffs at dusk.
Highlights
- Temple on a tidal rock
- Sunset views from the headland
- Legend of Nirartha's guardian serpent
- Black-sand shore at low tide
Good to know
- Check the tide table before you go if you want to walk out to the base of the rock.
- Go early in the morning if you want the shoreline without the sunset crowds.
- The shrines on the rock are for worship only, so stay in the public areas unless invited by a priest.
On the map
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