Tirta Empul is a water temple built around a spring that rises from the ground near Tampaksiring, north of Ubud. Its name means holy water springing from the earth, and the spring feeds the Pakerisan River. Balinese Hindus come here for melukat, a ritual purification under the temple's carved spouts, and the temple is part of the Pakerisan watershed within UNESCO's Cultural Landscape of Bali Province.
The temple was founded around the spring in 962 AD, during the Warmadewa dynasty. A legend explains its power: the demon king Mayadenawa poisoned a river, and the god Indra's warriors fell ill after drinking from it. Indra struck the ground to create a spring, and its water revived his army. On the hill above stands a villa built for President Sukarno's visit in 1954.
In the central courtyard, two long rectangular pools are fed by a row of stone spouts. Worshippers wade waist-deep, bowing beneath each spout in turn with offerings and prayer. Beyond lies the inner courtyard, quieter, with shrines and a clear pond where the spring bubbles up through sand. Arrive early and the courtyards feel calm, with the murmur of water, the scent of incense and the quiet movement of people at prayer, before the day's tour groups arrive.
Highlights
- Purification pools with carved spouts
- The spring rising through sand
- Founded in 962 AD
- Part of a UNESCO cultural landscape
Good to know
- If you join the purification, ask a temple attendant or guide which spouts to use, as some are reserved for specific rituals.
- Bring a small canang sari offering and say a quiet prayer before entering the water.
- Bathing sarongs are usually available on site; bring a towel and a change of clothes.
- Keep voices low and avoid photographing worshippers at close range while they pray.
On the map
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